Hot Rods Scored an Olds 455 and T400 for 50 Chevy Pickup Project

I recently got a 50 Chevy pickup project. Had no engine or trans; and I didn't have anything sitting around in my garage to use. A good friend knew his neighbor had an Olds 455 engine that had been in his garage for long time; turns out 26 years! Long story short, I got a 1968 455 with a 1975 T400 for a great price.

Engine turns over with good compression. I think it's mostly original, has the correct C heads (which are good ones) for a 1968 engine. There is an older Edelbrock "Performer Olds 455" intake and Edelbrock carb on the engine. Also has an HEI distributor which is not 1968 stock. Somebody along the line changed those parts out. Trans checks out as a 1975 Olds version long tail T400. The seller had gotten the engine and trans with another car he purchased, but he never did anything with the engine and trans beside putting away in a corner of his garage. In addition, at a big car show and swap meet last weekend, I picked up a 12-inch higher stall converter that was new and just installed, but never ran. Trying to get the exact info on what it is, but it has HS stamped on it. High Stall is what I interpret that to be, probably something between 2000 and 2500 given the 12 inch diam. Should work nice with the 3.73 gear rearend I have for the truck.

I think it will be neat having something different than the typical SBC used in these AD trucks; or worse one of the LS engines. Give me some Olds 455 advice for those knowledgeable. I'm not an Olds guy, but learning fast! Since everyone likes pictures, here it is cleaned up.

 

Sweet

 

Great engine for a truck, but it may have 10.25:1 compression, and want high octane gas. Don't rev it to the moon (over 5000), and don't expect much oil pressure. ~10 psi hot at idle in gear pretty typical.

 

Saw you on CO. Good luck with your projects!

 

I've got one of those outfits - 455 with T400 - which I got cheaper than you. It was free and they delivered it!
Son has a 455 and tricked up T200 in his 55 Olds and it amazes me that he can park it in the underground car park at the hospital where he works. It's still LHD and he says the biggest problem is swiping his card at the boom gate.

 

Great engine for your new truck. Not sure how much you’ll like the 3.73s on the highway though, I’d shoot for 3.23s or 3.55s. Are you planning a beautification program for it or will it be a rough n ready parts chaser? Either way, it’s gonna be cool. Congrats.

 

I own one of those. 68 455. This one got raced for a couple of years but is now retired to street use in my Olds. 11:1, 60 over, rollers, Mondello built, still scares the***** out me. Congratulations on a great engine...if your friends need stumps pulled out of their yards, tell 'em to give you a call.

 

I ran an Olds 455 and A-T in my '48 Plym for 7-8 years with 3.25 gears. Did good on the Interstate.

 

So on the Classic Oldsmobile forum, the guys there figured out the trans is actually a THM-375 (or T375 for convenience), which is a lighter duty version of a T400. Smaller output shaft and less robust internals, but with the T400 case design. I'm sure it is sufficient for the power levels I am dealing with. Will have to consider maybe running a 200-4R which would give me OD to go better with the 3.73 gears for highway cruising. Needs to be a built up 200-4R though to handle the torque without problems. Decisions, decisions....

Happy that the engine is confirmed as a early 68 big car 455, likely a Delta 88 based on the plant code in the engine stamp ID. It might even be potentially forged crank, but that's only icing on the cake as I don't intend to be racing this.

 

^^^^ I have a TH400 BOP empty case with the long tail extension if needed.

 

Whatever you do to it, take the time to put a timing chain in it before installation. Olds engines, small or big block usually need one between 100-130 thousand miles. They seem to run forever and are very smooth, you will hardly know it's running. They have tons of torque and are like driving a small block Chevy on steroids! My first choice in V8 engines! 60 Special

 

Mine runs a T400 from B&M, I have 3:55 posi rear gears in the Olds axle. I get 65 at 3000 RPMs (or there abouts). I have always wanted a gear vendor for mine but never got around to it. It isn't on the freeway often but at 70 MPH it drains the tank awfully quick.

Oh, if you dress it up don't use the stamped, chrome covers that are in my picture above. Might as well not run covers they leak so bad (I guess that's why Olds used 20 bolts per cover ). I found a nice pair of M/T covers on here for $100 and polished them up, cork gaskets, not a drip. I wish I could say the same of the rear main.

 

That´s a cool combo! I´ve learned quite a bit on Olds engines when I rebuilt my 455 that had a bad rod bearing. I´ll post a link to the build thread. I learned that you can use a Ford 460 rear main seal on an Olds 455 if you turn the rear crank seal surface down by 7/100 of an inch . Also the knurled area need to be ground . Mine ran like a champ, I loved it.
here´s the link
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/´74-olds-delta-88-straight-out-of-hibernation-ready-for-a-new-home.1322799/page-3

 

Abbra-Ka-Dabra, You'll have no problem identifying as An Olds Guy, after the first run.
Way to go. congratulations

 

You'll love that torque, great engine for that truck.

 

Stock up on rocker arm guides

 

I did this the last time it was apart, worked pretty good for a time, it aint a Jed Clampett oil gusher but let's just say I wouldn't park it on a friends nicely sealed driveway. That 400 is a leaker as well. It has reached the age where if it sits too long without being started and worked through the gears it dumps it's converter in the pan and leaks quick shift all over my concrete. Reminds me, it's due for a start up.

And while I will always hold to the fact that there is no such thing as an Olds "big block", it is definitely in the "big leagues". Speaking of which (and no offense to the Motor City) Go Mariners! What a game last night! I had a friend there and they didn't sit down for the last 6 innings.

 

That engine and trans combo sounds like something that might have been pulled years ago for a future transplant. That was a fairly common swap into a late 70s early 80s Chevy P/U with a worn out or blown up Olds 350 diesel engine. It was basically a drop-in without having to swap engine mounts, exhaust system and other accessories. Easier than swapping things over for a Chevy engine and probably as much, or more, torque than a 454.

 

That's where my Olds experience comes from. My first truck was a '78 C10/5.7 Diesel. I had 3 gas Olds V8's in it over the years, the 3rd one I rebuilt myself from a '73 Oldsmobile 98. Great all around truck, and yes, it was almost a bolt in swap. I later had a '77 C10 factory 454, and I swear, the Olds 455 powered '78 towed better, and Got 13 MPG vs, the 454 that got 10. Rust monster ate it up, but that 455 was still strong.

 

Yuppers, that is a necessity. At least check to see if the timing gear (cam gear) has been replaced with a metal gear as the old plastic gears like to***** out at inopportune times. I had to call my dad from the Stevens Canyon entrance to Mt Rainier park when I was stuck there with the timing gear out on my 350R in my 51 Merc. That car has a 455 Olds in it now or did the last time I saw it.
I'm thinking that unless you run a real tall rear tire you will be happier with 3.08 or 3.3 gears rather than the 3.7 though.

 

Those 455 engines like tall gear ratios. a 1970 Olds 98 usually had gear ratio's in the 2:40 to 2:90 range and had a 235/78/15 tire on it

 

I´ve only put about 1000-1200 miles on the new engine, but I´m sure the new owner is going to tell me, once it sprung a leak, hahaha.

 

People that complain about Harleys and Flatheads marking their spots have never driven and an olds 455. Drippy SOB. You know that black oil stripe in the middle of the fast lane on the freeway? Yeah, that's mine. You can follow it right to my drive.

 

1969. Took my 55/56 Chevy short box apart and ventured into new territory. Local guys wife had wrecked their big Olds with the 455 and turbo 400. Somehow I struggled to install it into the truck with the help of the local garage guy. Turned out dam good for a guy who knew nothing. A fresh coat of Marina blue paint with a black tuck & roll interior plus new chrome wheels. Even added a new chrome grille & headlight doors with new bumpers F&R all available somehow from GM parts? It was lethal. Had to keep your head on as the motor tended to outrun the brakes. Next owner hit something and ruined all the new chrome parts. The truck is sitting in a warehouse along with several GM performance cars in a town nearby for years since the owner died.

 

Popular Hot Rodding had an article on how to convert those*****py diesels to gas.

 

Ran one 7-8 years w/o any leaks....

 

It was probably out of oil. Always check the dipstick.

 

I appreciate the tip to check and/or replace the timing chain gears and chain. I never could understand why the mfrs used nylon gear teeth expecting long term reliability. I know *why* they did it: to help with noise. But it just seems like they should have known about the teeth becoming brittle and breaking.

 

Great engines but with all the torque and not liking high rpm's, a highway geared rear end is best.