Olds 455 project

[philly5eagle]

I started my project a few years back but kids have got in the way of doing a lot to it. I'm finally getting back on it and I'm trying to make some decisions about the motor.
I bought this 77 from a guy who planned on dropping in a Olds 455. He had already bought a few parts for the motor and partially tore it down. I still have to remove the pistons, crank etc. He had it sitting in an area that had a lot of moisture and there is a bunch of rust. He said he pulled the motor from a running vehicle but I forgot what he pulled it from.
Block info:#396021F  should be a 1970

E heads  #403686   .. my understanding from the research I've done is that the head is a 1970 and one of the better Olds heads (but heavy as all hell)

New parts he had bought:

perfect circle 50141cp rings
melling m-22fhv oil pump
rod bearings: clevite cb-542p
main bearing: clevite ms804p
cam bearings: durabond SH1354S
Pro comps 270H K42-308-4 cam kit
Edelbrock torker 455 intake (that is what it says on it)
Edelbrock 750 carb #1411 7254
Hei Dist

He planned on doing a hone on the cylinders and put it back together. The part #'s above appear to be stock sizes.
I'm going to send the block to a local shop to have them dip it and ck the cylinders, rods etc to see what the deal is. If I don't need to bore I'm not going to b/c of the cost. Depends on what they tell me.

What do you guys think of the parts above. Cam kit, intake, carb etc.. Is the combo ok? Anything you can suggest but keep the cost low. Whether it be things to look for, tips for rebuilding, engine parts etc

I'm in the process of doing all of the body work now which I'll post in another thread. Frame is coming off etc, restoring from the frame up.

Thanks

[Aus78Formula]

What is your car, if a TA then it will give dramas if you want to use a shaker.

I wouldn't worry about the high volume oil pump either. Olds already have oiling issues and 'sometimes' all HV does is pump it all up top where you don't want it and the drain back holes are limited so it pools with the extra oil. It's more popular with those that have oversize sump so plenty oil to spare or with mods to the block and system to cater for it. Either way there's some pretty wild Olds engines out there and they run stock pump.

Not my area but a lot of guys prefer the Q-jet over the Edelbrock, not just for originality but also for setting up with original parts and brackets and performance. The Edelbrocks offer bling and a brandname on the side though!

It depends what CR you are aiming for as to which cam will work best which is out of my field anyway. A lot of 455 Olds guys like to use the 268H cam, or the generic 214/224 made by everyone. If it's the same basic specs as others' 270H cams then it's more suitable for higher flowing heads like Edelbrocks, not modified stock, which like a slower cam with more overlap, even with headers.

[philly5eagle]

Yea, it's going into a TA. The oil pump is new in the box so I could sell it and get a regular one.
I'm not even sure the 750 carb is going to be big enough. Some say it's ok, some say to use and 850. It came with the Ebrock so I guess I'll stick with that for now and can change later if I don't like it.
I don't know a whole lot about which cam to use etc. This kit is the one the guy bought for it. From what I've read it's ok to use with a stock converter, mild idle to noticeable idle, and won't affect accessories. I going to use headers so that should help.
I just don't know a much about what combinations of parts to use. These are all new parts and included so hopefully it will set up nice. I'm not looking for the top of the line built motor, just something that sounds good, wakes up the neighbors has some torque.

What is your car, if a TA then it will give dramas if you want to use a shaker.

I wouldn't worry about the high volume oil pump either. Olds already have oiling issues and 'sometimes' all HV does is pump it all up top where you don't want it and the drain back holes are limited so it pools with the extra oil. It's more popular with those that have oversize sump so plenty oil to spare or with mods to the block and system to cater for it. Either way there's some pretty wild Olds engines out there and they run stock pump.

Not my area but a lot of guys prefer the Q-jet over the Edelbrock, not just for originality but also for setting up with original parts and brackets and performance. The Edelbrocks offer bling and a brandname on the side though!

It depends what CR you are aiming for as to which cam will work best which is out of my field anyway. A lot of 455 Olds guys like to use the 268H cam, or the generic 214/224 made by everyone. If it's the same basic specs as others' 270H cams then it's more suitable for higher flowing heads like Edelbrocks, not modified stock, which like a slower cam with more overlap, even with headers.

[shank0668]

Yea, it's going into a TA. The oil pump is new in the box so I could sell it and get a regular one.
I'm not even sure the 750 carb is going to be big enough. Some say it's ok, some say to use and 850. It came with the Ebrock so I guess I'll stick with that for now and can change later if I don't like it.
I don't know a whole lot about which cam to use etc. This kit is the one the guy bought for it. From what I've read it's ok to use with a stock converter, mild idle to noticeable idle, and won't affect accessories. I going to use headers so that should help.
I just don't know a much about what combinations of parts to use. These are all new parts and included so hopefully it will set up nice. I'm not looking for the top of the line built motor, just something that sounds good, wakes up the neighbors has some torque.

What is your car, if a TA then it will give dramas if you want to use a shaker.

I wouldn't worry about the high volume oil pump either. Olds already have oiling issues and 'sometimes' all HV does is pump it all up top where you don't want it and the drain back holes are limited so it pools with the extra oil. It's more popular with those that have oversize sump so plenty oil to spare or with mods to the block and system to cater for it. Either way there's some pretty wild Olds engines out there and they run stock pump.

Not my area but a lot of guys prefer the Q-jet over the Edelbrock, not just for originality but also for setting up with original parts and brackets and performance. The Edelbrocks offer bling and a brandname on the side though!

It depends what CR you are aiming for as to which cam will work best which is out of my field anyway. A lot of 455 Olds guys like to use the 268H cam, or the generic 214/224 made by everyone. If it's the same basic specs as others' 270H cams then it's more suitable for higher flowing heads like Edelbrocks, not modified stock, which like a slower cam with more overlap, even with headers.

You should still be looking at like 360hp 450tq I would imagine?
I am going to do a light build on my olds 455 within the next century.... lol

[philly5eagle]

I just bought a set of motor mounts from someone to mount this beast. They are the ones that bolt to the block with the bar to shift the position of the motor. Any one have any pictures to show me what bolts holts to use on the bracket, block etc?

Thanks

[Aus78Formula]

The RH-side has Front and Rear marked on it, the LH-side has arrow-head angled front to it.



RH side:




LH-side:

[philly5eagle]

Aus 78 Thank you so much. That is exactly what I needed. I really appreciate it.
Now I just need to find the bolt that attaches the brackets from the motor to the frame mounts.

[philly5eagle]

I don't have any of the accesory brackets for the front of the motor. Anyone have pictures of the brackets.
I plan on having a/c etc. I have read you might be able to use 455 or 403 brackets but I can't confirm that. I'm also not sure if the brackets change from year to year and by vehicle. I believe it is a 1970 block. Any ideas what years and vehicles I can pull brackets from? 403/455 interchange?

[philly5eagle]

Aus78 I was just reading your a/c comp bracket install post. Very, very helpful.

I still have to figure out what years and models I can get the brackets off of.

[Josh]

I used brackets off of my 403. Can't help you on the AC one though as I dont have it. I would assume it should work.

[Aus78Formula]

Here's another one for the other accessory brackets, had trouble finding it again, wasn't stickied like some others:

http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=39790.0

The 403 brackets 'should' still work on the Big Block with some work. With A/C it just comes down to the brackets that mount on the intake, the BBO has them also but may not be in same locations as 350/403.

The alternator/power steering brackets will likely not fit but only one hole. There's 4 bolts holding the lot, 3 into head (same as BBO) and the last sits in the water pump stud. Due to the 455 being wider than the 403 this particular stud will miss, but wouldn't be too hard to weld a larger mounting tab on the bracket with the hole 1/2" or so further across. Seeing as the bracket will have clearance around it you could even bolt a plate with two holes on it onto the bracket front, packing washer the thickness of the original bracket so it remains the same position.

Either way if you mix up small block and big block and body-types you might run into troubles getting pulleys lined up so tried to keep to one type so it's easy to keep up with.

[philly5eagle]

I used brackets off of my 403. Can't help you on the AC one though as I dont have it. I would assume it should work.

Do you know what year motor your 455 is and what year the 403 was?

[Josh]

403 was out of a stock 79 and the casting numbers on a 455 would indicate a 73-74 with J heads

[philly5eagle]

Thanks for the info. That is a good reference. I'm hoping to find a set of brackets off of a 455.

Here's another one for the other accessory brackets, had trouble finding it again, wasn't stickied like some others:

http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=39790.0

The 403 brackets 'should' still work on the Big Block with some work. With A/C it just comes down to the brackets that mount on the intake, the BBO has them also but may not be in same locations as 350/403.

The alternator/power steering brackets will likely not fit but only one hole. There's 4 bolts holding the lot, 3 into head (same as BBO) and the last sits in the water pump stud. Due to the 455 being wider than the 403 this particular stud will miss, but wouldn't be too hard to weld a larger mounting tab on the bracket with the hole 1/2" or so further across. Seeing as the bracket will have clearance around it you could even bolt a plate with two holes on it onto the bracket front, packing washer the thickness of the original bracket so it remains the same position.

Either way if you mix up small block and big block and body-types you might run into troubles getting pulleys lined up so tried to keep to one type so it's easy to keep up with.