Oldsprepp

it should be a olds 455.. but can u tell if it is a smogged low comp 72-76
.. or is it a "high" comp 68-72more fun engine...

joe_padavano

Well, the "J" on the head tells me it's likely a 73-76 motor. Check the VIN derivative on the pad directly below that "J". The second digit in the VIN derivative is the year of the block. 8=1968, 0=1970, 3=1973, etc. of course, it appears that the motor has been apart before (unless that's just a spray-can "rebuild"), so even if it is a 70s smogger, you don't know what the CR is without checking the pistons.

Rallye469

Check out that motor mount!
Was this thing in an old truck? A street rod?

Oldsguy

I noticed that too. I had to do something similar to make a 455 fit in my '46 the correct way.

Olds64

That yellow is an odd color for an engine.

joe_padavano

Yeah, notice how it hides the oil and dirt...

Oldsguy

Probably it was in a yellow car and looked pretty good at one time but it looks like it may have been rattle canned. Since I discovered (re-discovered) brush on enamel I believe that is the way to go. I used POR15 engine enamel but really, probably there are other brands out there that will do as well. Durable, hard, shiny and easy to wipe clean. That paint looks very dull and tired in the photo.

The_Jeremiah

Wow, that thing is dirty LOL

Olds64

Just an excuse to rebuild it.

Pghstarsky

I dont care if it's dirty...as long as it would make my car go really fast really quick.

Oldsprepp

okey thx for all the tips... these engine's are rare to find here in sweden.. so maybe i buy it and restore it but its no fun if the engine is as power full as my olds 350 that i have in the car now :P then its just alot of work and no gain of speed :P

Rallye469

What's your 350 like? (I mean what was done to that?)

Even if you build the 455's bottom end stock and just update the cam...
you'll probably have more power then the 350.
If the J heads are bothering you...you can always just replace them.
I'd say go for it.

joe_padavano

Whoa! I missed that. Even here in the US, I'd say snag that motor if the price is right. As I've said before, the last 455 was cast over 30 years ago, so grab any one you can. You can ALWAYS raise compression or port the heads, but casting a new block is tough. Personally, I've been stockpiling BBOs over the last few years. I think I'm up to... uh... well, nearly a dozen so far. Plus a couple of 403s that I got cheap.

Some may remember my motto: Anything under 400 cu in isn't a real engine

J-(Chicago)

and the old....
"There's no replacement for displacement."

Oldsprepp

my olds 350 is a "stock" as i know engine that is pretty boring... 0-60 in about 8seconds in my cutlass.

Oldsprepp

what ´kind of horsepower was there in the olds 455 with low comp and J heads?

dar83501

I think they were tentatively rated at 260 or 275 horses, if it's a smog motor. Don't recall the torque.

Oldsprepp

well well i had bad luck and it got sold before i could go get it

now there are 0 olds 455 for sale in sweden

Rallye469

Oldsprepp

Try contacting this guy...he might know where some are hiding.

http://www.oldspower.se/