I recently purchased a 1987 cutlass 442 with my son it has the stock 307 in it and we are going to change the motor. Most people are telling me if I am gonna do it do it right and go 455 big block. I did this back 25 years ago in a 1977 cutlass but never in a g-body style. I have been told a 403 and a 350 will drop right in with no modifications needed. But can someone tell me what is needed to drop a 455 in. Oh and the trans is a 2004r street strip transmission that the previous owner had installed with some type of stall torque converter. The trans has around 15,000 to 20,000 miles on it according to receipts he gave me. I read those transmission will handle a lot of hp. if built right. Will it bolt up to a 455?
dropping a 455 in a 1987 442
- Thread starter ksmitty
- Start date
- Status
It will bolt up to a 455 no problem. 455 will drop right in for the most part may have to french the heater box to clear valve cover but not much to it really.
You will also have to do some modding to get the AC brackets to fit.
I would'nt put too much faith in that 'steet/strip' transmission rebuild. Unless it's a high dollar rebuild by a true 2004r pro ( many claim to be, most are not....), you will fry it with a 455. The torque converter is most likey subpar as well I'll wager, but may still work OK.
I would'nt put too much faith in that 'steet/strip' transmission rebuild. Unless it's a high dollar rebuild by a true 2004r pro ( many claim to be, most are not....), you will fry it with a 455. The torque converter is most likey subpar as well I'll wager, but may still work OK.
Here is your answers with pics. http://WWW.robertpowersmotorsports.com. Also look up Dwight 455 cutlass on car domain. I think Bob ran a best of 12.3 @ 110 & got 15 mpg still tuning when his car got stolen. Dwight's ran 12.0s went faster & got even better mileage. I did similar only with a 500 Cad motor. Q-jet, overdrive, working lock up converter.
are headers available now for a 455 in a G-body, the site I just viewed with the 86 cutlass the guy had to fabricate his own. I don't want to do that. And finding A/C brackets will be hard. Maybe I should just throw a 350 in it. If the 200R4 wont hold up what problems will there be installing a turbo 400 in that car.
ksmitty said:
Headers are available, but expensive. They make repro dual exhaust manifolds that will work just fine. Here is a link, just scroll down the page, http://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/ocatalo ... rList=1969 A/C brackets are easy to find, just need to be modified. Take the a/c bracket off of your 307 and weld a tab in it to compensate for the taller deck height. The problem is there were no cars equipped with a 455 that used the same style a/c compressor as your g body, so there just are no bolt on brackets available. If you do go with a 400 trans, it will bolt up to the crossmember, but you will need to resize the drive shaft and I believe change the yoke. I am not sure if it needs to be lengthened or shortened.
The 200-4r is the ideal trans. Yours is already built you should definitely try it. I had great luck with one that was built by WWW.extremeautomatics.com. behind the 509ci powered 442 seen in my pics.
- Status
Similar threads
