A long weekend of removing the 324 Olds Rocket motor and Hydra ****** are out. Still have a project of cleaning, removal of some things and paint while its out but need some info... It's a 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 2 door, X frame...Is it the same X frame as the tri 5 Chevys? So motor mounts for a tri 5 would work? Or is the steering box in the wrong location for that (side of frame)? Will it need a front mount like the Rocket had? Also running a 700r4 tran, universal crossmember for a 700 or do I need a custom one like from bowtie overdrives? Third, need to upgrade this master cylinder, thats how this whole transformation started anyways, lucky that fence was there to stop us...anyways, need a dual reservoir that will fit in same compact location, is a power booster available? Even an electric one? Yes, it's a Chevy going into an Olds...Yes, we're removing the original Rocket...No, It's my car until someone buys it then they can do what they want. Oh, and yes, the motor and trans are for sale!
start looking for a front motor mount. i put a olds 350 into my 52 oldsmobile. the two major problems i had 1: had to have a friend fab a heavy duty front motor mount because the steering column and steering box/power steering box wouldnt allow for side motor mounts 2) i had to cut up and re-weld a header for the driver side, again...due to the fact that the steering column and power steering/steering box were in the way. even block huggers wouldnt have worked. PAIN IN THE *** BUT you are using a sbc, which is alot smaller than on olds 350. if you need anything else as far as what i had to do, send me a message and i'll help ya out if i can. -max
and as far as the master cyldr. goes, i dont believe there is anything out there. i could be wrong and if i am and you find something. let me know! hahaha
Your 54 and my 55's are identical except for minor cosmetics. I've done 2 so far with a 61 Olds 394 and slim jim trans going in the first one. Put a Trans-Am subframe under the other one and dropped a 73 Olds 350/350 on it. I'm just a shade tree mechanic and all I can say is keep looking at it till it makes sense. Had a professional check it out afterward and got an A. The forward Trans-am steering box gives you more clearance at the engine and makes setting up the brakes on the firewall a breeze. I'm doing after market A/C & heat so I took both boxes off the wall. But you can retain the stock heater box on the other side and just open your wing vent. Those stock 54/55 master cylinders are a b__ch to deal with anyway. Your stock rear is a good strong unit which is why I kept mine. Just take the 700R & stock 54 driveshaft in with the measurement once you get the engine set and you're in business. Curious thing is, dual exhaust wasn't offered till 56, but the hole in the rear X frame was there for it. Good luck with your project and keep us posted.............
Only thing more gay than putting a SBC in an Olds is gay people on a forum that waste time bashing someone working on their own car with their own idea. I did it to my 55 after two bum 324s, modified 55 Chevy mounts (longer) and a small balancer will work, I don't think the trans mounts are the same (crossmembers) as Chevys but I dont remember distinctly. Good luck and post some pics! Oh and FWIW I used the stock gauges, cleaner look. I do believe though the SBC runs hotter than the Olds, or at least that one did. Ran a bit over halfway, freaked me out a bit but I think it was normal.
no kidding man, they're whacked over on another "forum" Will get on the phone tomorrow and try to find some stuff to work. I think if I can at least get some danchuck mounts for a 55/57 we can get down to work. And I'm removing both boxes off the firewall and smoothing it out, so ya stole my thunder on that one! I think it will look sweet once the whole bay is painted to match the car. Thanks!
No one covered this, but a '55 Chevy frame has nothing in common with a '55 Olds except both have IFS and leaf springs in the back, and the leaves are the same spacing apart on both. Wasn't until the early 60s that GM cars started to share frames and suspension. The Olds and Pontiac have a few common pieces, though.
this is great...im going to be starting puttin a small chevy in my 56 olds and i was wondering the same thing. not to steal the thread but thanks guys for the info for the early chevy front mount
I was very happy at how the later Trans-Am subframe fit under the 55 Olds. A number of things worked out for the better. Most sub frame mods only tie together on the two main rails. I tied into the main rails and continued on back to tie into the X member too. I've seen high dollar show cars smooth the firewall of the heater boxes, but if the cowl screen is left open, it creates a big rain bucket behind the firewall unless you make drain openings that are going to show on the otherwise clean firewall. I was glad to get the cold air to the engine. Still working on it, but it's really there and should work well. Sir Woosh
Ahh, I see what you're saying about the cowl vent. I guess it will need some holes underneath? Should be pretty simple while everything is out of the way? Do you know where you found the front motor mount at if its a bolt on? Speedway?
Give some info on the M/C switch. I'm beginning not to trust my 53 year old M/C, and rebuilds are waaay too much. Want to convert to some Scarebirb discs anyway.
This may sound strange, but my '39 Olds frame is similar to your '54! It has the big x-member as well the strange offset crossmember in the front. I originally used a sbc with the stock front crossmember and used the old front mounting system on the sbc. I'm sure that the firewall issues on your '54 will be more difficult than my '39 was (no heater box for instance). I had a '54 2-door hardtop for a while that I sold before I ever messed with it. Before I finished the '39 tho, I decided to use a rear steer Nova subframe and a 350 Olds/Turbo 350 which allowed me to use a more traditional side mount arrangement. It worked out great--until I wrecked the car! I've got the new subframe back in and the replacement sheet metal back together. BTW, I know you didn't ask this, but the width of the sbo WITH exhaust manifolds is only about 1/2 inch wider than the SBC with manifolds! I used an older left side exhaust manifold on the sbo which cleared the rear-steer box beautifully. Here's a pic of the '39 on the way back to life, as well as a pic of the wreck, FWIW...
Looking into the scarebird discs also, may be a better way to go. Dont trust the old MC, thats what sent me thru the fencing.
We're going to smooth out the firewall so that won't be a hinderance. Just trying to find the best way to mount the SBC, Should I just find a set of SBC mounts and fabricate to fit? Also I'll get a 700r4 crossmemeber, will i make mounts off of that? The SBC is considerably smaller!
I'm not the only one who'd say you'd be better off with atleast the hydro and the right rear end gearing being it has a rediculusly low first
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