455 Rocket

[Ridgewalker]

I am restoring a 66 Cutlass, today I finally got the motor back in. It's a 455 bored 30 over with lots of goodies to make it go fast. The compression came in at 11-1 to 1.
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[rich_ncal]

Nice work. Looks clean.

11-1 is not your daily driver. Truely a money pit.

 

[Dargo]

11-1 is not your daily driver. Truely a money pit.

True 11:1 will require about 104 octane, but I wouldn't call his project a money pit. With the stock market the way it is right now, it's unbelievable the dollars a nicely restored hot rod will bring. I'm old enough to still have that old phrase "there's no replacement for displacement" echoing around in my head. The 455 is pretty big. Personally, I seem to have opted for 502ci and 572ci engines myself. I get over 600 hp and 700 hp respectively out of them with 9.5:1 compression and simple premium pump gas. But....I'm willing to bet that my bigger displacement engines cost me more than his sweet 455 cost him.

 

[EddieWalker]

Very nice pictures. Looks like a total frame up restoration by the quality of the paint on the A arms, frame and firewall. Are you going all stock on it, except for more power out of the engine?

With it as clean as it is, are you going to drive it, show it or is it an investment?

Thanks for sharing, it's fun to see quality workmanship.

Eddie

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Whoa, nice! I see you have the W and Z dual exhaust manifolds. And are they C casting heads? I had those on my 425 in my '68 Cutlass. That engine really needs headers to wake it up.

If you are looking for a great Olds site, check out www.realoldspower.com. I thought I knew a lot about Olds engines until I went there. Made me feel like a rank amateur.

 

[WTA]

Very nice! We just sold our 455 car about 6 months ago. It was getting way too expensive to drive anymore. I had to mix my gas up to about 104 octane and it really sucked! There is a race track right behind us where I got racing gas but that stuff even requires octane booster at this altitude we live at. When I built the car we were 1500 foot below sea level and could get by on premium pump gas. Ours was a 73 Buick electra. It was brand new and right off the showroom floor when I got it. I worked at the dealer doing alignments and ABS repairs but the owner died and his kids didn't want to keep it going and had a private auction for all the cars he had collected and then sold off the business.
I got it at full sticker price for 1973 and I think it was something like 3100 bucks. That car was great. It had air ride, fully loaded, power everything and that monster engine. It was the first big block I had ever owned and I sure had fun with it. From sitting so long in the showroom a lot of gaskets had rotted and the carburetor was all fouled up so I had to tear down the engine and transmission and do a rebuild. Just gaskets and stuff but since I never liked messing with quadrajets anyway I put a holly 750 on it and an Edelbrock intake. Also got rid of all the Air plumbing in the engine and plugged the ports int he heads. The pistons got swapped for higher compression ones also. I forget exactly what they were but they were factory hi comp pistons that the dealer had on the shelf for a long time meant for some other car. I think he told me it was for an old wild cat or something.
My wife sure loved that car though and it was her daily driver for about 6 years. My big reason for getting it was she had just been in a bad accident in her 98 escort where she was hit head on by a drunk in a big dodge truck. She moved up to the tank I called it and really loved it. There's nothing like driving around in a 20 something year old brand new car with a sleeper under the hood. She always had a lead foot. We really miss that car now.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Thanks for the kind words.

You guys are right, it will have to run a mix of race gas and street gas. We decked the heads and the block to true them up and that impacted the compression, I was shooting for 10-1:1. Actually since its bored 30 over it's a 461.xx so I am calling it a 462.

Eddie, its going to be a resto mod...I am trying to stay as stock as possible but that is really hard to do with some parts unless you're rich or stupid. (see the Mopar guys) I am building a sleeper of sorts and even thinking of going with dog dish hub caps for a old school look. Do you guys remember the mint green color GM used in the 60s? Thats the color it will be painted when done, back to its original color. EDIT: Here is a pix I found on the web showing a 66 in that color.

Its brand new from the firewall forward...new upper & lower ball joints, coil springs, tie rod ends, A arm bushings, idler arm, sway bar bushings and ends. Everything that will impact steering and stopping got upgraded. I converted the drum brakes to disc plus its got all that nice new paint. Its going to be a sunny day car and I might do some bracket racing with it.

WCH, the heads aren't Cs, just Ga but they have been worked over. Supposedly the stock WZs flow pretty good, I may end up with headers but wanted to give them a shot as I do like the old school look.

I have been checking out ROP for years. You're right, its a great site for us Olds fans.

Got Torque?

 

[actionaj]

Nice ride I see its got a four speed in it too.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Yep, ROP is like TBN on steroids for an Olds guy. I used to post there, but you talk about combative! There are lots of ways to get the compression down, but why bother now? They all involve an engine teardown and machine work. As long as it's not a daily driver, ain't much difference in $4.00 and $4.25 for gas.
On ROP I guarantee you can find someone to swap the manifolds for ceramic coated headers, if you wanted to go that route. My '68 with the 425 went high 12's with the manifolds and a peg leg rear, so yours should run even better. I think the manifolds look nicer anyway. Depends just how fast you want to go.

 

[MikePA]

My Dad was a die hard Olds buyer. The car he gave me driving lessons in was a 1966 Toronado and it's the car I got to "borrow' before he decided it was safer to buy my sister and I a Toyota!

Is that the stock engine color for an Olds engine? I can't recall what ours looked like. Looks like the same color as Pontiac engines.

 

[Lasgambler]

When I built the car we were 1500 foot below sea level and could get by on premium pump gas.

When I worked in the Middle East I was able to go to The Dead Sea, Elevation 1378 below sea level, Lowest point on the Earth. Where is 1500 ft below sea level?

Nice car, by the way.

 

[slewisma]

Makes me long for the days when a big engine left room under the hood to work on it and it was easy to understand and maintain without computers. Now I've got smaller engines but a lot more wires and hoses and a lot less desire to service it all myself.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ridgewalker]

My Dad was a die hard Olds buyer. The car he gave me driving lessons in was a 1966 Toronado and it's the car I got to "borrow' before he decided it was safer to buy my sister and I a Toyota!

Is that the stock engine color for an Olds engine? I can't recall what ours looked like. Looks like the same color as Pontiac engines.

Mike, the color is almost the stock color, it should be a little greener but its hard to find an exact match. I got the paint from Fusick...the Olds parts guys.

 

[MikePA]

Great looking car by the way. Seeing an Olds brings back a lot of fond memories. Thanks for sharing.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Ridgewalker,
Very nice job, but no custom headers ???

 

[dbdartman]

I am trying to stay as stock as possible but that is really hard to do with some parts unless you're rich or stupid. (see the Mopar guys)

Got Torque?

Thanx... I think!

Like someone said, "There's no replacement for displacement!"

My brother & I have been playing with Mopars since the late 70's (when they truly were "cheaper")! We've graduated from 318's to 383's to 440's & now have one with a 493. With aluminum Edelbrock heads & 9.5:1 it'll run on 91 octane (89 octane if we detune it some) & makes a touch under 550HP & 590 TQ (makes over 450TQ from 3500-6500RPM) yet is docile enough to idle in traffic all day with the A/C cranking! It's powering a 69 Coronet 500 wagon. My own 68 Dart is somewhat more tame with only a mild 360 for power (I estimate it makes maybe 375HP).

"Money pit" is right! But then, true "car guys" know & accept this! It's a sickness I tell ya'!

Oh, & if we weren't into the Mopars & AMC's, we'd be SO into Olds!

Nice car!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Thanx... I think!

Like someone said, "There's no replacement for displacement!"

My brother & I have been playing with Mopars since the late 70's (when they truly were "cheaper")! We've graduated from 318's to 383's to 440's & now have one with a 493. With aluminum Edelbrock heads & 9.5:1 it'll run on 91 octane (89 octane if we detune it some) & makes a touch under 550HP & 590 TQ (makes over 450TQ from 3500-6500RPM) yet is docile enough to idle in traffic all day with the A/C cranking! It's powering a 69 Coronet 500 wagon. My own 68 Dart is somewhat more tame with only a mild 360 for power (I estimate it makes maybe 375HP).

"Money pit" is right! But then, true "car guys" know & accept this! It's a sickness I tell ya'!
Oh, & if we weren't into the Mopars & AMC's, we'd be SO into Olds!

Nice car!

Don't take it personal, I have to say that Mopar made the biggest baddest fastest muscle cars out there. I just can't run in that league. I recently saw a Dodge Daytona, all there but a total basket case, sell for 80K. It is undergoing to total resto adding another big chunk but the owner swears he will make money when its done.

It is a sickness...but a fun one that keeps me sane in the suburbs when I can't get to the farm.

 

[dbdartman]

Don't take it personal,

Oh, believe me, I didn't! "Thanx... I think!" was said with tongue firmly embedded in my cheek!

I have to say that Mopar made the biggest baddest fastest muscle cars out there. I just can't run in that league.

Yea, they had a reputation, but Buick, Olds, & Pontiac did too. On the streets torque ruled & the BOP 455's could make some torque...

I recently saw a Dodge Daytona, all there but a total basket case, sell for 80K. It is undergoing to total resto adding another big chunk but the owner swears he will make money when its done.

Amazing what some of them trade for, isn't it.

It is a sickness...but a fun one that keeps me sane in the suburbs when I can't get to the farm.

A long term sickness in my case, I guess. Started playing with VW's in the early 70's, graduated into Mopars in the later 70's (when they were cheap & more difficult to restore). Now we're playing with an 86 AMC Eagle wagon (258 4bbl header). CHEAP compared to the Mopars! Different.

 

[WilliamBos]

Awesome Job!! I am so glad to see you did not ruin the car with a Chev transplant, like so many other people have done!!

There is not a Chev Big block that will out torque an Olds, when built dollar for dollar!!

 

[MossRoad]

Now we're playing with an 86 AMC Eagle wagon (258 4bbl header). CHEAP compared to the Mopars! Different.

Those are some tough cars. I still see quite a few of them around here.