'Im thinking seriously about putting a 70's 455 Olds in my 56 Olds. Could use any input,tips or suggstions.Thanks
I'm not gonna be much help here and I don't usually post on a subject I don't know much about, but I've seen a heck of a lot of Oldsmobiles - street and dragstrip - running 455's where Rocket motors used to sit. I'm told it's an easy swap and looking at the popularity of it, I'm guessing it may be an easy one. I did help little brother swap a 455 into a 37 Olds coupe and later on into his first Henry J drag racer. Both of these swaps were pretty straight forward and relatively easy.
Yep, it's been done and I'm planning on doin' it myself. There's a guy here in OKC that has a '56 Olds 98 with a 455 and a TH700R, he clipped it with a '72 olds front end (if I remember right). I was plannin' on copying his set up, when I get around to doin' mine. -HL
B-O-P engines and engine compartments didn't have appreciable changes from the mid-50's up to the time of the 455's. Really a fairly easy swap.
as stated above though, wouldnt be a bad idea to take the time and clip the car...its hard to get modern frontend parts for a mid 50s olds, i think 57 is the first year of ball joints? and the only disc kit i have seen is on ebay for close to $1000...who knows if its any good or needs a ton of mods. i dont know if this is any help, might not be, but danchuck makes the sidemount sbc frame mounts (alot of places do though) and if the olds motor mounts the same as a pontiac of the same vintage, i remember a 70 firebird @ my old shop which had basic sbc mounts on the motor itself, so that might help you along.
The beauty of clipping the car with a 72 Olds 98 (if I remember, its been a couple of years since I talked to him bout it last) was it already had the 455 mounts and you picked up modern power steering and disc brakes. The thing is, to clip it with an Olds front end it had to be a 72, a 71 didnt have disc brakes and in 73 they had moved the steering box to where it interfered with the radiator. Unfortunatly he sold that car acouple of years ago or I would go get some pics. Good luck what ever you decide. -HL
Had a 69' 455 in a 57' Olds 98. It was a tight fit but it got in there. Used Fork shaped mounts bolted to the front cross-member and rubber cushion mounts. Had a TH400 ******. The hardest part is squeezing it by the steering box. You really can only use stock exhaust manifolds. I had 3/4" between my manifold and steering box, so unless you are fancy with making headers it ain't going to happen. Also hood clearance is an issue. I had to use a very low profile, dished type aircleaner to make it fit. Had less than 1" to spare between cleaner and hood. Here's a picture:
Do you think a right side exhaust manifold could be used on the left which would have the downpipe exiting further forward? Any clearance problems between pan and steering linkages? Reason I ask is the 455 into Rocket swaps I've seen look like the engine sits down in the ch***is and it didn't seem hood clearance was an issue.
I think you can use 442 manifolds for dual exhaust instead of the cross-over type, but Not sure. I really wouldn't think that that would effect the clearance to the steering box since it was the upper section of the manifold that was too close, not the downtubes. You can mount an engine anyway you want and have it sit anyway you want, but you still need the Carb base to at least sit level. Droping it any futher into the frame would have made for very little oil pan clearance and a bad pinion angle for the driveshaft. Of course you could just use am intake manifold with less rise. Mine was the standard edelbrock performer.
Thanks for all the info.Lot of things to think about.Changing the front clip would really be the way to go.Ill keep you posted as to what I decide.If anyone is undertaking such a project,let me know. Thanks Chuck
what? lol. there are several ways to do it chuck.best is probly the front clip off a modern car.personally its not my cup of tea.it probly has more to due with my lack of talent.most people come from the front from what ive seen.jerry talked about the tri mount system using a toro front mount.im currecntly doing this,but its taking me forever since i dont know how to weld thick metal.i built my mounts from the sides.its mocked up.just needs to be welded.if you have a spare block it makes it much less of a chore.then you just need a crossmember inbetween your x-frame.i think you already did that with your ****** conversion.i think you can also buy bolt/weld in crossmembers,and make your own mounts on there.i know the speedway ones are too short.they could still be made to work,but someone may sell some long enough.headers will work.you have to move the #7 tube.it all depends where the motor is positioned too.the tube hits the steering colom.older headers didnt used to have this tube out like that.they did that soo you can get the starter out better.now its in our way.these are flow-techs.cheap headers,but they are short enough to be able to make the exhast holes in the frame.good luck, eric
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