71cutlassdroptop

Looking at this item on craigslist. Not sure of the year. Owner said 70 or 71. I have asked for pictures of the heads before I drive an hour to look at. Does this color seem to be an olds color. or is it something someone else painted?

Looking at maybe putting it in a 71 olds convertible

Octania

Looks blue, smog era color, ayep has EGR

Probably a J head 455

Get the heads' ID letter and the intake ID letter or 6-digit.

THIS is the engine you want
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...2-68-toro.html

Ship via Fastenal.

71cutlassdroptop

Thanks, I am waiting on the head info. I wasn't sure what year they started having the EGR valve on the intake.

Octania

egr 1973+
Intake often changed esp if engine was a 2-bbl originally

SInce the usual available intake was a smog era, many pre-smog 2-bbl engines are now seen sporting the smog era EGR 4-bbl intake.

joe_padavano

Look again. Looks a very non-stock green on my monitor. Also note that the alternator bracket is the same green, not OEM black, so this engine has been painted. While zooming in using Word makes it fuzzy, that does not appear to be a "J" on the head. Looks more like an "E" or "B". Certainly a straight vertical line on the left side of the letter. Might even be a "K", but unlikely. Does not have OLDSMOBILE script valve covers, as would have been factory issue on 73-74 motors. This thing has been played with anyway. Note besides the green paint, there's a Chrysler-style PCV valve in the passenger side valve cover. I also like how all the senders and vacuum trees in the coolant crossover have been busted off - clearly a sign of gentle handling...

71cutlassdroptop

it has J heads according to the owner. It was in a pick up truck. He said it started to develop a knock in the lower end. He is asking$250.00 not sure if it is worth it. I am new to 455's. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

joe_padavano

Likely swapped in to replace a dead Olds 350 diesel. Not uncommon. In any case, the rod knock is likely a spun bearing, which means this is at best a core. Given that you don't know how bad the crank is, you have at least on bad rod, plus the fact that it's got crappy heads and pistons with soup bowl-sized dishes in them, I'd say $150 max. Basically you're buying a block, a damaged crank, and seven rods.

71cutlassdroptop

Thanks, i think I will pass. He is pretty firm on the price.