Engine Sacrilege: How far is too far?

I'm looking at engine options for my '56 Olds.
I'm trying to keep costs down, but don't want to desecrate it with a SBC.
I have the original 324 and hydromatic that would need complete rebuilds. This would be the most costly option, but very cool none-the-less.
I can lay hands on a 455/TH-400 combo for a bit less. Not period correct, but for less money than it would take to rebuild the 324, I could have a torque monster that still an Olds.
Lastly, I'm looking at buying a 1970 Caddy (472/TH-400)with 40,000 original miles on it. Needs a couple small things (carb rebuild, etc.), but I can get the whole car for $500 and could possibly sell some parts to recover some costs. This is the cheapest and easiest option, and would make good power, but it's not an Olds.
If I use anything other than the 324, I'd rebuild and swap in the 324 when funds allowed. Then the other engine would be used in a future project.
Now, I know this is kind of a personal choice, but I'd appreciate opinions. The Caddy engine would likely get my car on the road the fastest, and make the best candidate for the project I'm planning on in the future.
I'm curious to hear opinions from guys that have been there about the value of getting your car on the street (even if it's not quite what you want it to be) vs. having it take up space in the garage on blocks until $$$ is there to do it just right.

Thanks,
Kris

P.S. Any particular thoughts or reasons for your vote would be appreciated as well.

 

I would love to see the original motor rebuilt - and I realize cost is a factor. Is cost such a factor that a crazy gas guzzler like the 455 would make any sense? The Caddy motor sounds like a cool deal, but doesn't make much sense if you have two Olds motors to choose from already. My $.02

 

i voted for the olds 455/th400....the caddy would be cool too , but it all depends on how hard it would be to make either fit. you know : oil pan to crossmembers , exhaust to steering clearance , will it fit between the radiator and firewall ,will the starter hit something ,etc

a few minutes with a tape measure would probabilly help you decide..or if someone here has done either swap and tells you what is needed to do it

 

I personally like the idea of the Caddy.

 

Opinions are like belly buttons,........ yadda,yadda,yadda. mine says keep the 324 and go with a late model o/d tranny{700r4,460le,etc.}
R.R.

 

I have been saving a low mile 500 cad for 8+years, waiting for the right car. I have only driven mine when it was in a 5000lbs land barge. The 472-500 are not bad looking, they are bombproof, and have great torque. I would run the 472, enjoy the car, rebuild the stocker as you can. A car on the road, running well is better than any pipedream build that is stalled. I have a shop full of big projects, each one needs very little to turn the corner to finishing. I do not follow my own advise, but I should.

 

Get it on the road right now with the Caddy, and build the 324 as funds permit. You can enjoy the car, while doing the original motor right and not having to cut corners.

 

use what you have and keep the engine closed like it should be

 

What he said. Those Caddys have loads of heavy-Olds-moving torque. You could then take your time rebuilding the 324 so it didn't take a big bite out of your budget at once.

 

I'd go Caddy, after a lot of measuring and studying the mods needed to instal it. It may, or may NOT, be the cheapest way to go. You might be better off to spend more money rebuilding the 324 than spending more to modify other parts to get the Cad in. If you do install the Caddy I'd concider it a permanent deal and save the 324 for rod. But thats just me.

 

Good point, put the 324 in an open engine bay and show it off!

 

I borrowed a 283 just to get (well, keep) my car on the road when the 235 showed it wasn't up to keeping itself dependable, and rebuilt another SBC while driving it. I don't regret that at all. I certainly see your point about keeping an Olds-powered Olds... but heavytlc nailed it:

Oilcan Harry's point is VERY valid too. Get that tape measure out before you decide anything!

 

The 324 can be made into a 371 at rebuild time, for no aditional money. The four speed hydo will get the car off the line very well. I love old Oldses, they are very reliable. That being said, the most bang for the buck may be the 500 Caddy, if you could get a 700R4 behind it. That would get both ends at once, big inches to get off the line, and the OD for long criuses.

 

455. why?

parts avalibility- more than either motor- especially for cool stuff like heads, intakes, cams, and general "non stock "parts- you can find stuff for the caddy, but you know what they say about caddy parts...

how do you make a 10 dollar chevrolet coil wort 100 dollars? Put a caddilac sticker on it.

the olds 455 will lend itself more useful in the long run...pure brute torque (my daily runs a 425- the 455's little brother) this motor throws my large sized automobile around like a paper airplane in a windstorm.

the caddy is still worth having, but not as brutish as the olds.

then, you take the 324, build it, dress it up, and stick it in a hoodless rod. it's a beautiful little motor, and deserves to be show off. the 455 and the caddy...well, they have thier own appeal, but they are ugly ducklings compared to the 324.

and don't beleive the "gas hog" hype. I get around 8 miles to the gallon...with STEEP gears, headers,big cam,middle weight converter and a heavy right foot.

if you go with the 455, there is one other expense you will have to keep in mind...Tire fund.

 

I forgot- the 455 drops in pretty easy- you will need a set of middle 60's exhaust manifolds (they are all the same save for hi-perf stuff from 64 to 72- I used a set of 1967 manifolds I took off my cutlass)
and the engine setback is pretty good,too. there are 2 sets of motor mount holes on a big olds motor, and I ended up using the ones farthest forward on the motor. again, the mounts were from a 67- but this time delta 88- and I pulled the mounting pads out of the same delta the motor came out of.

it sat about 1 inch towards the passenger side due to the gearbox, but never suffered any type of vibration, or ill handling due to the move.

it's really pretty easy.

Hey! Where the heck is Denise! Big olds wears a 455...and it fits right in the comparitively smaller engine bay very well.
I bet she might even have some pictures,too.

 

If your Olds body is like my 57, it won't like a wide engine. The 455 is very wide and way heavier than the Cad. Get out the tape and see what fits best around the steering box. I had to move my 350 Olds to the right to clear even with custom exhaust.

 

You should wait and build the engine you want.

I was waiting on a 331 hemi and a SBC fell into my lap. I went ahead and installed it.

Damn I'm sad driving my hot rod without the hemi. Oh well.

 

Thanks for the advice thus far gentlemen. Keep it coming.

I'm going to swing by and take a look at that Caddy this weekend, and see what kindof options I can scrounge up at the Fall Swap Meet tomorrow.

I hadn't considered putting the 324 in my next project. I'm thinking of a late 20's Ford truck. No hood, no fenders, rediculous chop. That old Oldsmobile would probably look pretty sexy sitting in that...

Kris

 

Actually the 200-4r will bolt right up to the Caddy and one out of a Buick GN will live if not abused on a regular basis. I've got a 425(same external as 472/500 with a 200-4r behind it in my 52 Chevy but it took a ton of work to fit it in.
Bob

 

in the long run a small block chevy will prolly out last and most likely out perform all the above and it will fit in anything why then did every hot rodder in the day want one when they came out...........go ahead you know you want to .... l

 

Money runs out.....

you say that you want the olds in there eventually... do it.

I have done several cars where I put in an engine "just to get the car running", and I never got around to putting the "correct" engine in it.

Body work, upholstery, chrome,,, bills, food,,,, Once the engine is in,, my money runs out.


Put the engine in that you want the first time. it'll cost you a few bucks up front, but in the long run what you spend on the caddy would have built most of the olds,,,

Plus a 324 is a really cool engine, with tons of speed parts out there, and it is stock in your car. That rules.

Get it running with the Olds. Even if it isn't up and running for a little while, you'll be more stoked on the 324.

 

I didn't want one back in the day, I pulled the sbc out of my 55 chev. and installed a 322 buick.

 

Damn straight!

 

Hah!
any 455 with even a modicum of work done to it will walk all over a built small block chevy.

go ahead...ask me to prove it.

 

heck, heads up, any stock 350 vs any stock 455 in the same chassis with the same gears?

I'd install the running engine that will fit the car most easily out of what I already had or could get cheap.

 

472. Big is beautiful!

 

When I started to replace the tired and leaking original 292 Y Block in my 56 Victoria, I had a 5.0 and AOD on hand ($200 invested) and was offered a 427 side oiler w/ 2-4s (never asked how much).

Anyway, I found a 312 crank turned the mains to fit the 292 and built a strong Y block w/ a World Class T5. Glad I did.

When asked why about anything on the car, cause I wanted to. It's not a chevelle, camaro 'Stang, theres nothing billet, no computer and no damed sbc.

Later
TC

 

i wouldnt put some 70s shit in a hotrod, but thats just me.

 

I know what it's like to build on a budget, you gotta make the most of the money you have, and that's why so many guys go for a sbc, it just makes cents, however, the tide has turned since I started, and if you put a chevy in it you'll love it for the ease of installation and power to dollar ratio, but you'll probably start to hate it for the grief you get from other people who never walked in your shoes. Unfortunately the sensible thing isn't always the best thing since hotrodding generally scoffs at sensible behavior.
Ooooorrrrrr- put some olds valve covers on it and keep the hood shut, and fuckem!
PS
but for $500, I'd do the Caddy

 

I'd go with the caddy motor and trans,Although the 472 out of a 70 rear wheel drive car will have a front sump oil pan on it,you'll need to swap it out for an eldorado pan (rear sump) and put the matching pick-up in with it.