69 Cutlass Olds 350 to 455 Swap

mcutlass1969 · December 19th, 2006, 09:22 AM

Guys
I am swaping out the olds 350 to a 76 olds 455. I have added the Edelbrock Heads, intake and carb. I have run into a bit of a snag on a few things.

Setting the Rockers. Do you set them like Chevy's? Tighten by hand till you feel the tension begin, then tighten with a wrench 1/2 turn, then tighten the set screw?

I have the Brackets, pulley's from the 350 but they are not lining up with the 455 Harmonic Balancer pulley? also I have the Edelbrock heads so that my change this a little. It appears that the bolt holes line up but spacing out from the front of the motor is the issue.

Need a wiring diagram for the 69 cutlass and 455 motor. I have lost some of my labels off the wire when I pulled the old motor?

Probably will have a few more questions as I go along.

Oldsguy · December 19th, 2006, 09:47 AM

What kind of rocker assemblies are on the Edelbrock heads? I doubt stock, because they aren't adjustable and don't have a locking screw. So, what does Edelbrock have to say about it?

The 455 has a long snout water pump and a short snout water pump, that is probably what you are running into as far as the brackets not lining up the accessories, if the pulley on the water pump is too far out, replace the pump with a short snout type.

You can get a copy of the wiring of your car from people on ebay. I bought diagrams for the '69 Delta that way, not too bad quality and reasonably priced, I think $12.00 was what I paid.

mcutlass1969 · December 19th, 2006, 10:32 AM

Thanks the Rockers are Comp Roller Rockers. I sent an email off to Edelbrock to see what they have to say. So on the Brackets and Pulleys. it isn't simply changing the harmonic balancer to the one I pulled off of the 350?

texasred · December 19th, 2006, 11:19 AM

Setting CompCams Roller-tip Rockers is exactly as you say. I used their published procedure and it worked like a champ. www.compcams.com/Technical/Instructions/Files/250.pdf

From personal experience, may I STRONGLY suggest you get a pushrod length checker, a water-based magic marker, and follow this procedure before you button it all up. I don't know may folks that have bought the CompCams set, installed the pushrods they have in the kit and not had problems. www.carcraft.com/techarticles/116_0401_setting_pushrod_length/index1.html

As to the brackets, the 455 has a taller deck height...most of the brackets won't fit.

Don't know for sure, but wouldn't the 455 have a bigger harmonic dampener since the rotating assembly is bigger?

Remember to use anti-seize on plugs and light oil on all bolts going into the aluminum.

C.J.

Oldsguy · December 19th, 2006, 12:57 PM

Darn! there I go not reading carefully again! You were asking about the HARMONIC BALANCER.

mcutlass1969 · December 19th, 2006, 01:57 PM

Hey just one more question. Valley Pans. Are these really the only seals. Weird. I hadn't seen these before.

texasred · December 19th, 2006, 08:21 PM

Yup. There's gasket sets you can buy...I use those. I'm running an aluminum intake with the heat risers filled and I've had no problems.

C.J.

Oldsguy · December 20th, 2006, 05:38 AM

Some people do not like the rubber gaskets provided for the front and rear rails and instead use a good bead of silicone, but personally they work allright for me, just be carefull to not move one from it's position when laying the manifold in place and be sure to use a spot of silicone on the corners.

mcutlass1969 · December 20th, 2006, 07:35 AM

Guys thanks for all the info. Just one more question for now. Looking to put in an electronic distributer. Any suggestions? I know there is a wide selection of electronic items. Also any forseen issues with the distributer hitting the firewall with the larger motor.

texasred · December 20th, 2006, 09:27 AM

Dan,
Good call! I used silicone but forgot to mention it.

MC1968,
Can't go wrong with HEI! Pick em up in a junk yard for a song, get a Crane adjustable vacuum advance and springs kit (HEIs are curved for emissions), bypass the resistor wire and run it till it drops!

C.J.

69oldsguy · December 20th, 2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasred

Yup. There's gasket sets you can buy...I use those. I'm running an aluminum intake with the heat risers filled and I've had no problems.

C.J.

Really, you don't use the valley pan? It's true it is not a critical piece but I like the fact that I don't get any splash on the underside of the intake. I have no proof, but I like to tell myself that it helps keep the temp down on the intake as well. I use the block offs for the heat risers. Enough heat for proper atomization of the fuel but a little cooler for as dense a charge as I can get without running a cool can.

And then again I'm probably just fooling myself.

Of course with your non-existent heat risers and alum intake that keeps things cooler also.

I love cars!

64Rocket · January 1st, 2007, 03:29 PM

All the brkts work the same from samll block to big block. They are set up with two sets of mounting holes. The big block probley had a/c and sonuds like the small block did not. That is why the pulleys don't match. I would use all the pulleys from the engine that came out. The water pump may need to be changed. The other problem is people mix the brkts up between a/c and non a/c cars. The 455 will drop in the exact same spot and all the parts from the small block will bolt right in. Be sure to use the small block engine mounts and you will have to play with the exhaust pipes. The head pipe will bolt to the 455 manifold but height is diff. You can use small block manifolds but height is still off. A muffler shop can fix that in matter of minutes.

Gene

stew6371 · January 14th, 2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcutlass1969

Guys
I am swaping out the olds 350 to a 76 olds 455. I have added the Edelbrock Heads, intake and carb. I have run into a bit of a snag on a few things.

Setting the Rockers. Do you set them like Chevy's? Tighten by hand till you feel the tension begin, then tighten with a wrench 1/2 turn, then tighten the set screw?

I have the Brackets, pulley's from the 350 but they are not lining up with the 455 Harmonic Balancer pulley? also I have the Edelbrock heads so that my change this a little. It appears that the bolt holes line up but spacing out from the front of the motor is the issue.

Need a wiring diagram for the 69 cutlass and 455 motor. I have lost some of my labels off the wire when I pulled the old motor?

Probably will have a few more questions as I go along.

what are you going to do with the 350? thanks

The_Jeremiah · June 11th, 2009, 01:13 AM

Im currently doing the same thing to mine, best of luck to you my friend! what i did as far as distributor, go to the auto parts store and have them get you a factory style HEI distributor for an olds, and have it recurved, dont forget that part! and as far as the intake gaskets go, SCE makes a very good gasket, thats what i went with on mine, and Dick miller and mondello make a valley pan insert that fits down into the block to keep the oil off the bottom of the intake.

joe_padavano · June 11th, 2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jeremiah

Im currently doing the same thing to mine, best of luck to you my friend! what i did as far as distributor, go to the auto parts store and have them get you a factory style HEI distributor for an olds, and have it recurved, dont forget that part! and as far as the intake gaskets go, SCE makes a very good gasket, thats what i went with on mine, and Dick miller and mondello make a valley pan insert that fits down into the block to keep the oil off the bottom of the intake.

Given that this thread originated in 2006, I'm hoping he's got it together by now.

December 19th, 2006, 09:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
mcutlass1969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 75	69 Cutlass Olds 350 to 455 Swap Guys I am swaping out the olds 350 to a 76 olds 455. I have added the Edelbrock Heads, intake and carb. I have run into a bit of a snag on a few things. Setting the Rockers. Do you set them like Chevy's? Tighten by hand till you feel the tension begin, then tighten with a wrench 1/2 turn, then tighten the set screw? I have the Brackets, pulley's from the 350 but they are not lining up with the 455 Harmonic Balancer pulley? also I have the Edelbrock heads so that my change this a little. It appears that the bolt holes line up but spacing out from the front of the motor is the issue. Need a wiring diagram for the 69 cutlass and 455 motor. I have lost some of my labels off the wire when I pulled the old motor? Probably will have a few more questions as I go along.

December 19th, 2006, 09:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	What kind of rocker assemblies are on the Edelbrock heads? I doubt stock, because they aren't adjustable and don't have a locking screw. So, what does Edelbrock have to say about it? The 455 has a long snout water pump and a short snout water pump, that is probably what you are running into as far as the brackets not lining up the accessories, if the pulley on the water pump is too far out, replace the pump with a short snout type. You can get a copy of the wiring of your car from people on ebay. I bought diagrams for the '69 Delta that way, not too bad quality and reasonably priced, I think $12.00 was what I paid. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

December 19th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
texasred Tom Servo's Stunt Double Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 824	Setting CompCams Roller-tip Rockers is exactly as you say. I used their published procedure and it worked like a champ. www.compcams.com/Technical/Instructions/Files/250.pdf From personal experience, may I STRONGLY suggest you get a pushrod length checker, a water-based magic marker, and follow this procedure before you button it all up. I don't know may folks that have bought the CompCams set, installed the pushrods they have in the kit and not had problems. www.carcraft.com/techarticles/116_0401_setting_pushrod_length/index1.html As to the brackets, the 455 has a taller deck height...most of the brackets won't fit. Don't know for sure, but wouldn't the 455 have a bigger harmonic dampener since the rotating assembly is bigger? Remember to use anti-seize on plugs and light oil on all bolts going into the aluminum. C.J. __________________ Dad said, "Sometimes you read Job...sometimes you ARE Job!"

December 19th, 2006, 12:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	Darn! there I go not reading carefully again! You were asking about the HARMONIC BALANCER. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

December 19th, 2006, 08:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
texasred Tom Servo's Stunt Double Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 824	Yup. There's gasket sets you can buy...I use those. I'm running an aluminum intake with the heat risers filled and I've had no problems. C.J. __________________ Dad said, "Sometimes you read Job...sometimes you ARE Job!"

December 19th, 2006, 10:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
mcutlass1969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 75	Thanks the Rockers are Comp Roller Rockers. I sent an email off to Edelbrock to see what they have to say. So on the Brackets and Pulleys. it isn't simply changing the harmonic balancer to the one I pulled off of the 350?

December 19th, 2006, 01:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
mcutlass1969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 75	Hey just one more question. Valley Pans. Are these really the only seals. Weird. I hadn't seen these before.

December 20th, 2006, 05:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	Some people do not like the rubber gaskets provided for the front and rear rails and instead use a good bead of silicone, but personally they work allright for me, just be carefull to not move one from it's position when laying the manifold in place and be sure to use a spot of silicone on the corners. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

December 20th, 2006, 07:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
mcutlass1969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 75	Guys thanks for all the info. Just one more question for now. Looking to put in an electronic distributer. Any suggestions? I know there is a wide selection of electronic items. Also any forseen issues with the distributer hitting the firewall with the larger motor.

December 20th, 2006, 09:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
texasred Tom Servo's Stunt Double Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 824	Dan, Good call! I used silicone but forgot to mention it. MC1968, Can't go wrong with HEI! Pick em up in a junk yard for a song, get a Crane adjustable vacuum advance and springs kit (HEIs are curved for emissions), bypass the resistor wire and run it till it drops! C.J. __________________ Dad said, "Sometimes you read Job...sometimes you ARE Job!"

January 1st, 2007, 03:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
64Rocket Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Union City Calif.94587 Posts: 301	All the brkts work the same from samll block to big block. They are set up with two sets of mounting holes. The big block probley had a/c and sonuds like the small block did not. That is why the pulleys don't match. I would use all the pulleys from the engine that came out. The water pump may need to be changed. The other problem is people mix the brkts up between a/c and non a/c cars. The 455 will drop in the exact same spot and all the parts from the small block will bolt right in. Be sure to use the small block engine mounts and you will have to play with the exhaust pipes. The head pipe will bolt to the 455 manifold but height is diff. You can use small block manifolds but height is still off. A muffler shop can fix that in matter of minutes. Gene __________________

June 11th, 2009, 01:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
The_Jeremiah Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 294	Im currently doing the same thing to mine, best of luck to you my friend! what i did as far as distributor, go to the auto parts store and have them get you a factory style HEI distributor for an olds, and have it recurved, dont forget that part! and as far as the intake gaskets go, SCE makes a very good gasket, thats what i went with on mine, and Dick miller and mondello make a valley pan insert that fits down into the block to keep the oil off the bottom of the intake. __________________ 69' Cutlass 4 door. Built 455 inside, grandma's grocery getter outside. Best sleeper in disguise.

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