Big Olds Needs a Head Job

As some heard at the HAMB Drags the reason Big Olds wasn't there is "we" think he has a blown head gasket. The symptoms are he's using coolant but it's not in the oil or leaking anywhere. So we feel it's somehow being burned, a symptom of a possible blown head gasket or worse

Rudy has spoken in depth to my local mechanic who I've know and trusted for over 20 years of doing my major repairs on all my cars. He seems to think that it's a cracked head. He says it was very common with the 455 Olds engines and has had to replace a number of them over the years.

He's booked solid till Tuesday. I'm taking Big Olds there then. He understands I'm under a time crunch. He wants me to locate a head "just in case". Rudy and I got what we think are the casting numbers off the head that is on Big Olds

CA (in large letters) then CFO(?) 394 548

According to "Just Steve", the builder of Big Olds before I got him, the engine is a 1970 Olds 455 but thats about all I know about it.

What I'd like to do is locate a possible replacment head in advance that way IF Big Olds does in fact need one I'll have it here. Does anyone have any leads on one or someone that might have one for sale.

In the meantime keep your fingers crossed it's just a head gasket that needs replacing.

 

Denise, that number you gave comes up as a 1967 -1969 400/425 head for Oldsmabubbles. According to my book, if they are 1970 455 heads they would be numbers 404438.


Cylinder head casting numbers can be found on top of both center exhaust ports on 1965 and later Oldsmobile heads. Hope this helps you out a little better!
**x
Brandy

 

Well yeah, if Camie was giving them away I guess I would take a set off her BUT I'm a working stiff and don't have that kind of money....IF I had money lying around like that Big Olds would have a top on him right now

Now bring on the 35 year old heads please.... I like my stuff vintage

 

What Hack said..... Edelbrock Olds Heads

and they are available from Joe Mondello the Olds guru...

 

Denise, that coolant has to be going somewhere. If it isn't in the oil it is probably burning it, so it should be smoking "white" and if you pull the plugs you should find the offending cylinder to have a VERY clean plug. Hope this helps. I will put out some feelers for a head. I second the motion about the Edelbrock heads. I have them and a friend of mine has them on a Olds 455 that runs like stink. If you blow it up with a single carb, rebuild it with dual quads. If you blow it up again supercharge it!!

 

Sorry I can't give you a defenite answer regarding those casting numbers. I do know that if Big Olds' heads have a letter (C,G,J...) cast into them near the front on the driver's side and near the back on the p***enger side then they are indeed big block heads. If it is a casting number like 4A or 5A then they are small block heads (note that this indicator is near where the alternator would be mounted, not above the exhaust ports).

A sure fire way to tell if the engine is a big block is to measure the width of the intake. Big blocks are about 11 inches. I mention these facts because you mentioned that the casting numbers were "CA." I have never heard of that casting mark before... If you get in a pinch and need a set of heads bad then my dad (OldsGuy) and I have some that we would sell. Unfortunately, they are J heads (smogger heads from the 70s). In addition, they have been sitting on my dad's garage floor for like 3 years, but they have a fresh (3 year old, never run) valve job on them.

 

Ok I'm typing slow this evening... But then again if you are replacing one head, I would say find a set and have them both done.... You should be able to find them in a local salvage yard if not give this a shot.... go here

 

WOW! I post slowly. When I started my last post I swear no body had replied to the original post yet. Good luck!

Oh, BTW. I wouldn't suggest the aluminum Edelbrock heads for the 455. I have been a long time member on ROP and most people don't talk to highly of them. They don't flow much better than stock Olds heads (the right ones mind you... C heads).

 

Other then being slow, nothing you said makes sense. C heads.....for a 70 455 I get E, F and the hi-po head W-30. What I do get for C heads is 67-69 400 and 425 heads. Which is the number she posted......394548 code C. I think I'd look for a set of 455 heads, could be easier and cheaper on the pocket book.

**x
Brandy

 

I had a similar thing happening in an engine of mine Denise. Found it by accident due to another problem....but the gasket was blown between the 2 centre cylinders. I think it was due to not retorquing the heads after they were initially installed by me and a mate during it's rebuild.

 

Or by getting her real hot. Usually if you have 2 cyls that aren't registering right on a pressure test, the blows betwixt 2 cyls. If you get 2 cyls down on opposing heads............run, run far and run hard. 2cyls on the same bank is more common and easily fixed compared to opposing banks. That's when you realize rods 7 and 8 are toast and all you can do is chew on the inner fender of your Pontiac hopin for lead poisoning.
**x
Brandy

 

Denise, I share the opinion that you probably have a cracked head. A blown head gasket could result in coolant loss but is usually accompanied by a rough running engine. When the gasket is blown between two cylinders you will have low compression in both and a compression check will tell the story. A blown head gasket in just one cylinder has to be from the cylinder to the outside and a trace of water along with a compression leak or into a water jacket. If that is the case you will get bubbles in the radiator while the engine is running (and a pressure buildup in the cooling system). If you check the radiator don't remove the cap while the engine is running. Remove the cap then start the engine to observe the air bubbles.
Your mechanic will know all about this so follow his advice. Does he have experience with big block Olds engines? If so, all the better. Also if you have a bad head I'd advise you replacing both of them. Unless you can verify a replacement head is EXACTLY like the damaged one you could end up with a differnt compression ratio from one side of the engine to the other. Also a fresh head tends to build better compression than a used one so putting a fresh on and leaving one with a lot of miles on it is not a good idea.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

Frank

 

In the South ......even in my town......we have a head service business......where you can buy heads .......old ones, late model or whatever.......cores or ready to be installed..

I would bet the the metro Detroit area has the same thing....just a idea.....

Randy

.

 

lol no pun intended but so do i

 

I realize a complete valve job is necessary for both heads.

 

what are 1970 455-360 hp heads...would these work?



Fred

 

Probley so but since I was talking about this problem with a few HAMB guys over the weekend I wanted to get my HAMB brothers opinions on exactly what heads I have and to check if anyone has any heads for sale that might fit the bill.

 

Thanks Greg, appreciate that. I'll keep the number handy.

 

Back when I was racing 455 Olds engines, it was fairly common to find broken head bolts now and then. I carried spares to the track just for that reason. I'll check the heads on the engines I have, but one is for sure a 76, and the other is a 73 I think.

 

denise if you can get ahold of the guy that used to run headworks in madison heights i belive. i just got my new heads for my 305 from him for a very good price but he is just about out of buisness (sold it do to his wife p***ing away) any way i cought him on a day he was in the office. but try him he has been around forever and did right by me.. there listed in the phone book ill see if i can dig up his number.if not call warhoops (thats place where we got mikes seat from) call me for the number on that im having a brain fart on what it is. or i can call them tommrow.


Bryan

 

i vote for the aluminum heads,if they fit your budget that is...

 

I stock the Edelbrock heads... I only have 6 in stock right now.

Get a price on what it will cost to do your heads before buying anything and call me or PM me on prices for the Edelbrock. It might be worth buying new heads outright.

Mike
800 424 8741 x159

 

Trust me, you are first on my list to call if I'm buying outright. Thanks sweetie! xoxoxo

 

Hi Denise......made some calls and found out that our machine shop at another location has Olds heads. I'll pop in this afternoon with that cast number you provided (394548) to see if we have a match or something close.

Keep ya posted, F.E.

 

the early Olds 455 had a steel shim headgasket that was prone to corrosion. I think you will be ok with new head gaskets. You are going to both sides aren't you? Hope it all goes well.

 

If this doesn't go through, my machine shop has several sets of olds heads. I remember two sets of 5's, at least a set each of E and F heads. They are bare and have been tanked, so the are rust free and paint free.

 

You are a sweetheart. Please let me know what you find out. TY

I'm hoping its just head gaskets, and both side are a great suggestion to my mechanic but he'll probley roll his eyes at me when I ask him and say something like "well of course"

Can you explain "5's" and whats E and F please. Oh yeah, I'll tade ya some wheels for heads that will fit.

Seriously, YOUR wheels are on my back porch. Feel free to pick them up anytime. The lugnuts are in the white whipped topping container laying right there.

Thanks for the offer I will keep it in mind

 

Can you explain "5's" and whats E and F please. Oh yeah, I'll tade ya some wheels for heads that will fit.

Seriously, YOUR wheels are on my back porch. Feel free to pick them up anytime. The lugnuts are in the white whipped topping container laying right there.

 

Denise I have seen many a Olds motor in my day and I wouldn`t jump to fast on head work or replacment.Olds intakes are notorius for intake leaks at the coolant ports,normally the rear ports get erodded badly on the intake side.

CA (in large letters) then CFO(?) 394 548

According to "Just Steve", the builder of Big Olds before I got him, the engine is a 1970 Olds 455 but thats about all I know about it.

What I'd like to do is locate a possible replacment head in advance that way IF Big Olds does in fact need one I'll have it here. Does anyone have any leads on one or someone that might have one for sale.

In the meantime keep your fingers crossed it's just a head gasket that needs replacing. [/QUOTE]