is that the one when it had the Cragar 4x2s and 48s? that setup is going on the 324 slated for the '27 Roadster seen here in an old mockup picture it'll go on the built '56 324 still waiting fresh and ready for final ***embly
Yep, the 303 with the 4x2's....in the test stand......just has that look that I think is nostalgia at it's best!!!! This thread started of as a 394 post and with seeing what you guys have done with all the rockets.......my horizon is pretty expanded any would fit the build and the dream motor can always come down the line one day!!!
Don I have been working up some front mounts for my 394. When I am done I will have prints that you can build off of. I'll send you a copy if you like. Pretty simple and should be damned stout. I am setting mine up with side mouts on the bell housing and floating the tail shaft so with the wide front mounts as well it should be a real stable setup.
Well it's Saturday morning and found ad for a 55 olds 88, guy has the car sitting in a machine shed out of the weather but he said it's getting rusty, but has rocket V8 along with hydromatic ****** in car and runs good. He wasn't sure about which rocket, but he thought it was a 324 and....he says it has got some pep, bit around 90,000 and would like to get around 800 bucks.....???? I was thinking could be a good donor for that.....so what about the hydro, any good?
No way to tell the condition of the hydro but that one would be a slant pan or dual range or 4 speed depending on who you are speaking with. They are good trannies and the transmission that out B&M on the map. I wouldn't think that 800 would not be a bad price and the olds itself should have pieces that you could use to recoup your investment.
a 55 would be a 324. That is the last 324 with the old style cam journals, so you need a cam for 55 or older. 56 is the last 324, but the cam sizes are the same as 57 and 58. 800 running sounds like a good deal. 90k it may be lifters ticking, but a runner that you can test with coolant in it, is better than a stuck motor if you plan on rebuilding any motor you get. I just started a thread on my 56 Hydramatic; the answer was that 56 had upgraded clutches, but that 54 and 55 are very good also. Trivia on the rear end: They are same width as a 55/57 Chev at 60" to wheel mounting surface. However, it can be used in an early car even with fenders, if the wheels have a lot of offset to the insides. I have 16" steelies from a 39 Stude that I widened 1" on the back side. I may go with 15" to run full wheel covers, so I just measured what looks to be a stock 15" 56 Olds wheel, and the front spacing is 100% the same as the Stude wheels, so I know they will tuck under my fenders. I ***ume it's a 56 wheel because it is the same color as the body on the car it's on. But of course, there is only one of these on the car. the rest are different. That rear might be around a 3.2 ratio with A/T, but I think there were optional ratios for extra money. My 55 stick rear is 3.4
F&J Do us a favor and post a link to your Hydro rebuild. I need to tear mine down for inspection and I am sure that there are more than one person on this thread that would benifit by knowing that they are not majic, just another ******.
All I plan on doing to that trans is the mods to make it hold in any gear, especially 1st gear. The other thread said B&M did that and beefed the clutches. d2 willys said the info should be on hamb, but I have not looked yet. Heck, I don't even have the car off the trailer yet One thing I was thinking about, about the high cost of rebuilding an early Rocket; Are there any other subsitutes of common pistons that could be used on a slight clean-up overbore on a 303, or 324, 371, or 394? I thought I read something about "one" of these motors having a cheap swap, but I could be wrong.
he said the motor was in great shape and ran quiet, but when i was younger i was told there was a leprachan at the end of a rainbow also.....so we will have to check it out. I thought for the price and being a good runner, I would at least be a step closer than one thats a basket case and maybe could be cleaned up and run for the time being.....but once again, that is thinking positive!
One thing I was thinking about, about the high cost of rebuilding an early Rocket; Are there any other subsitutes of common pistons that could be used on a slight clean-up overbore on a 303, or 324, 371, or 394? I thought I read something about "one" of these motors having a cheap swap, but I could be wrong.[/QUOTE] I know last night I ran across an ad around here for "NEW" $200, silvolitte pistons for a olds 371 .040 0ver for 1959-1960 and included pistons pins and clips, but no rings
I'm tearing down the 56 today, trying to find out why the engine was worked on years ago, then abandoned. Anyways, when I pulled the intake off, I noticed the 56 has a 57/58 style valley pan with more clearance for the redesigned low-belly intake. Well, I have a J2 intake that was machined to fit a 324, but it would not fit my 55 324 with the flat valley pan. So, I just had to test fit it I wish I had one more dimpled cover, I guess I'll use the 56 covers instead. I found out why they took the heads off years ago...It looks like a valve seat broke in half and dinged up the piston. They must have put a used head on because there are no marks on it. These motors are easy to work on, compared to today's cars.
"""So, I just had to test fit it I wish I had one more dimpled cover, I guess I'll use the 56 covers instead.""" Lucky you have one.......those are so cool, very rare from what I see
I might put up a pic of my very dusty/dirty 55 324. I hate to show it before it gets painted. QUOTE I thought for the price and being a good runner, I would at least be a step closer than one thats a basket case and maybe could be cleaned up and run for the time being.....but once again, that is thinking positive! So, are you making plans to go listen to it?
I put up a pic in post number 74, first pic The story from hamb I think: GM made the orig dimpled covers as part of the Export Version kit for J2 engines. Availabvle over the counter only. Came with a solid cam, adj rockers, dimpled painted valve covers.. Then as these parts went obsolete for GM, I think Isky bought out the original leftover covers from GM and had them chromed for resale.
You are making me jealous of that J2 setup. Believe it or not, I can put one on my 59 Dynamic 88. Why? Because the PO put a 58 371, or at least the ID has a "B" in the numbers, which means 58 371. The valve covers look to be 58, along with the intake manifold (temp sensor in left rear on left head.) Dimpled valve covers look weird to me! I would rather have some finned aluminum covers to go with the J2. Don't see any linkage, but you must have that too.
These are the only Olds things i have left besides the J2 pic. I used to buy/trade tons of Olds things, but it can get crazy. I actually like a plainer engine now, like a kid would have done. I need to clean up this old chromed front timing cover, and get the 55 motor painted. It's got Edmunds intake (2nd design, which is higher rise), Edmunds air cleaners for the early 303 back draft carbs, and matching edmunds covers. I said "enough" when a NOS Edmunds fuel pressure regulator went for over 800. I never bid because it had the older style logo ( I had to rationalize not wanting it) I should try to find a pic I saved from hamb of a beauty of a 303. All it had was an intake...and it was slick. Might have been done by Goatroper02, not sure
I was planning to give him a call tomorrow and see whats going on, it's about three hours away, but could be worth the drive, he is suppose to be sending a few pictures my way of it. And about a half hour ago, i got of the phone with a guy that has a 303 and a hydro-matic and both have been rebuilt and have less than 100 miles on them and comes with an edelbrock two four set up, no carbs except original two barrel and intake on motor.....and after seeing that video of Paul's 303 with the 4x2's....last night, pretty slick looking
Hey Paul, you are a lucky guy......you must have a genie in a bottle on your garage shelf with all the goodies you have shown pictures of on here, it's nice to that stuff still out there!! That j2 set up you show in picture, is that an original W-1 set up?
Did you guys see the new thread today on an old 394 injected dragster? Wow. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=608468
You probably read an article about using standard bore pistons from a 352 Ford in a .125 overbored 324 block.
Damn paul those covers have dents all overe them, you better pull them off and see what has been hitting. Listen while I got your attention someone wrote me and said that they have a factory set of chomed covers for a 394. I don't have two nickles to rub together. So I am ppsting this so you don't miss out. This is your last chance to send a dollar to the '******. hey Paul quick question did the J2 have mechanical linkage or were they the ones that were vacuum operated?
I do believe they were all vacuum operated originally. the one pictured above had the vacuum canister removed and a starter solenoid in it's place! at three quarter throttle the primary linkage activated a micro switch that activated the solenoid working the secondaries. definitely not stock.
I was just curious. I knew that something was vacuum activated but I couldn't remember what brand was. All that stuff is almost unobtainium. There must be a good stockpile in the NW. I always laugh when I get back to where I went to high school and see how many people are still driving the same old cars that everyone waqs driving when I was in high school. The wife and I have even seen a couple that we threw together to try and make ends meet.
Yeah, you can bore them 1/8 of an inch. In fact, since they raised the deck in '57 for the 371's longer stroke, you can bore a 324 to 4 inches and used standard bore 371 slugs.
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