I'm in the same boat. I looking for a build for a 87 442. I was looking at the 455 as well. I see edelbrock makes aluminum heads/intake for this block. And as someone mentioned before, the aluminum heads make up for the added weight up front. My question though, is what sorts of rotating assemblies are available? I see no forged pistons, forged cranks available. I guess you may not need em depending on your power level, but if I did a build, I'd like to do it right. And how would a built 200r4 hold up to a torque monster like that? And the big question, how much bigger is the 455 compared to a 307? Would there be any fitment issues?
Is it worth it to keep my 350 Rocket, or....
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Others will object, but check out Mondello Twister for serious power options on Oldsmobile engines...Mondellotwister.com....If you go with a 455 high output engine, you probably need to have the 2004r upgraded quite a bit or it wont last. Or you could go with a th400, although you will lose the OD, but you will surely gain a really strong trans. The 455 deck height is taller than a 350/307 by about an inch, which also makes it a bit wider as well, and since the Gbody cutlass never came with it, a 455 is very tight in the stock bay. A/C boxes are often taken out to make room for the ps head/valve cover. Headers on a 455 in a Gbody are tight as well...V6UnderPressure said:
I vote to keep the 350 and build it up. Like others have said get yourself some better heads and it'll really make a difference. I had smog heads on my 350 then I swapped to a set of #5's that I had built with w-31 valves and some bowl work and it' really woke it up. Another place to look into for Olds builders is Bill Trovato at BTR. He built my #5 heads and did an awesome job. It wasn't crazy money but still not cheap either. I feel you get what you pay for.
#5 heads left, smog heads right: When I had the two heads side by side it looked like I could drive a dump truck down the ports of the #5 heads vs the smog heads.
350 in my 442:
#5 heads left, smog heads right: When I had the two heads side by side it looked like I could drive a dump truck down the ports of the #5 heads vs the smog heads.
350 in my 442:
86-blk442 said:I vote to keep the 350 and build it up. Like others have said get yourself some better heads and it'll really make a difference. I had smog heads on my 350 then I swapped to a set of #5's that I had built with w-31 valves and some bowl work and it' really woke it up. Another place to look into for Olds builders is Bill Trovato at BTR. He built my #5 heads and did an awesome job. It wasn't crazy money but still not cheap either. I feel you get what you pay for.
#5 heads left, smog heads right: When I had the two heads side by side it looked like I could drive a dump truck down the ports of the #5 heads vs the smog heads.
350 in my 442:
Very nice olds, you virtually did the same thing I am planning, only I am going with the full Hotchkis kit. VERY nice! That 350 looks great in there!
86-blk442 said:I vote to keep the 350 and build it up. Like others have said get yourself some better heads and it'll really make a difference. I had smog heads on my 350 then I swapped to a set of #5's that I had built with w-31 valves and some bowl work and it' really woke it up. Another place to look into for Olds builders is Bill Trovato at BTR. He built my #5 heads and did an awesome job. It wasn't crazy money but still not cheap either. I feel you get what you pay for.
#5 heads left, smog heads right: When I had the two heads side by side it looked like I could drive a dump truck down the ports of the #5 heads vs the smog heads.
350 in my 442:
By the way, what's the ground clearance like for those headers?
Clearance isn't bad, however my car isn't lowered at all. I have a full Spohn suspension with stock height springs.
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