Royal Crown32's questions regarding carb selection for the tri power on his Olds got me to thinking and wondering. I've got a '63 edition of an Honest Charley catalog that provides a wealth of information. In the Edelbrock intake section on the Olds applications for '49-'56, there are two 3X2 intakes offered - one is OL396 for '49-'53 and then a OL396B for '54-'56. So what's the difference? I'd like to know because I plan to build a '55 324 with '56 heads and I have an OL396 that I would like to run on this engine. Will the OL396 work fine on the '56 heads?
the OL396 for '49-'53 has slightly smaller (shorter,but about the same width) runners than the '54-'56 OL396,but not to worry,there's enough material to port match to the later heads Rocketeers!
Isn't there also different intake for 57-58 Olds also? And then again different for '59 to '60 ? Recently spoke to my friend, he has 371 Rocket, and my other friend has '61 394, and those engines have different bolt pattern for exhaust manifolds. So maybe Olds Rockets look quite same through the years but they differ slightly? Any Olds gurus here? Which 3x2 fits which years Olds engine? What's the difference between 'em? I'm only into nailheads, so don't ask me...
There are four Oldsmobile intake groups: '49-'53 small port, '54-'56 large port, '57-'58, and '59-'64. The '59-'60 exhaust ports resembled the '57-'58 style, and '61-'64 exhaust ports had the different bolt pattern you mentioned.
Thanks guys for some response to my question. I will port match the OL396 to #10 '56 heads I plan to use. Here's what I understand regarding the J-2 tri power: it will fit '56 - '58 heads but those heads have to be on a 371 block. The J-2 intake is iron cast to fit the deck height/width of the 371 only.
The Jalopy Journal
