Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I'm going to look at one on Sunday. Anything I should look for specifically?

This would be a huge jump from my 250!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Same things as any other engine. Compression test if possible. Check the condition of the oil (appearance, smell, feel). If it's already pulled try turning it over by hand and see if it turns freely (spark plugs out).

The 455 is a great torque monster and near bulletproof. And the last TH400 I had mated to a 455 shifted so smoothly you almost couldn't tell where the shift points were. You'll definitely have a grin on your face when you put your foot in it. The grin might diminish slightly when you're sitting next to the gas pump.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Awesome! It is already out so I won't be able to check compression. I'll check the other suggestions out.

I'm getting it all for $200, but I'm hoping for the best!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

You can take a break over with you. Pull the spark plugs and see if the crank will turn...it would at least tell you its not a locked up engine.

Price is right!!!
Would be killer in your 64!!!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I will. The current owner has had it running, but I am still going to check it out.

Only thing it doesn't come with is a carb. I'm researching thise now. Seems like the Quadrajet, Holley 750, and Edelbrock are the most highly recommended.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

The Olds 455 is one of my all time favorite engines. I would love to have one in my truck but I wouldn't trust a $200 engine. It could end up costing a lot more than a new GM crate engine.
ETA- which may not be a bad thing as long as you end up with a good running 455.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more skeptical I get.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

A new crate engine is cool, but showing off a 455 at a cruise night is way cooler.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I wouldn't get down just yet. It might be a decent engine.

As for the carb, the Quadrajet would be my choice. They run great on that 455.

OK, so I'm feeling like telling a little story: I had a 1982 Buick Estate Wagon with all the bells and whistles. I was able to buy it cheap because it also had an Olds 350 diesel. I knew the thing would eventually die, and it didn't take long. When it did, I replaced it with a 455, Quadrajet, 3.23 posi and dual 2.5 exhausts. It was crazy fast.

My wife couldn't understand why I loved this car that only got 11 or 12 MPG and was as big as a tank. One day, about two years after I built it, I came home and she had a huge smile on her face. Some guy in a truck had tried to pass her on the right, and for the first time in two years she punched the gas.

Yeah, that 455 is going to put a smile on your face.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Good to hear! I like the simplicity of the 250 but it has leaves a lot to be desired performance-wise.

Is there a certain Quadrajet I should look for?

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

As long as the block is good it's definitely worth the $200. Even if the block is bad and you start with a new short block it would still have more than $200 dollars worth of parts on it.
I was just saying you can get a GM 350 crate engine cheaper than you can rebuild a 455. But, a rebuilt 455 would be worth more than a 350 crate engine and have a lot more WOW.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

You can still check compression if it's sitting on the shop floor. Wire a battery up to the starter and crank it over.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I like the late-70s Quadrajets because they have heavier castings and electric choke. The Olds Quadrajets have the fuel inlet pointing to the front where the Chevy inlet is toward the side.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

There is little demand for Olds 455's. Pontiac's are another deal!!!
You never know. As long as it's an original unmolested engine that someone hasn't screwed with or better term is screwed up, I'd like it to be untouched...

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I had two 455's back in the 80's, one was full race in a rag top and another was in a vista cruiser that floated like a cloud and at 80, still had power to whoop almost anything of the day.

The race motor was estimated at 525 horse and 500 lb Ft torque. A real stump pulling fun and also dangerous. Local track let me run it in open, run what you brung night for about 6 weeks, then they got a conscious and barred me because no roll bar.
Anyway, speed stuff was gotten from a place in Cali that did nothing but performance Oldsmobiles. Spent too much money but had loads of fun and near misses...

Oh and GF at the time would NOT ride in it at all...go figure!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Agreed!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...gineGrille.jpg

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

No idea what full race means. Generally nothing.
GM used odd engines in things. If you like Pontiacs, for example some are in Cads.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Case closed, it's cooler than a Chevy engine (and more expensive). That grill emblem is too cool.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Picked up the motor and transmission. I have acetone/atf in the cylinders as I could not turn it over with 18" breaker bar. I couldn't get much leverage with it in my truck bed. It has been wrappe in a tarp for 12+ months. Once I get an engine stand I will begin disassembly then go from there. I assume it will need bored and a rebuild kit.

I hope I can get this in my c10, eventually.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Looks pretty clean inside. Any signs of water on the plugs?
Jimmy

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Not at all. Plugs looked pretty good, actually.

Any idea why it would be painted gold on the heads?

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Took the heads off and the cast iron heads need to be replaced or completely redone due to rust. The block looks to be in good condition and the pistons look to be decent, too. I will have the cylinders cleaned and honed or bored over.

I was able to get it to turn over. Looks like there was just surface rust keeping the postons from moving. Hopefully just cleaning and honing will do.


We'll see what the bottom end looks like!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I see the Left head is a J casting...'73-up 455. The Right one is hard to tell in the photo, but doesn't look like a J...What is it?

As to the Gold, Red, ect. paint. The early (up to '69) 425's & 455's in RWD cars were Red, so guys will sometimes paint an engine Red because that was the "performance" ones were.
The Gold was used on 350's from the late 60's through the mid '70's so if a guy did a swap of a 455 into a car that had a 350, sometimes to make it still look "correct" they get painted Gold. Just what I've seen over the years? Lorne

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

You'll love the low end grunt of that 455. I had a mint 70 Olds Cutlass 4 door that I swapped a fresh 1970 455 into. It had a 12 bolt posi with 3.55's in it with dual exhaust. I mainly built it to tow my camper and boat but I soon found out (as did many) it was a stop light nightmare for many Mustang GT's..

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Thanks for the info HAULIN'IT. The J heads do appear to be the worst flowing heads so I am going to look at some rebuilt G heads. I am taking the block to get it bored and honed next week. An upgraded cam will be coming, too. I know I am going to spend more than I was planning but I want to make sure it runs well and does not need to be tore down again because I cut corners.

I should make most of my money back when I sell my 250 and T5, though.

This 455 is going to be so much more fun to drive than the 250!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Got the engine disassembled and the bottom end looks good...whew.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

It has been a little over a year since my last update, and I'm still not finished. The crank was actually bad but found an unmolested one. Took all to machine shop to have block bored over and crank ground .1 under. Purchased heads that were rebuilt a few years ago but I did upgrade the springs to work best with my new camshaft. Everything else is new, also. Getting close but life is busy!

I am also rebuilding a th400. First time ever rebuilding a transmission and engine, but all seems to be going well, just slow.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Darn picture is sideways. :(

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

had a couple of 455 olds and a 455 pontiac, both great engines in their own right..

here's a little 455 olds tire smoke for inspiration, good luck with your project!

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/x9v7dzip73s...rnout.jpg?dl=0

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Beautiful!

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Looks great! Slow and careful is ok when you are building. My '70 LT-1 350 is 80% done. Slow and careful. Maybe late this summer for me.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I'm afraid I will be doing that often. :)

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I definitely don't want to rush anything on this. Way too much money invested to screw this up. I just hope it all goes without any issues on 1st fire-up/cam break-in. I think that is what terrifies me.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I thought I would provide another update. All is going well just really slow. :)

I'm finishing up the switch panel for the run-in stand then the exhaust and connecting the radiator. Very close to firing it up, but I am very nervous.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

WOW, looking great. What are you going to use for axles. That thing will twist your current ones like licorice candy.

I had a Olds 455 in a 232" 5000+ Lb 98 Regency but it was severely burdened with Calif smog stuff including a clogged Cat. Still never had to work hard getting from one gas station to the next. Great motors. I see a very fun future for you. -BA

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

can't quite make it out in your pic, but that's 396021F right?

days of boneyarding 30 years ago to find a cracked block replacement and still remember that :lol:

keep us posted, Dr. Oldsmobile would be proud :)

http://www.fusickautomotiveproducts....ages/DC48B.jpg

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I have a 12 bolt from a '68 with a rebuilt factory lsd. This thing should be scary fun.

Hot damn you're good! It sure is! This thing has been fun to build but a hell of a lot more expensive than I had dreamed, hence the taking the build slow. :)

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

I've had two 455 Olds and a 455 Pontiac over the years. It was my way of building a hotrod back in the day. Take a 455 out of a big 4 door and put it in a Cutlass size body and instant hotrod. The only reason I don't have one now it the 350 is so much easier and cheaper to build but I like what you are doing.

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

What intake is that???
Do you now have adjustable rocker arms???

Carry on, great job!!!

My other vice is Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles are awesome also!!!

What gear is in the diff you plan to use??? Really won't matter, tires won't get any mercy regardless of ratio...LOL

Re: Thoughts of swapping in an Olds 455 w/400 trans in '64?
 

Intake is an Airgap and have new adjustable rocker arms, too.

Gear ratio is 3.73 but will possibly swap to 3.08.

This has been a fun 1st build.