Al2011

First I would like to thank everyone for helping me out with my project car. you guys got me a long way. i've been looking for a 455 for a while now and finally found one. I just need help identifying this block to make sure I'm buying something that's worth it or if i should keep looking. Above the water pump on the timing cover it has 396021F. The heads both have Ga (small A). The motor sounded good but the guy said it heats up on him so he's going for a small block ford 351. His truck is a ford. tempratures are over 100 out here in the summer. He never diagnosed the heating issue so it could be anything. hopefully it wasn't over bored out.

442Harv

68-72 block, problably 72, as Ga heads are form a 72

joe_padavano

The VIN derivative stamp will confirm the year of the block, by my money is also on 1972.

djhoth

Go to 442.com, you will find tons of good info. The site was a great help to me when I started my olds project.

Ice Cream Man

trying to find out what heads are on my 455 olds motor how do you tell I really could not find any numbers that looked like code numbers there is a big C on each head drivers side is in the front passender side head the C in near the back or at the back

joe_padavano

Those would be, er, "C" heads.

Used on just about all big block Olds motors for 1967-1969. Arguably the best of the readily available Olds factory heads. You'll find the casting number (394548 for these heads) above the center two exhaust ports.

Ice Cream Man

We are all ignorant Just on different subjects " IE , ER, C heads" I assumed that they are C heads!!!! but I don,t know much about 455 motors, that,s why I came onto this forum a few days ago.

Fun71

Yep, that should be a '72 and the GA heads are good ones.

Well, heating up here in Phoenix is a common thing - I struggled with it for a while and there was nothing wrong with my engine, just needed a better radiator. Maybe his cooling system wasn't good enough for that 455? He coulda been using a small radiator with a flex fan.

By the way, welcome aboard! Which part of town are you located in?

Have you heard about the Oldsmobile Club of Arizona? Lots of good knowledgeable people who could help you with your project: http://www.azoldsclub.com/

Let me know if I can help you with anything.

Ice Cream Man

well after a little more research I find out the 455 I have is a 1969 with C heads I just found a 68 442 I am dealing on should do pretty well with my motor and transmission

Octania

Retarded timing due to using poor gasoline also induces overheating at idle.

Lower the compression [$$$] or buy better fuel and advance the timing.

If you are buying it to rebuild, the compression can be what you like for no additional money, it's just what exact pistons you buy and what head gaskets you use, how much the heads are milled, etc.