Olds64,
I have been told that the heads had been cracked previously and that plugs had been inserted to stop cracking continuing ?
I agree the bores could have been sleeved but although that process has come a long way since a sleeve let go in a V8 I had in the 80's, you will understand that I am not a huge fan of the process
I had the 425 that is in my 66 88 2 door as "plan B", but found someone selling a set of new 455 pistons (up 40thou.) on ebay over here and when I asked if they had anything else they answered - "a whole motor in pieces" !
Turns out the seller is an engine reconditioner who, after reading an article on Olds motors in the 80's decided to do one up "for the hell of it" as he did not even have a car to put it in. thus it has not been used for 20 years and includes a lot of bits the engine guys were going to have to source anyway.
Here's one good point that leads me to think he may have found an interesting engine for me - it has an
original Oldsmobile alloy intake manifold !
I pick it all up tonight ... and I hope it is still in the condition he described .
I will add pics to my site as they become available.
Gary T