Limey

I am gonna pick up a 455 in a few weeks from a friend what should I be looking for in the motor.

It is complete carb to pan and I know has a slight very slight tick to it, and will prob rebuild it anyways. What danger signs should I be looking for when checking the motor out ?? trouble spots and such??

And this will be going in my 77 cutlass so will need all the help I can get to make it "FIT" per say. I wanna run true dual and do have a mini starter already.

Warhead

How many miles are on this engine?
What are your performance goals?
Ticking is common, easily correctable.
I would be putting on a new timing chain, new oil pump & pan gasket-if under 100K miles.
With a 3.23 gear, dual exhaust, block the heat crossover, cold air, some q-jet and distributor tuning, it should get your Cutlass into the low 14's-high 13's with the old engine.
Is that enough?

jslabotsky

You'll need a double hump transmission crossmember from a 73-75 model to run duals. Other than that, fit-wise you should be good. Probably need a set of fresh 455 motor mounts but that's something I'd replace anyway.

Warhead

Here is my opinion...
Although I am unsure of different mounts for this year, use NEW 350 mounts that are specific to your vehicle, when you bolt in the 455. It will fit like it should.

Both blocks are drilled in the exact same locations for the mounts anyway, you do not want to make an easy job more difficult.

Ditto the trans crossmember, if yours is a single hump unit, get one that has dual humps for pipe clearance. I am sure a board member has one available here.
Jim