Guys all around the web I find conflicting power ratings can you pro's help me out, I found a totally intact stock 1972 olds delta 88 with 455 Rocket 4 barrel engine and seriously am considering this as an upgrade to put into my 1979 TA.
My car came stock with a paltry 185 horse 300 ft pounds of torque, so picking up 100 horses and 100 lbs of torque or so would be a hell of a deal for the 600 bucks this cream puff car would cost me

Can you guys give me the REAL numbers or steer me in the right direction?
Thanks

 

• 1972 L75 455 CID 4-barrel V8, (250 hp w/ TH400 and 370 lb·ft (502 N·m) in 1972) [U in VIN]

From Oldsmobile Wiki

 

It doesn't matter too much.That engine is 39yrs old,so it won't be making that exact amount anyway,but you will still notice the difference from your original TA engine.If it runs good,then maybe you can run it awhile before rebuilding it.

 

I had a 1972 88 and it definitely did not have dual exhaust which that engine had so could not produce that 250 HP which I think was an optional upgrade. Even with less than that on hand, the best I can find is what I had produced 225 HP with similar torque, it could still do 0 - 60 in right around 10 seconds with its locomotive like torque which while slow by current standards was quick in the 1960's and early 1970's.

 

From the factory SPECS booklet for 1972

 

Thanks, I had seen that chart before but my Google Fu failed me. I knew that mine was not the 470 HP because that was dual exhaust. I think many people simply got the bottom 455 because that extra 45 HP probably cost $100 extra which was quite a bit back then and really only noticeable if you were towing.

 

The only way you got 270 net hp in 1972 was with the M20 4 speed in a Cutlass/442. That wasn't an option on the full size cars.
Terry

 

Hi Joe , i was just wondering do you have the same specifications like you have here ,but for a 1973 olds 455? If so could you post it ?I have a 1973 455 and am curious to see what the chart says about it. Thank you in advance !

 

Unfortunately my copy of the 1973 SPECS booklet is not easy to read. I've annotated the engines page. Note that the L77 motor is not shown in the SPECS booklet but is described in the 1973 H/O literature.





Note also this page from the parts book that shows the V-code engine as the L75 with M20 (manual trans). The V-code engine used a different cam from the U-code engine.

 

To the OP. The information Joe provided (below) is fantastic. You won't find this type of information & detail provided on ANY other forum. Welcome to CO.

 

I find it interesting (error?) that the '72 specs have the Toro with small intake valves and all the A body 455s, including the U code, with big valves?