#21  
Old 09-26-2022, 08:36 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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Originally Posted by Jay S View Post
Looking good.

I didn’t see what heads you have on your olds, or what year 455 you started with. We have 5 Olds 455 powered cars. One 76, 3 1970’s, and a 1969. One 70 is in our 71 Chevelle. The accessories should not be too difficult to come up with, I have seen that swap in Firebirds before. It didn’t appear to be too difficult of a swap.

With the 268 cam and 9:1 compression it is likely be going to diesel/run-on when you shut the ignition off. Your probably going to need a shut off solenoid keyed to power, you can get around it if you run 93 octane. Olds have 1.6 rockers, it will likely start to float the valves at 4600 rpm with the 268 cam and the stock valve springs. It will be done before that though.

With an aluminum intake on a 455 Olds they are only 70 lbs heavier than a SBC. They are surprisingly light, quite a bit lighter than a 455 Pontiac. The long runners on the intake produce a ton of torque, and cylinder fill thru the low RPM’s. Make sure you run cold enough spark plugs or it won’t be happy.

Olds engines are some of the most oil leak free engine platforms I have been around. Should be a fun dependable combo.
Thanks! I have the "J" heads with larger intake/exhaust valves, seats and other machine work. Prior to sending, I spent time on enlarging oil drain backs as well as ground out the A.I.R bumps. I know the J heads are not the best, but its what came with the motor.

Regarding the cam, I do plan to run 93/premium regardless of price! Back to your point, I actually have the 218 cam (you indicated 268 which i assume you mean int/exahust at 050 inch lift?). A lot of this is new to me...From the mfg website: COMP Cams High Energy camshafts are designed for street engines with an 8:1 to 9:1 compression ratio...Or this a different issue altogether i am missing. Thanks!

  #22  
Old 09-26-2022, 09:02 PM
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268 is the advertised duration at .006” tappet, and the 218 is the duration at .050” tappet lift on the 268 cam. Catelog descriptions in compcam’s listings are often for 350 cid engines. The cam you picked out will act more like 10:1 in your 9:1 455, it will be fine on 93 with fairly cold spark plugs.

Our 76 455 has J heads. If you ground off those A.I.R. boss’s and install 2.07 intake valves they won’t be much different than any of the other common big valve 455 heads. The exhaust ports don’t flow well on a Olds, especially with the A.I.R. boss’s.. The intake ports flow pretty well though, even a J isn’t to bad, will flow a little less. I’ll be interested to see how you get along with that cam, it is going to have a ton of low end tq.

  #23  
Old 09-26-2022, 11:05 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay S View Post
268 is the advertised duration at .006” tappet, and the 218 is the duration at .050” tappet lift on the 268 cam. Catelog descriptions in compcam’s listings are often for 350 cid engines. The cam you picked out will act more like 10:1 in your 9:1 455, it will be fine on 93 with fairly cold spark plugs.

Our 76 455 has J heads. If you ground off those A.I.R. boss’s and install 2.07 intake valves they won’t be much different than any of the other common big valve 455 heads. The exhaust ports don’t flow well on a Olds, especially with the A.I.R. boss’s.. The intake ports flow pretty well though, even a J isn’t to bad, will flow a little less. I’ll be interested to see how you get along with that cam, it is going to have a ton of low end tq.
I researched a ton about the cam and not sure how I missed that. I thought it was a safe choice compared to stock below. Will let you know how it goes and thanks for feedback!
Stock camshaft:
Exhaust Advertised Duration (Deg): 296 Degree
Exhaust Duration At 0.050 Inch Lift (Deg): 208 Degree
Intake Advertised Duration (Deg): 274 Degree
Intake Duration At 0.050 Inch Lift (Deg): 196 Degree

Yes the Olds community all focus on which heads are best; especially now Edelbrock offers new aluminum. Like you said, there is not a whole lot of difference between them all unless you are racing.

Any of your Olds in an F-body?

  #24  
Old 09-27-2022, 07:46 AM
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My only F body is as 77 Trans Am with a Pontiac engine. I have seen them done though, usually on 403 power f bodies. IRC, you can’t run too tall of a valve cover or the 455 will hit the power boost, stock should clear OK, not a ton of extra room. Same thing goes on the A/C cars on opposite side. If I recall correct, engine mounts should be the same between the 403 and the 455. Water pumps interchange, so you can use which ever length water pump matches the accessories and pulley you find. The pulley’s all inner change. The 455 has a taller block deck, and the brackets that bolt to the heads are unique to 455s. Most of the differences are in the A/C mounts and alternator.

The factory Olds cams were rated at 0 lift duration, it made them look bigger than they actually were.

You have probably figured out who is the aftermarket support for Olds engines. Rocket racing and Mondello performance both carry a lot of Olds parts.


Last edited by Jay S; 09-27-2022 at 08:24 AM.
  #25  
Old 11-20-2022, 07:40 PM
Shoehornguy Shoehornguy is offline
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Hello new to the forums. I have only joined to help another guy out. He reached out to me via my craigslist ad for a 403 and th350 I am selling. Anyhow he had some questions about the 455 swap. I am going to add some pictures here of the 455 I put into an 80 TA.. The biggest thing modified was the set of cheapo ebay headers. Had to add one inch to one of the runners and move one a little back. The modification was only on the passenger side. The header was hitting the lower control arm mount. His specific question was about the Alternator bracket and what I used. I have not put the hood on the car yet. But the alternator is lower than the top radiator hose. I used the 403 Alternator bracket as well as the power steering bracket. Some pictures below. I can attempt to put the hood on the car tomorrow to see if it has fitment issues. I might end up having to change the location to the passenger side like an olds 442.

Also I used the 403 water pump and bought some aftermarket aluminum pullies to get everything to line up. If I can find the items I purchased I will add them to the list of stuff I installed.

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Last edited by Shoehornguy; 11-20-2022 at 07:47 PM.
  #26  
Old 11-21-2022, 01:22 AM
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77 TRASHCAN 77 TRASHCAN is offline
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Man, I think thT alternator is too tall!!!

The alternator bracket looks like it can be modified in a way to allow the alternator to be pushed down some. Not sure it would be enough though......

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  #27  
Old 11-27-2022, 01:02 PM
Shoehornguy Shoehornguy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN View Post
Man, I think thT alternator is too tall!!!

The alternator bracket looks like it can be modified in a way to allow the alternator to be pushed down some. Not sure it would be enough though......
I haven't tried the hood yet but I am starting to think its too high as well. One day when I get another able body I can try the hood on the car. I am also wondering about the upper hose. It sits even higher than the alternator. I will look into seeing what it may need to lower the alternator.

  #28  
Old 11-27-2022, 09:11 PM
Trevor78 Trevor78 is offline
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The hose looks due for replacement anyway. If you have the same type again to suit the 'vertical' water neck you can take an inch out of the height at the water neck, bringing it down closer to alternator height and sitting behind it.

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  #29  
Old 11-29-2022, 10:14 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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Agree with above. The alternator bracket needs to come from a different car/Olds motor other than a 403 TA. Still unsure of what Power Steering pump bracket to use.

A pic and link below for reference
https://www.78ta.com/HTAF/index.php?topic=3288.15.
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  #30  
Old 12-02-2022, 08:45 PM
Trevor78 Trevor78 is offline
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Just the more common Olds brackets then, some may have to come from a big-block Olds or modified for the attachment changes between narrow and wide decks.

  #31  
Old 12-02-2022, 09:57 PM
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The biggest problem with the 455 Olds, is that the block is SO f'n tall. Most of the intakes have a horizontal "S" curve to them, and gasoline does NOT like to flow down-up-down. If you run some sort of cowl induction hood, allowing an intake manifold that will flow only downward, THEN you can get a 455 to run decently. Otherwise, a 403 is a better choice IMHO.

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  #32  
Old 12-03-2022, 01:04 AM
Shoehornguy Shoehornguy is offline
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I think I am just going to relocate it to the passenger side. With a CVF bracket., I know I will have to rewire the alternator and what not but. If it fits like shown its below the oil fill tube and should fit under the hood.


  #33  
Old 01-19-2024, 07:05 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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Been meaning to post updates - NOS cassette stereo installed and engine in!

Surprisingly, the Olds 455 fit really well even with A/C. I had a valve cover leak on the passenger side after the rebuild (bent valve cover) and I was even able to remove the valve cover without needing to unbolt the engine and lift it, etc.

I am running stock/'small block' cast iron manifolds right now and will possibly try headers in the future or at least 455 manifolds. Working on A/C compressor now utilizing the brackets of a Cutlass/Delta 88/98...
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