For my Olds-Mad project, a 455 came with the car, and after taking off the oil pan and heads, it's in great shape. I plan on the car being a cruiser, not a hot rod, but I'm thinking about adding a mild cam while I rebuild the top end. I'm more of a Chevy guy, so I'm not well versed in Olds stuff. I'm running an Offy "dual port" intake, and Holley carb. SS headers, and a "Quad" exhaust system. Nothing else special. Turbo 400 and 3.08 gears out back in the 56 Olds rear. Is there a cam I can get, to give it a better sound, considering the time and expense in building this crazy exhaust? One that won't compromise drivability, or mileage, too much?

 

And that's your first problem, right there. It should tell you something that even decades after the patent on these expired, not one other intake manufacturer has ever released a similar manifold. A pair of flat plenum single plane intakes stacked is the answer to the question no one asked. These aren't even suitable for turning into a blower manifold.

 

Didn't know that, Joe! That's the intake that came on the engine when I got the car. So I know there must be a better choice, considering how close to stock the engine is. Any suggestions?

 

Since your building a cruiser, keep the camshaft mild. Unless your really planning to spin the engine more than 5K, a stock or Performer manifold would would ok. Go a little wilder on camshaft, you could get away with a Torker. There are Air Gap manifolds, but they have carburetor mounting pads much taller than the Torker/Performer. How much hood clearance do you have?




I have never seen one of those dual port manifolds before, what was the purpose of that design?!

 

Edelbrock performer has proven to be a good all around intake.

 

Here is a pic of the Edelbrock Performer Olds 455 installed on my wife's 455.