Do 4 bbl intake manifolds exist for these engines? I ask, because the 371 I am looking to get comes with the J2 3X2 intake setup and since that engine is slated for my woman's sedan build, I was thinking a 4 bbl would be a better setup for her. Any suggestions/recommendations?
There is a stock cast iron manifold but it only takes the small Rochester 4 bbls. You can get an adapter to fit a Holley or other square bore carb to that manifold.
oh ya the 324/371/394/ all interchange. look for a 60-64 big olds 98/88/ shouldnt be hard but the tri power will be ok it was a good trouble free intake carb set up .
How hard is it to find this intake if we decide to go the 4 bbl route? I was reading that the J-2 triple setup had issues which is why it only ran for 2 years as a factory option. I know nothing about these engines and if it were for me, I wouldn't mind having to mess with the syncing, but since it is for my woman, I don't want her to have to wait on me if the carbs needed tuning, while i'm at work so she can go enjoy her ride.
Ummmmm.......not w/o some difficulty. (See other threads re this debate; one just a couple of days back....). Deck height changed w/ the '57 371, as I recall; but I can tell you w/ certainty all '49-'56 will interchange. 4brl. versions of the 324 started about '53. In any case, factory manifolds are not that difficult to come by, and were used in many swaps. I found one in a '56 F-100 conversion. You are wise in going that route for reliability (and peace on the home-front.)
I am the first to say I could be wrong but I thought all the kettering motors were the same. I have had three J-2 intakes and had no problems at all. I also used a offy six jug off my 55 324 then on my 60 with what I ***umed was a 394. same log intake. I gave a guy a set on gaskits I had for a 394 and he used them on his 303,well he said he was going to use then atleast. 36 are you the old mr.442 by chance ?
just some trivia on intakes; anything can me made to bolt on, but 49-53 has tiny ports. If you try to use a 49-53 aftermarket intake on a 324, the top edge of the ports on the head will not seal. So, then you could use a 324 intake on a 49-53, but you'd have large runners running into a much smaller head port. If you look in Rocketdaemons "ultimate olds thread" you will see an Edelbrock new-old-stock intake with box, I believe the factory label says 56-58. To use a 49-53 intake on a 56/58, you need spacers to get it to line up. I never saw it on hamb, but one would think that 54/55 is by itself as far as aftermarket non-log intakes were concerned. I am thinking that the 56 324 is more closely related to the 57/58 371, than the 54/55 324? Logs are different because the width of the "intake setup" is variable. Goatroaper should have the definate info on all the intake fitments
If your 371 is a 57-58, and not a 59-60 then you had better stick with the 57-58 4bbl manifolds. As is noted, 57-58 371 engines had a raised deck height, 59-64 took the deck height even higher. As far as a 324 from a 56 Olds, I kinda remember that they are different from a 54 or 55 324.
The cam got longer in 59 to make more room for wider cam lobes, so you would think the block must be longer, and maybe the intake a lot longer?
I should have clarified. I have the option to get either a ready to go 371 or an old 324 to build. I was mainly asking if a 4 bbl intake was available for either, as the J2 setup on the 371 looks to be problematic for her needs (the 371 we are looking at has this setup on it currently with the carbs). So before buying either engine, I wanted to know what the availability of a 4 bbl intake was for either, which would help us choose which engine to get before wussing out and putting a chevy in her sedan due to parts availability.
Both intakes for both motors are readly avalable. in 4 bbl form. so is what is being said is there is 2 -371 motors ? I understood a 394 is a 30 over 371, ? I do understand the point on the log. Bob All Amercian had some nice intakes on there floor some time ago.
There are two deck height 371s. The lower deck height is the early 57-58 version, the later 59-60 is the taller deck, which is the same as 394. All of the intake bolt pattern are the same, but due to deck height differences (and port size), you need the right intake for best performance and fit. If this is just a nice cruiser for your wife, why not just use the 3x2 intake and only run the center 2 barrel carb? Just block off the outer two carbs. You will give up some top end power, but it will run nice for lower rpm crusing.
Negative........I'm just old.....(Make that oldER) Well, this turned into the proverbial can of worms. By this point, you realize finding the manifold is not so much the issue, as is matching the ports and deck height. Also, heed the advice of "smaller ports on earlier aftermarket" AND factory manifolds. My Edelbrock OL-396 3x2 has ports of 1 5/8", while the '56 heads are 2". That 371 will provide plenty of grunt in stock form and be very reliable. (I wont confuse the issue further by bringing up ****** selection, but that should be a consideration in your purchase, as well.) And, yes, Tony (Goatroaper- of Ross Racing Engines), is one of a select few on here who knows these motors inside and out. Don Wow and Paul also come to mind..) Hope some of this helps. Robb
A few cents offered. The J2 induction was a problem due to non progressive vacuum activated linkage. The J2 371 of '57 - '58 was essentially the same as the 371-4V except the trio of Rochesters. There was an over the counter Iskenderian cam package that bumped the rated horsepower to around 312 or so. This camshaft came with adjustable rockers, solid lifters, and dimpled valve covers to clear the rockers. You've probably seen those valve covers in old pics. Many Olds dealers/mechanics removed the outer carbs of the J2 due to issues and replaced them with block off plates. This became a recommended procedure to take care of complaints from customers with J2's where the carbs gummed up after a few years. The folks just weren't kicking all the carbs in enough and due to vacuum operation it wasn't that easy to do. Putting around town in the family sedan 88 or 98 with a J2 induction didn't turn out to be a good combination. But there were after market linkage packages offered that could be installed. Elco comes to mind as a company that offered such a progressive linkage kit. Going to progressive linkage improved the J2 system immensely. So the idea of running with the middle carb only is okay. The '56, casting #10, heads are very similar to the '57-'58 heads, port and valve size wise. The '56-'58 324 heads are the best to use in a '49-'58 Rocket build. The camshaft difference is that the '49-'55 had narrower journals. For '56 GM went to a wider cam journal that was maintained at least through '58. As has been mentioned, the '57-'58 371 featured an increased deck height that allowed for larger bore, etc. Check out Goatroper02's response to my recent question about the possiblilty of running a J2 intake on a '56 back to '49 324/303. It can be done as he indicated with expert machine work. Sounds fairly easy with the help of a pro. The '59-'64 Rocket 371/394s have strong similarities to their older siblings but there's a lot of differences that makes interchange difficult. Oh and I think the 4 barrel induction became available in '54. A lot of guys, I'm one, installed these early 4V intakes with the good old Rochester 4V on '49-'53 303s. I had no problems and my otherwise stock '49 303 ran a lot better with the '55 cast iron intake. Rambling thoughts but it's fun to hear, read, talk about the old Kettering Olds Rocket & Caddy mills. I've been into FE Fords for years but I'm returning to my roots building a '55 324, that'll have '56 heads, an Isky E4 cam, solids, adjustables, an Edelbrock OL396 intake, 97s, maybe Demon 98s, Belond style headers, those dimpled Isky valve covers, backed by a LaSalle side shift w/Hurst Synchro Loc. As I said in my post, I do have a J2 intake along with all the other parts I've mentioned. I am considering using it on the 324 with Rochesters/progressive linkage. Proper machine work done to make it fit. Rocket Power!
There is no problem to use a later carb on the 4 barrel 54-56 or the 371 manifole. The ports are large enough under the carb. I am planning to use a quadrajet on my 1/8" over 1954 .An adapter is needed. Don't use the open type.
You need to check your info. The 324,371 394 all have different port sizes. The 371 intake will fit a 324 with machine work but its really not worth it as there are 4 barrel intakes out there for the 324. Look in the tech are at the olds rocket thread it will explain everything you need to know.
Thanks all for the advice. It has helped me understand these engines better. I have seen Rocket Daemon's thread on these engines. We are going with the 371 and are going to give the tri-power an honest chance. From the further readings I have done on this, people talked to and this thread, it looks like the biggest problem is making sure you keep the outboard carbs flushed...by getting on it from time to time to keep the fuel from varnishing the bowls. How hard is it to get rebuild kits or float kits for these carbs?
Thanks for the heads up. I know I have to redo the float on the center carb, as recommended by the guy who sold us the engine. Just trying to get my ducks in a row regarding maintenance links and where to go for this stuff.
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