oldsman72

Well, I set the "ball in motion" this afternoon to have the engines and transmissions in my 70 442 and 72 Cutlass Supreme swapped. Fingers crossed that this goes smoothly. Local mechanic doing the swap.

I've owned my 72 for over 20 years and the northeast winters have really beaten her up. I put a lot of $$ in the original Rocket 350 and 350 turbo trans back in '07. Car has since taken a turn for the worse but I only have about 1500 miles on drivetrain. I feel bad pulling the original, #'s matching engine but I'll take a bath if I try to sell the car with the motor in it. It looks bad, lots of holes.

The engine in my 442 is a 70's era Olds 350. It's pretty strong but needs some TLC. It's got a 400 turbo trans also needing some TLC. Once in my 72 and running, she'll go on eBay.

Grand master plan is to return my 442 to is original, green glory. That will be several years down the road and I hope to employ the help of 1 or both of my sons with that. I already have a 455 block.....building that will be "Step 2"

oldcutlass

It should be an easy swap, since all the parts are available from 1 to the other.

Fastbrianman

I think I would try to do the TLC on the turbo 400 and put that back in the 442 with the fresh engine. It would be a better trans in the long run even more so with the 455 in the future.

oldsman72

It certainly crossed my mind but I just had a fresh rebuild on the 350 turbo with shift kit. It cost me a couple of bucks so, since it's behind the worked 350, I figured I stick with it.

When I go with the 455, very early hopes are to go with an overdive trans. I got some time to think that over.

Fastbrianman

I have run a 350 behind 455 before. It was not a problem but I did not race them with slicks or anything like that.
I have run a 200R4 overdrive in my 442 with a mild build on a 455 for the past few years. Love it, made the 3.90 rear gear much more user friendly.
It is almost a bolt in swap.
Bow Tie overdrives has all the parts you need to make one live.
It was one of the best mods I have done for a car that is driven all the time.

oldsman72

Thanks man. I'd be looking at a 200R4 when the time comes. I appreciate the info. Probably put the 455 with 350 trams until it goes, then go OD.

oldsman72

Update: slow-go on the motor swap. Between funds and availability of guy to do the work, it's still pending. I'm next up once he finishes his current job.

Thinking a little more about the 455 I have. I expect to build the internals block to stock (possibly .030" over if needed). I was originally thinking about going aftermarket for the heads and intake (Edelbrock).

I have a set of "E" heads, which I understand are good heads. I need to do more homework on them but I thought I'd just throw it out there for input. Aftermarket or "E" heads? I'll probably go aluminum intake but wouldn't mind securing a stock 455 intake somewhere along the way.

I'm not looking to race but would rather have a nice, relatively reliable cruiser to throw my sons in and go for a ride. But, a pass or 2 at Englishtown are not out of the question