86 442.....455 swap.

[dogsht]

Miller's (Kooks) headers are priced right for the quality and fit. I had this in building a set for my Caddy motor and they were not as good as Millers. I would go this route if I were doing a 455 in a 442.

The WZ is a good route if you are not trying to make 500 HP. Port out any slag or rough spots out of the castings and bell mouth the opening. Then use the largest diameter pipe to at least match the bell mouthed opening size. Some racers on some manifolds go up to a 3" outlet or pipe but I see no need to get greedy and make it paper thin although I would at least match 2.5" pipe. Plus there is the diminishing return thing. The larger pipe up front will allow the motor to make especially better torque numbers on a roller dyno says the factory drags guys that do this to compete. You can use smaller say 2.5" pipe later in the system like after the H or mufflers.

Here is a good site for ya. http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com

 

[Geed_up_442]

They reduce your turning radius too so I've heard.

I can confirm this for you!

No doubt millers headers are good. I figured i would hold out and see if i could find something better priced with at least comparable quality. The Hookers are what i'm running now. Got em with C heads full of comp cam goodies for $500. Haven't been able to do much driving yet but i know the header outside the frame is going to suck.

 

[Geed_up_442]

I've seen this guy that races the grey and black rally striped cutlass on here before. But he's taken the hookers and modded them to route inside the frame. So after seeing this i figured 1 tube rerouting shouldn't be too expensive. Is this right?

 

[steveop52]

Thanks for all the replies. I set the motor in tonite.. I went with the W/Z manifolds. Got them from FusicK Oldsmobile parts right here in Connecticut. $299.00. I attempted to put the alternator in but I was having difficulties with the lower bracket.. I'm thinking it's gonna have to be modified. Anybody run into this before?? I have about a week before the transmission is done. Can't wait to fire it.

 

[rccktmn2]

They reduce your turning radius too so I've heard.

I can confirm this for you!

No doubt millers headers are good. I figured i would hold out and see if i could find something better priced with at least comparable quality. The Hookers are what i'm running now. Got em with C heads full of comp cam goodies for $500. Haven't been able to do much driving yet but i know the header outside the frame is going to suck.

I also have the hookers but I am running weld pro star 3.5" front rims also so the turning radius is not affected, I tried the factory rallies with 215 60 15 and they still rubbed while turning. Great headers and good price but if your doing a car that is driven regularly the W Z manifolds are probably going to be the inexpensive alternative.

 

[Geed_up_442]

Steveo what kind of issue did you have with the lower bracket? Do you have the type that has a long screw on it for tention and it bolts to the power steering?

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I attempted to put the alternator in but I was having difficulties with the lower bracket.. I'm thinking it's gonna have to be modified. Anybody run into this before?? I have about a week before the transmission is done. Can't wait to fire it.

If your trying to use the lower alternator bracket from the 307 then that's the problem. You either have to use a spacer between the 307 bracket and P/S pump because of the increased deck height of the 455 or you need a lower bracket from a big block engine.
Upper bracket from the 307 is fine to use.

 

[steveop52]

Having an issue with alt bracket and ac bracket on my 86 442 455 swap. Looks like their gonna need some mods. Is there any other brakets out there that will work? Thanks, Steve

 

[steveop52]

Yeah, I'm trying to use the 307 bracket. I modified the lower bracket and it seems to be ok. The ac bracket looks like it gonna need some major mods.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Yes. Any bracket that bolted to both a head and the block will need to be modified when going from a SBO to BBO due to the deck height differences.

For the A/C bracket take a look here (scroll down to the SBO to BBO swap info):

http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com/G-bodyV6-V8.html