Bassemaa93

Hi guys, I am looking for a 1969-1970 good core rebuildable Olds 455 Rocket complete engine in California zone. I'm in a budget build, so the engine should be 0-600$ maximum, I will pay shipping.
So the engine should be from 1969 to 1970 Olds Rocket 455, a good core rebuildable engine.
Please who have or know someone that have one for sale send me the name plus full address and asking price, some pictures and block + heads numbers.
You can email me at bassemabouantoun@hotmail.com
Thanks for the help.

svnt442

Why so specific on the years? If you are looking for certain heads those can be added easily to any 455 block. If you are looking for one for a stick, then that makes sense, but again you are a bit narrow on your search.
Also what part of CA are you in?

Bassemaa93

I am looking for a genuine 455 Rocket HO

svnt442

OK, if you are going to rebuild it then it doesn't matter what year the block is unless you are specifically looking for one for a manual trans application. The later block don't have the boss cast in for the Z-bar ball and would need either an adapter plate to make it work or the use of a hydraulic clutch.
So with that said, all 455's are a good foundation for a performance engine. You can use heads from any year BBO to get what you're looking for, or even go with aftermarket aluminum. It just depends on what you are looking to get out of the engine.
There will be nothing on the block to identify it as a "455 Rocket HO" as you put it.
The factory dropped the compression after the 1970 model year, but as I said, if you are going to rebuild it, that doesn't matter.
1968 and 1969 engine will have the same possible options and then in 1970 they changed the heads a bit.
Just because you look for a certain year engine doesn't mean you will get a high horsepower engine right off the bat, and in the end it won't matter.....back to you're going to rebuild it anyway.
And your location will help tons with finding you an engine that is in good shape for a rebuild.

DK 442

Svty 442 , maybe you can answer a couple questions for me , I have a 455 pretty much stock . It's a 70 442 but I have a 75 block in it . Any way I can improve the HP on the motor to make it like a 70 engine ? Engine now runs great , has some ***** but not enough . Let me know

wr1970

Change the compression by getting better pistons and cam. Also might want to look into a better intake and headers you don't have any installed.JMO

svnt442

I had a 73 block that I built about 22 years ago with J heads. I used +.030 TRW replacement pistons for 1970 and had a larger cam(.504/504 296°/306° 228°/235°) than came in 70. Edelbrock performer intake and 1407 750 CFM carb and Flowtech headers with a Flowmaster 2½" exhaust system in a 70 Cutlass.
I ran a 13.89 @ 97 MPH with a 2.56 gear in the car. With a good gear that car would probably have been in the 12's.

TRW is now SpeedPro

wr1970

Yep easily.

442Harv

Where in Cal are you? I live in the Bay Area. I do not have a complete running engine, but I have a lot of the parts you would need to make a long block.

Fun71

If I were looking for a rebuildable 455 for a performance application that would use the factory iron heads with no port work, anything from 1968 to 1972 with C, E, G, or GA heads would do. '73-'76 J heads would work equally well if I wanted to do some port work.

svnt442

I agree with this. If I had better heads on mine it would have been even better, but I ran what I had. As it was the car was a tire fryer. 600' long posi burnouts in parking lots was as easy as stomping the go pedal to the floor. (no brake stand)

Bassemaa93

​​​​​​​So what gears do you suggest for all around use (street race, donuts, daily drive...). I have 2.56 gears and 455 th400 on my '76 442. So what do you say? I have been told to go with 3.42 or 3.73 gears.

76olds

All around use 3:42 would be the best of both worlds in your 76 IMO. What size tire you running on the back?

Gary M

Others here will tell you the gear ratio will make a difference. You need to get more info on that before you jump into a rebuild or motor change unless the motor needs it. Even if you dump a boatload of money in the motor a weak gear may disappoint you. There are a few members on here that specialize in differentials. You ask a gear question and they will help.

Bassemaa93

​​​​​​​275/70/15 on the rears. Engine is a rebuilt 455 470 hp and 540 torque

wr1970

I guess i will ask. How do you know that your engine is a 470hp and 540 torque. Did you get it dynoed some where?Just curious.

Bassemaa93

​​​​​​​sorry tires height is 65 not 70. I got the engine dynoed at a local speed shop

wr1970

Was that a engine dyno or chassis dyno. Good numbers anyway.

Bassemaa93

​​​​​​​the whole car was on the dyno, so it's a chassis dyno. Engine dynoed 4 months ago numbers were 530 hp and much more torque. Frankly, the engine is a 464 buick (.040 bored 455) with stage 1 aluminum TA Performance heads and TA solid cam, TA SP1 intake, holley 870 carb...

MDchanic

So, just to clarify, you have a running, built Buick 455, recently dynoed at approximately 470hp/540tq, in the car now, but are looking for an Olds 455 to do a budget rebuild on to replace the Buick motor.

If the Buick motor is pulling that hard... Why?

- Eric

Bassemaa93

No Eric, this engine thread is old. I found an Olds 455 and rebuilt it and put it in my 71 442. but i've seen svnt442 posting a gear comment here, so we moved to gears suggestions then he and wr1970 asked me about the engine in my car, this was the buick. this 464 buick is a monster i spent 8k building it and I'm proud i have such an engine. it's very rare in my country here. and i may be the only guy running buick aluminum stage 1 heads and such engine parts and specs in the country.
You can check the comments to see how we moved from a subject to another

MDchanic

2½ months old.



That's not a budget build.


Well, at least now I have some idea of what is going on.

Sounds like a great engine!

- Eric