1967 442. 90% original. Bought one brand new July 67. Had a Fomoco three speed on the floor. Bought another 40 years later. Stroke survivor. Lost 90% left side. This one is a auto w/switch pitch. Fixed a few things. Oil leaks, axle seals, P/S pump, suspension bushing all around. Engine clean was overhauled before I purchased. Ran just OK but burned oil like mad. Quart every 3-500 miles. No smoke, no leaks. Maybe seals? Replaced. Intake to head seal sucking oil from lifter valley? Tried new turkey tray. Tried Felpro fiber gaskets. No help. Purchased another 390390 intake in case mine was warped. No help. Talked with local builder. Arrived at a build plan. Pulled motor. Pistons good (350's) Rod's good. Cam and lifters good. I ask builder to keep .921 lifters in their correct order (gave lifter box)and save for later use. Re-work heads with 3 angle valve job and Harlan Sharp S50026A roller rockers with 9.5" hardened pushrods. Balance engine. New bearings/freeze plugs. Double roller chain set. New oil pump. DMR windage tray. Check all clearances and assemble and paint. Picked up engine 4 months later. He tossed the .921 lifters. Lost my dipstick and tube. Said he primed engine and all the rockers were oiling. Installed engine. Me and my right arm anyway. Primed engine, direct reading gauge read 5psi. Drill weak/slow? installed dizzy. 10W-30 Valvoline VR1. Engine fired with in a revolution. Oh my God! What a racket. Killed ignition. Pulled plugs and tried to turn engine with breaker bar. Impossible. Pulled engine. Back to builder. He was sure I had done something wrong during the install. Two long weeks I call him. He says the rod bolts were hitting the windage tray. Picked up engine. All the hassle of the re-install. Still 5psi on prime. Engine fired immediately. Oh my God. What a noise. Seems the Harlan Sharp S50026A's have a short set of Allen head adjusters that you need to get to clear the baffles in the valve covers. A few of the spot welds were broken so I removed the baffles. No more noise. Engine ran well but oil pressure was 3psi. Lifters were noisy and most quieted after 3-5 minutes. After 5-7 minutes oil pressure was non-existent. Shut engine down. Pulled dizzy, spun oil pump with drill, oil gushed out of back of engine. Pulled engine. Freeze plug on rear of engine but just fwd of that the plug that has the dizzy oil hole was missing. Took engine back plug installed with new freeze plug. Check plug in front it was there but really loose. Picked up engine. Re-installed. Fired it up. Oil pressure 5-7psi. After 10 minutes lifters were noisy and oil pressure was dropping. Shut her down. Pulled engine again. Builder replaced pump. Went to pick engine up and my bronze 400E was now gold. Ordered more paint from Bill Hirsch. Repainted. Reinstalled again. Ran well. Good oil pressure, 35psi at 750rpm. Ended up replacing three noisy lifters. Yeah, had to pull the cast iron intake again. Idled good, no leaks, 16" vacuum. Broke in motor slowly, after 500 miles changed oil and filter. After all the pulls/re-installs that's about 30 quarts of oil. During the initial 500 miles she used over a quart. The second 500 miles again over a quart. That's 3 quarts in 1000 miles.


Pulled motor. Queried and watch threads on Classic Oldsmobile about reputable Oldsmobile engine builders. Narrowed it to three. Picked one and arranged to have the engine shipped to him. I explained my situation. We arrived at a budget and goals. 400hp, no oil leaks, no oil usage. Rev limiter will be set to an rpm he says the motor will live and I won't ever have to pull again.


Here is my quandary. I have pulled this engine so many times. I am frustrated. Diminished enough already. My joy of ownership has waned. He received the motor June 2014. He is very hard to get in touch with. After 11 months I am worried. Is my build a low priority? Will I receive an engine that will be machine just enough to satisfy an unimportant man? Is this the norm? Does everyone get sub standard work from farmed out work? Sometimes I feel invisible.

 

Sorry to hear about your health problems. I went through quintuple bypass, so I understand how one can get discouraged.

My personal experience is that getting timely, quality work out of suppliers is unfortunately a rarity. This is why I do as much of my own work as possible. Same thing applies to rehabbing our 300 year old log house - we had to fire a substandard worker, and got very lucky on another. I can't speak to your particular engine builder, but sadly quality suppliers are difficult to find.

 

Thanks Joe, I agree about doing as much as I can myself. Did all the Front and rear suspension bushings, springs, ball joints, tie rods, power steering gearbox, sway bars, etc.. Basically with one arm/hand. After the fourth or fifth engine pull I was discouraged and depleted. Not on here to bash anyone. Sorry to hear other people have sub'ed out work and received inferior workmanship. Now I've waited and waited for the engine and am keeping my fingers crossed that this builder will give me quality machining and a reliable motor. It's been so long without my engine that I bought an Olds 350 substitute. After my second stroke in December, friends pitched in and got it installed. At least I can drive the car and enter a few car shows and cruise ins this year. Patiently waiting and hoping that I get one of those motors that you read about in Classic Oldsmobile. "Been in the car 50,000 miles, made 200 passes, was a torque monster". Right now all I can do is pray.

 

Ya nothin more frustrating than tossin money out the window with incompetent suppliers...nothing.
Contact BTR in Rochester NY. You will here nothing bad about Bill. You get what you pay for, most of the time(this statement doesnt apply to Bill). Bills crew performs expert Olds engine machine work. We have several cars in our area running his 496s street & strip versions. They all run hard and stay together because Bill knows Olds...period.
I just picked up a virgin 69 455 thats slated for his magic soon.
I hate to say this but it could be time to lawyer up(hate em) and have them make a phone call. Or you may want to give them a courtesy warning that your about to go that route unless something comes to fruition soon! A year is way out of control.

http://www.btrperformance.com/

 

It pisses me off to hear stories like this. You might want to hire Dog the Bounty Hunter to give the engine builder a 'courtesy visit'...........

 

That's sucks! Like you I try to do as much as possible myself but when it came time to rebuild my engine I had BTR do it.

Bill is a professional,he basicly asks you what's your plan,budget and time frame and gets it done! Period! There are a couple of good builders here that can get her done as well.

Sorry to hear about your health
Hope it all works out.

 

Man that sucks, im sorry for you and your troubles. I think the first builder needs to give your money back or pay the second builder. I agree, you may need to talk to a lawyer, this is unacceptable. My machinist in Houston had mine done in a week, I assembled it but he vatted it, bored it, balanced it, valve job, supplied all the parts, except cam. He told me a week, I didnt really believe it, but it was done in a week. There are several others on this site that have used the same builder with excellent results. He has a very busy shop and he got it done. Its really sad how some people take advantage of unknowing customers, all they are seeing is dollar signs and could care less about whos paying. Call this guy and be stern, hes had your engine too long. If hes so busy he dosent have time to do your engine, he should have told you in the first place.

 

The length of time is only somewhat frustrating because people can, and do, have extenuating circumstances. I have not mention any names and do not wish to malign anyone. Both my builders will remain anonymous in my post. I've had some absolutely wonderful dealings with many Classic Oldsmobile members. Bernard Mondello, cutlassefi, Dr Dan, etc.. Received great advice and factual information from many sources,( AllanR, SteveC, F85, RifRaf, Oldsmobiledave, Bernhard, Milan, and the incomparable Joe P) here on C.O.. Read every page of cutlass freak's head thread. What a gentleman. Bought parts from multiple sources on here. Had only one bad experience. Bought a set of C heads that were really Ga heads that were ground off to say "C". I should have ask for the casting number. Live and learn. Thanks to everyone whom have responded. The Olds 350 is a sweet little motor. No complaints. Fingers still crossed.

 

good luck with your build, hope it all gets resolved

 

Sorry to hear about all problems you went through, my 455 had a similar appetite for oil and that was simply the pcv valve sucking oil from the pass side valvecover that had no baffle. When i tore the engine apart it had massive carbon buildup on the pistons and the manifold was full of oil.
/Anders

 

Wow, I hate hearing horror stories like this. I have any suggestions on how to motivate a vendor, tough call. I just hope you get it worked out.

 

Never pay up front, and always negotiate a timetable before work begins. Any setbacks from the schedule results in less money. Meet, discuss, get a quote, agree on quote and timing and deliverables, work begins, work ends, invoice, cut check, mail it, it's cashed. If a vendor can't handle that, then I look for a better run business. Sometimes, craftsmanship is good, and business sense is bad, but usually it's all good, or all bad.

 

Just brutal. It seems there are more issues with BBO and oil pressure on new builds, they seem more finicky. I have a feeling on which builder you picked. Unfortunately many of the Olds experts aren't young guys, Bill at BTR is an exception. I know one has had health issues recently and that might be your issue. Hope it works out.

 

Am remaining positive. The second stroke has been my undoing. Still vertical but without any left side. No wrist, fingers or thumb. No hamstring or ankle. Emotional beyond belief. My dream, 1967 Gold Olds 442, is fading. Sold my house to eliminate all steps and stairs and yard work. In the middle of moving to a handicapped home. Have a wonderful group of friends in my car club whom are anxious to install the 400E when it arrives in August. Believe my builder is doing the best he can. Wish I could have gotten the Scat rods, but $1100 pistons exceeded our planned budget. We're shooting for 400hp, no leaks, no oil usage. Suicide **** installed so I can steer. Thank goodness it's an automatic. Will enjoy it as long as I can. Thanks to everyone whom have expressed concern and empathy. I have not given up on my car. My spark however has dimmed. Maybe in the next month or so things will start looking up.


In sackcloth and ashes,


George
US Navy Retired, 30 years, 1993

 

Thanks for your service!