Projects Olds 455....are there flexible options....

I have the chance to pick up an olds 455. Not sure what shape but is basically a full unit minus trans. I have read some on these engine but was wondering how flexible are my options for tranny setups, speed parts, headers, etc. I am thinking about a mid-50's pickup to drop this into but am looking for some advice. I know they are torque machines and sound like a cool engine but am I biting off a poorly supported engine with poor aftermarket support?

Thanks for the info

 

I ran a stock one for 8 years in my 48 Plym w/o any problems. Plenty of go!

 

There are Lots of options for the 455's. We carry a lot of stuff and build a bunch of these engines.
TONS of torque and it's not too wide considering some of the other big block types out there.
Aluminum heads and a good cam typically net 450+hp and 500+ Lbs of torque.
They are limited to the 5500 Redline. But lets be honest guys, who trucks around at 5K all day? Our 442 here at the shop with 3.42 in the back and a 400 runs about 3K on the interstate.

Like any 'odd ball' engine (not a 350) It will cost more.
Mike

 

An excellent choice for a truck. Gobs of torque and will run all day at 3000 RPM and never flinch. Use plenty of radiator if you bore it more than .030 or make sure your machine shop cleans the water jackets very well. Headers are available from numerous places and Sanderson makes a shorty center dump that is good for clearance issues if you use the front bolts for motor mounts. A WELL BUILT 2004R will live behind the 455 if you don't tromp it a lot. The overdrive will improve economy. Run a 3:42 rear and every thing will be great.

 

Look up Joe Mondello and Mondello Performance

the Olds is a great motor... plenty of support. Gobs of torque.

 

Great motor. Ran a stocker for 12 yrs in a '77 Cheby P/U.

 

I love mine, over 87,000 miles in Big Olds and still running strong. It came outta a streetrod and before that, in it's original configuration. Makes me wonder just how many miles total.

 

I put an F1 block in a 46 Chevy pickup years ago and the hood sides closed without problems. I ran a turbo 400 with a kit in in it. E-brock 4bbl intake was pricey....most of the speed stuff cost more than chevy stuff...the supply and demand thing...but you'll love the low end.

 

If it's got a "tick" in it, check/replace the middle of the block exhaust pushrods and rockers. The heat risers tend to cook the oil in the pushrods and if they plug up with sludge the rockers don't get oil and "tick".
Other than that they last forever.

 

I am liking what I am hearing.......now where to store the thing until my current project is out of the shop.......I thought a 1000sq ft shop would be plenty of room. I think I should have added a zero to the end.

 

I have a T400 but I just bought a Transdapt for the 700R4 conversion that I'll be doing this winter

"Best Bang for the BUCK"... you'd have to spend a minimum of $5,000 to get the HP and Torque numbers from a Small Block!

I originally bought my 1970 455 for $400 with a rebuilt T400 and after a little horse trading I've built my set up very cheap...!

The Dual quad and dual point setup put me back less than $300

But in "Stock" form with only a street dual quad and dual point I ran a 12.02 at 109 mph with zero traction !

With the Aluminum Heads and a Lunati Cam my e.t.s are only slightly better 11.72 but My MPH is 119+ ...!!!

 

wonderful motor. have some NLer friends who had me build one a year for about 6 years for their 1/2 tons and a 90 caddy and a 57 caddy etcetc. One of the lads put his in a 56 GMC pick up. he has driven it for about 16 years now. Brutal. Great motor. Good power , cheap to build. Indestructable
Don

 

That's us. Joe is here at our shop in TENNESSEE!
The new website should be up in the next week.
www.mondello.com

Mike
Mondello Monkey

 

That is NUTS! Our 455 in the drag car puts out 750+ HP and moves that ol 442 tuna boat to a best of 6.002 in the 1/8th!!
Mike

PS Nice avatar!

 

455's have tons of torque! make sure to use a neoprene rear main seal!
mine makes me happy has good manners with a light foot, ALOT of poop when
ya tromp it!!!

 

and you won't need an adapter, less tunnel work, better 1st gear....

 

I love the 455 olds motors ,

great motor ,

great power and torque.

But It COST THREE TIMES the money to build over a 350 CHEVY ....

 

but it's 3 times the motor...

to get a SBC to make the kind of torque that a 455 Olds, or Buick or Pontiac for that matter, will cost more than a stock rebuild of the 455...

 

I''ll bet you I can do a 455 olds for within bucks of your little mouse motor and like the man said it is 3 times the motor. I spent my life listening to guys JAWIN mouth, open teeth hanging out,'"the small block chevy is the least expensive motor to get hp out of"
Meanwhile back at the ranch or more correctly the strip I was running my 4150 pound with driver 74 charger at mid elevens with an engine that cost $1865 carbs (yes more than one) to pan. Then I go to the local stock car tack and hear the same crap only to look in their rule book and see in bold black letters. NO 340 DODGE PARTS ALLOWED> I am sick of this crap. Yeah its a good engine but it aint THAT good.
The big Olds on the other hand is an awsome motor which can be built on a shoestring and make torque and power that a small block bubblelink will never see unless it is a $15000 Klein motor or something. Enuf already!
Sorry but you press my nerf!

 

stock late 60's 472 Caddy. 375hp and 525 lbs. torque. In stock form they don't like above 4000 on the tach but those numbers are all in by 35 or 3600 rpms. Speed parts are becoming more popular for them and anything you do just adds more power. Gonna drop one in my 55 chev as soon as it's ready

 

I've got a stroked 455 with alum heads good pistons, cam Intake ,Headers MSD in my GMC motorhome and it can't be beat but I'am going to try a 500 Caddy for a change

"Doc Parsons

 

OK, OK, I guess I might have to break down and buy this thing. You guys are making me want to get ahead of myself. I'm afraid my place with look like my neighbors place with 10 unfinished/partly done projects with no single project driveable.

 

Things to prepare for then...

If You run an even slightly larger than stock Camshaft, prepare to spend some money to convert the stock rocker arm assemblies to an adjustable set up. It's pricey, but worth every damn penny. Truth be told, this is one of the most expensive "must do's" on the entire motor.

3 times the cost of a small block chevy?
You make a 455 inch small block chevy, then call me with the bill, and I will deliver 2 built 455's.

run a good ol th400 and be "middle of the road" with gear- I am gonna say somewhere between 3.50's and 3.00's, and it will still turn rubber into smoke at will, and be an easy driver at highway speeds. (provided You're not running 13 inch triple gold D's, Yo.)

BUY A GOOD TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP.

and start rooting around for edelbrock heads...You will not beleive the difference! if You wanna go really fast, start looking for Battens.

There is a new intake made offshore that looks way promising- I think it is called a crosswind. Looks like a performer r.p.m. Air Gap.

extra oil in the pan. look around for a milodon pan. I have an 8 quart pan on my driver. gets a little hairy at speed over road debris (kinda like doing hurdles naked.) But I still havent clobbered it.

Vendetta Auto Fab (on here) makes header flanges so that when You discover that the manifolds just ain't gonna work, You can build Your own headers.

Mini Starters RULE

and finally......


Comp and schneider made a helluva nice roller cam for it. Make a 455 rap out like a small block. in gear.

 

WE ARE talking small block ..to BIG block....


I m aware that the 455 IS a great motor ,

I said I LOVE IT,

But it cost more to build ..........PERIOD...........

 

I had a 73 Hurst/Olds with a built 455 that had plenty of beans to move that heavy barge, you won't be disappointed with what that motor can offer.

 

I have a '69 455 out of a Toronado that doesn't seem to excite anyone even though it's complete carb to pan. Anyhow, they have some damned good looking manifolds on them, almost like short zoomie headers on the sides of the block - they'd probably look great in a car with no hood or no hood sides.

 

Well it excites me
What are your plans for it??

 

comp has the roller tip rockers and little screw in studs/guide plates and push rods that require no machine work(go on where the old rockers bolted on) they have worked well for me for 2 years cost less than 300 dollars!

 

BTW just in case anyone is interested. There is a 57 caddy at a neigbours that was burnt in the drivers area and passengers compartment. Not that bad i think. It has a done 455 olds and 400 turbo trans complete with headers and such. Cause of the fire. the guy who bought it got anal about the indicator light for the shifter (stock one which didnt match the 400trans anyway). The garage that wired the light up must have made an error somewhere and the thing started on fire in that wire about 10 minutes after it left the garage. The guy was from Europe and left it at the sellers home but the seller since got divorced and kicked out so the car is sitting in a field. In truth it is nothing to him anyway. He drove the car 8 years without so much as a whimper from it. Had the buyer not got foolish he would still be driving it. I am betting it still runs and drives. Might be a good buy for the right person. 2 dr 57 Caddy with 455 Olds power. Who to pay would be a qustion as I think storage has long since eaten up value. It was at one time a full body off redo.
Don

 

The whole front clip could be yours for the right price, I've posted it in the classified a few times. The motor did seem to be set up, but the clearances are so tight on the front I never tried to snake a wrench into the crank bolt.. so I put some mystery oil down it and left it at that. When scrap was up, I stripped the car and the easiest way to remove the motor was cut the frame off and cut the crossmember and drop the whole front off the car. I figured the trans and driveshafts and stuff don't grow on trees anymore either.

The only local guy who seems to be interested is a guy that when he got my buddy's good 354 hemi (nearly complete, clean, painted, turning over, needed a carb and a couple pushrods) he let it sit out in the rain for 3 weeks and it set up on him.

Otherwise sooner or later I'll end up taking it apart, seeing if I can clean it up, and use it for a truck motor someplace. Cheap torque.