block ?
June 6th, 2009, 12:54 PM
#3
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 13,692
Yes....
The 1965 400 was used only in the 442. I know in 1968 they put them in Vista Cruisers too, I'm not sure what year they began to use them in other models than the 442. Also, the 1965-67 400 has a different bore and stroke than the 1968-69 400. They put the 425's in lots of different full sized cars from 1965-67, then from 1968 to 1975(?) Olds used the 455 in lots of different models. So the 425 and 455 are the most common big blocks to find. They will all fit in your 1965 F85 with some minor tweaks as the lower parts of the engines from 330-455 are all the same. Also the back where they bolt up to the transmission is all the same. Exhaust will be a little different, and you'll want to make sure you use the correct motor mounts for the mount perches in your car. Also using a matching set of pullys is very important. Do you have a 330 or 6 cylinder in your F85? John
The 1965 400 was used only in the 442. I know in 1968 they put them in Vista Cruisers too, I'm not sure what year they began to use them in other models than the 442. Also, the 1965-67 400 has a different bore and stroke than the 1968-69 400. They put the 425's in lots of different full sized cars from 1965-67, then from 1968 to 1975(?) Olds used the 455 in lots of different models. So the 425 and 455 are the most common big blocks to find. They will all fit in your 1965 F85 with some minor tweaks as the lower parts of the engines from 330-455 are all the same. Also the back where they bolt up to the transmission is all the same. Exhaust will be a little different, and you'll want to make sure you use the correct motor mounts for the mount perches in your car. Also using a matching set of pullys is very important. Do you have a 330 or 6 cylinder in your F85? John
June 6th, 2009, 06:27 PM
#4
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
Yes....
The 1965 400 was used only in the 442. I know in 1968 they put them in Vista Cruisers too, I'm not sure what year they began to use them in other models than the 442. Also, the 1965-67 400 has a different bore and stroke than the 1968-69 400. They put the 425's in lots of different full sized cars from 1965-67, then from 1968 to 1975(?) Olds used the 455 in lots of different models. So the 425 and 455 are the most common big blocks to find. They will all fit in your 1965 F85 with some minor tweaks as the lower parts of the engines from 330-455 are all the same. Also the back where they bolt up to the transmission is all the same. Exhaust will be a little different, and you'll want to make sure you use the correct motor mounts for the mount perches in your car. Also using a matching set of pullys is very important. Do you have a 330 or 6 cylinder in your F85? John
The 1965 400 was used only in the 442. I know in 1968 they put them in Vista Cruisers too, I'm not sure what year they began to use them in other models than the 442. Also, the 1965-67 400 has a different bore and stroke than the 1968-69 400. They put the 425's in lots of different full sized cars from 1965-67, then from 1968 to 1975(?) Olds used the 455 in lots of different models. So the 425 and 455 are the most common big blocks to find. They will all fit in your 1965 F85 with some minor tweaks as the lower parts of the engines from 330-455 are all the same. Also the back where they bolt up to the transmission is all the same. Exhaust will be a little different, and you'll want to make sure you use the correct motor mounts for the mount perches in your car. Also using a matching set of pullys is very important. Do you have a 330 or 6 cylinder in your F85? John
There were actually three different Olds 400 block castings. 389298 B was used in 1965 442s only and is a short stroke 400 (4.00" bore, 3.98" stroke). 390925 E is also a short-stroke motor used in 66-67 442s and 67 Supremes (and Vistas?). 396026 G is a long-stroke 400 (3.87" bore, 4.25" stroke) and was used in the 68-69 442s and Vistas. All are externally identical, though the 67-earlier motors use a different crank flange bolt pattern and flywheel than the 68-up motors. 425s (65-67) and 455s (68-76) are also externally identical to the 400s.
Any Olds big block bolts directly into the 65 F-85 using EXACTLY the same motor mounts and frame brackets as the 330. In 1965 (and in every year up to 1969) Olds used the SAME motor mounts and frame brackets for the BBO and SBO. Note that the BBO and SBO do NOT use the same "lower parts", however. The crank, rods, bearings, and even oil pan are different. The motor mount bolt holes ARE in the same place relative to the crank centerline, however. Use the 1965 400 motor exhaust manifold and the flanges will be in exactly the same place as the flanges on your 330 manifolds. The old pipes will bolt right up if you choose to use them.
June 7th, 2009, 01:07 AM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Too close to Toronto!!
Posts: 4,087
Mounties
Actually the small block mounts are different than the big blocks- they are interchangeable but the big block mount has a built in interlock to prevent the motor jumping when the mount breaks-the '69-72 mounts have a more pronounced interlock...soo..use the big block mounts for your small block...'65-'68 big block mounts wil not interchange with '69-'72 mounts...the frame pads are different and thus the mounts are different... 
June 7th, 2009, 06:13 AM
#7
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
Actually the small block mounts are different than the big blocks- they are interchangeable but the big block mount has a built in interlock to prevent the motor jumping when the mount breaks-the '69-72 mounts have a more pronounced interlock...soo..use the big block mounts for your small block...'65-'68 big block mounts wil not interchange with '69-'72 mounts...the frame pads are different and thus the mounts are different...
ALL rubber motor mounts available today have the interlock feature. The early mounts have been redesigned to incorporate the interlock.
June 13th, 2009, 11:35 AM
#9
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
You"ll find the 455 is easier to come by. Be sure to get the flywheel or flexplate with the motor, however. The one meaningful external difference between the 64-67 motors and the 68-90 motors is the bolt pattern on the crank flange.
June 13th, 2009, 11:42 PM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Too close to Toronto!!
Posts: 4,087
More mounties
The original post read '400'...we must be using different books because mine for engine mounts has PN 404461 1964-67/all V-8 EXC 400 eng /sup 394198-401012; 401341 1965-68/ all v-8-w/ 400 engine; 404461 1968-73/ all 350 V-8; 406436 1969-72/ all400, 455 V-8...my book is # 743A...It's a battle of the books
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
