I just bought a realy nice 59 coupe with the 371 in it I would like to put in a 455 c/i engine is this swap ok also what 455 had the most horse power and was the best engine Cheers Noel

 

At this point, ANY Olds 455 with decent oil pressure and good compression, is a good 455.
This engine is a torque engine, do not worry about horsepower.

You will either have a 455 with low or high compression, depending on year built.
425 is a good alternative.
Most any 455 should get most cars into the 14's, with the right camshaft, and gearing. That should be fast enough in most anyone's book.

My Opinion
Jim

 

If you can get your hands on a 70 or earlier Toro 455 you have high compression 455 to start with. Other then that I agree with warehead any 455 will deliver good torque. Good luck on your build I did a similar conversion to my 57 Olds

 

ANY 455 is a good engine, even if it has J heads and catalytic converters.

I'm sure it will be a cool project! Keep us posted.

 

Wonder how many know the old 'Stone, Woods + Cook' A/Gas Supercharged ****** used a blown 394 Olds motor for a few years!! Very competitive back then!!
Bet those parts would be hard to find!

 

As has been said above any 455 will be great. If you are going to all the work to install a 455. You might as well rebuild the engine. No sense to install a used engine only to pull it out again to rebuild it a short time later. You can use any 455 and with after market pistons you can get any compression ratio you want. A little machine work on the block and valve work, after market cam and you are set to go.
A few have installed that engine in cars of your era, it is a piece of cake. A nice T-400, you have a great cruiser.

Gene

 

Citcapp is the man on this since he put one in his 57. Apparently it is a long way from a bolt in swap though.

 

It is a little more then a bolt in, but if you have reasonable fabrication skills and the right kind of tools it isn't that hard. Doesn't the the 59's have the slim jim transmission and a very low and narrow transmission tunnel which could be a factor in that conversion

 

Slim Jims didnt come out til '61, and the transmission tunnel is big enough to accomidate just about anything. The only clearance problem would be the exhaust manifold on the drivers side dumping almost directly on the steering box

 

Perhaps a set of W/Z manifolds would clear the steering box...

I know Oldsguy has this problem in his 46. I think he used a home fabricated driver's side exhaust manifold off of a 307. It isn't the best solution, but it works for now.

 

The W/Z manifolds were the answer for my conversion on the 57 along with offsetting the engine 1.5" to the passenger side of the car when I installed the 455 in the 57 Olds