Author Topic: LS Olds is alive ! Final build from Olds 403 (Read 3849 times)

olds403 · « **on:** May 26, 2021, 09:45:29 PM »

LS 0lds is alive
506HP / 529 tq on gas.
Big block small block power
Small block olds on EFI
Custom stoker LS crank
LS rods
LS pistons
Tuning/dyno by Mark Remmel
Idle is smooth......

This took three years to build it and machine. No motor like this exists. Dyno pull on E98 is coming. Will hit 525-550hp for a small block olds. A real dream build that was years in the making.

Special thanks to Mark Remmel, Wilson Manifolds, AEM/Holley, Mahle, and Champion racing for all the love and support for the Olds Community. Lot of R&D. Even had a set of experimental edelbrock heads know to me before release later this year for Olds.....

Thanks
Mike

ryeguy2006a · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2021, 06:13:24 AM »

What a cool sounding build! Are you saying that you were able to adapt an LSx crank/rods/pistons to work inside of an Olds block?? I'd love to see some pictures of what that looks like. Sounds like a real pavement pounder for being N/A. Very curious to know what the power looks like on ethanol.

Please post some pictures. Sounds like a crazy cool build.

olds403 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2021, 11:55:05 AM »

The only thing Olds is the block, water pump, and valve covers.
Everything else is full custom. The crank is one of a handful custom billet 4inch stroker cranks using chevy rod journals to work in an Oldsmobile. The Rods are Ls. The pistons look exactly like Mahle Ls. Pistons were custom from Mahle using Ls blanks. Ls fuel rails and ignition coils. Ton of intake work done by wilson manifolds.

It was done to show what can be done. The pictures and details are below. Its a very high end build and machine work was a ton. The crank, roods, and pistons were north of 3 grand alone. Aem 508 ecu.

This all started with me and Mark Remmel dreaming up how build a wicked Oldsmobile motor to put in a Trans Am and have modern Ls look/features. Obviously, not Ls or as strong, but still made 500+Hp out of it

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/racing-high-performance-80/next-stroker-154899/

Savage Larry · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2021, 11:58:17 AM »

And I thought Pontiac guys were nuts and liked to throw money at projects!

jonathonar89 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2021, 12:47:45 PM »

Need to add the ‘77 Olds 403 MPFI intake manifold from Cadillac cars and 307 computer control distributor to impress me even more lol jk

Nice build

« **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2021, 12:47:45 PM »

olds403 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2021, 12:56:12 PM »

Quote from: Savage Larry on May 27, 2021, 11:58:17 AM

And I thought Pontiac guys were nuts and liked to throw money at projects!

Its close to a LS376 with all the ready to run ECU/wiring with nearly identical power.
Nutz....yes. Probably have done most if not all combos of small block olds now since 1985
Posted years and years on this forum with all the 403 combos and really wanted something special.
This is my last and final one. We did a 403 stroker two years ago and listed that one before the board crash.

I am not that young anymore any my body isn’t what it used to be. My wife had a health scare in 2017. Really changes you as a person when you think that we don’t have much time. That kicked me in the ass.
Over the last few years, we started our 10th anniversary restoration, started this motor, and my brother buiit a shop. How many summers do i have left ? Maybe 30 ? Maybe 15 before my body just says no.

Thanks Mike

Maxthe222 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2021, 04:06:29 AM »

And the 403 olds community thanks you for demonstrating the motor has guts!

737driver · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2021, 10:56:18 PM »

Pretty cool things you did on the motor! Really looking forward to hearing more about it!,
Jim

olds403 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2021, 10:37:39 PM »

Here are some pics

The pistons and rods are LS. You can plainly see it on the rod.
The crank is one of a handful made.....

The block was fixtured and done with a BHJ blueprinting Bor-Tru to get bore to crank centerline perfect.
You can see from the factory how OFF the bore is to centerline. I tbink this is one or two known sets of these Bor-Tru fixtures for Oldsmobile. Pretty pleased with what a 40-50yr old motor just accomplished.
Great machine work and modern parts

http://bhjproducts.com/bhj_content/products/blueprintfixt/btk.php

9280F946-036C-4A1C-AC40-6588AD355203 by Michael Gabel, on Flickr

D529B7DD-EEBD-486C-B499-C268460C7A14 by Michael Gabel, on Flickr

74C2F47E-129C-453C-B844-80F82EF53E0F by Michael Gabel, on Flickr

D79F1FFC-36B0-4AA0-8B5A-12C2DED6741A by Michael Gabel, on Flickr

9CD603C5-24A2-4433-8623-CC9F774FDFC8 by Michael Gabel, on Flickr

93AF07CE-D023-4B02-A0E3-AF9393764A1C by Michael Gabel, on Flickr

Wallington · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2021, 03:20:05 AM »

Oh....I thought it must have been another 403-based build. Still cool

olds403 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2021, 09:34:32 AM »

Quote from: Wallington on May 30, 2021, 03:20:05 AM

Oh....I thought it must have been another 403-based build. Still cool

The bore of a 403 is 4.375 stock. You can get LS pistons in 4.155 and that is what was used. You couldn’t easily do this in a 403 unless the pistons were custom custom custom and no Ls piston blanks are in the humongous range for a 403 bore size. The pistons used were LS blanks from mahle that have a small dish instead of the LS vavle reliefs. Mahle made the pistons from Ls blanks. Plus solid main gas 68-72 350 blocks are everywhere and so are D and DX diesel blocks and this crank is available for those larger main deisel blocks too. I almost used a diesel block but costs were getting up threre and machine work on the deisel block is more money since you have to machine away the fuel injection pump area and bush and tru / bore the lifter galley.

There is one 403 with this 4” stroker crank that I am aware. It was done by BTR Performance for Dan McCal
Keep in mind that the 403 isn’t the greatest of blocks so BTR made a full main girdle for it. I thought my machine work bill was bad...

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/racing-high-performance-80/dr-dans-478-a-141721/

The point is....there is more aftermarket now out for Oldsmobile and you dream it you can build it. My goal was to make an Olds motor full EFI based on LS. I posted about it 2 or 3 years back and feedback was pretty rough to hear, but did it. All parts shown and era is closed. No more motors

This is largely was the motor is based on https://www.texas-speed.com/p-1144-mahle-lsx-combo-flat-top-forged-piston-set-4125-bore-4125-stroke-6125-rod-length-8cc.aspx

olds403 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2021, 08:15:27 PM »

509Hp/535tq on E85. Tuned on 93/E85. Pretty darn good for a 350 Olds....LOL

Wallington · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2021, 05:45:58 AM »

What blue did you use?

ryeguy2006a · « **Reply #13 on:** June 09, 2021, 07:54:25 AM »

Really cool project man! So what is the final displacement of the motor? Did you end up using the stock bore of 4.375 or did you sleeve and bore to 4.155 to use the LS pistons? And what is the stroke for your custom crank? 4"?

olds403 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2021, 01:50:51 PM »

Ryeguy2006a,
The details are based on the Lsx 427. Nearly identical 4.155 bore/4inch stroke/6.125 rod.
The block used was a 1970 Olds small block. Easy to duplicate without a whole bunch of special machine work. This is the most cost effective way. 4.057 to 4.155. Simple.

Its been done in a 403 though some limitations come up in a 403 and no exact Mahle piston existed in the 4.375 and the 403 is a windowed main block as we all know. The crank works for all small blocks just depends on your comfort, budget, and some blocks that are stronger than the 403 like the 68-72 blocks/D/Dx. You can push those cubes between 428-440 pretty easily by changing bore from 4.125 to 4.250. D/DX can go to 440 as they are thick walled and sonic check will determine

In a 403 would be monster 482 cube motor- BTR performance did one. Full girdle and custom.

I chose to model as close to Ls as I could.....

« **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2021, 01:50:51 PM »

Wallington · « **Reply #15 on:** June 09, 2021, 08:54:03 PM »

That probably cleared things up but for those browsing, it's a 350 Olds build....the topic heading is for member 'Olds403'.

a 482-cube small block

and yet you'd pop the hood and mechanic would still say oh, didn't know these had chevs!

Mike, is this for the TATA or something else, lost track of cars and engine builds.

olds403 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2021, 05:22:33 PM »

Its going in my red one that I’ve had since 1985. That one has # 4 heads on it and will probably pull the motor apart and sell everything eventually from it. We have three Trans Ams. The TATA has the 421 stroker which is a 403. I could have used a 67 330 block and would have same results. The facts are the 403 has known limitations and I wasn’t up to putting a custom stroker package in a 403. Its been done and I bet that motor was 15K-20K easily. There are no casting numbers on the block or sides no one knows what it is except an Olds. Early 350s’ have no marks on the sides and numbers above the water pump I machined off so it looks like the RPP block. Thanks Mike

olds403 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2022, 10:30:49 PM »

https://youtu.be/mtH_sDAF_s4

This the dyno run. I lied....one more coming

« **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2022, 10:30:49 PM »

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Author Topic: LS Olds is alive ! Final build from Olds 403 (Read 3849 times)