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Cool thread. What about a 55 gallon plastic barrel?
Oh yes will work too. I just quickly put this together to try to see how well it worked. Well it's worth to build a better setup. Lots of ideas how to build. So far, the chicken wire seems to be working the best
Cam wasn't stuck, so that a big plus.
Lifters came out too. Didn't feel any play, so all good sign. The old cam looks not too bad. I never seen this before, an oil tube.
OUCH!
On the positive side , it looks like all the rod nuts are accessible . So you should be able to salvage the crank .
Is the oil pan for sale now ?
The nice thing of having a 394, is having another one. I have another complete engine. Set this block in tonight to let it soak. Hope to pull rods and crank tomorrow. Then get the other 394 on the stand, strip it down and send away for magnafluxing.
Thanks tho
Rods and crank is pulled now.
Not what I was expecting. Mains look stock,
journals are down 30, not 10 that was stamped.
She must of made a hell of a knock. Second set of journals, lots of play.
Looks like crank is an anchor too
Some slap there Cant put the cap back on Main bearings seen better days
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, in the Great White North
Posts: 359
Typical for a 394 that was hooked up to a bad Slim-Jim; I've seen a few like this that were just as badly pieced together.
What happens is the transmission doesn't downshift from 3rd gear until the car is just about totally stopped and that causes major knocking which tears the bearing train out of it. My dad "fixed" a 62 Super 88 up like that back in 1968 to sell it, and the last Olds I tuned was a 64 Starfire that had the same problem.
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, in the Great White North
Posts: 359
That engine looks like it was full of crap, but it was all the banged up rods that give me pause to think. And yes, you should hear how bad the engine knocks when it's in third gear and just about stopped; it shudders and and threatens to stall and then finally goes into low gear.
Last edited by Nailheadcanuck; July 25th, 2018 at 06:38 PM.
Since you have gone this far. Why not go big and bore and stroke it to 431 CID.
Stroke the crank to 3.975 bore the block ..030 or you go bigger bore .060 over.
Ross racing offer this set up. I did this a couple of years ago with a good cam and a 6/71 blower in a 61 Olds bubble top.
It is an animal.
Ross racing offers the aluminum heads. They are a take from the 371 head which has a diff exhaust bolt pattern than the #23 head exhaust bolt pattern.
I believe you can build a 455 with the 394 engine. you would need a .060 bore a 4.134 stroke. a 6.8 "H" beam rod. Just need to figure the special piston
Probably a few $$$$$$
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, in the Great White North
Posts: 359
Yeah, if you wanted to do a road trip I know where you can get a 61 Starfire 394 still bolted up to its Slim Jim. It's complete with the aircleaner and valve covers. We don't know if it runs, but it does turn, and it's still in Canada.
Since you have gone this far. Why not go big and bore and stroke it to 431 CID.
Stroke the crank to 3.975 bore the block ..030 or you go bigger bore .060 over.
Ross racing offer this set up. I did this a couple of years ago with a good cam and a 6/71 blower in a 61 Olds bubble top.
It is an animal.
Ross racing offers the aluminum heads. They are a take from the 371 head which has a diff exhaust bolt pattern than the #23 head exhaust bolt pattern.
I believe you can build a 455 with the 394 engine. you would need a .060 bore a 4.134 stroke. a 6.8 "H" beam rod. Just need to figure the special piston
Probably a few $$$$$$
Oh a stroker!?!?! Made me grin like Jack Nicholson!!!. Lol Was never planning on a stock build with this 394, dropping it in a late 30's olds if I ever find 1. Lol
Been talking with Ross a bit, just need to send my other block in to get checked before I ship down there.
Walls seem thick, so 60 over I may go. Seen the heads they have, kinda want the old school look. Found a 6x2 pack for it. Alot say are a headache, but would look sweet.
I bet it's an animal!!!!
Yeah, if you wanted to do a road trip I know where you can get a 61 Starfire 394 still bolted up to its Slim Jim. It's complete with the aircleaner and valve covers. We don't know if it runs, but it does turn, and it's still in Canada.
Oh do tell more, my ears perked up!!! Where this road trip take me?
Since you have gone this far. Why not go big and bore and stroke it to 431 CID.
Stroke the crank to 3.975 bore the block ..030 or you go bigger bore .060 over.
Ross racing offer this set up. I did this a couple of years ago with a good cam and a 6/71 blower in a 61 Olds bubble top.
It is an animal.
Ross racing offers the aluminum heads. They are a take from the 371 head which has a diff exhaust bolt pattern than the #23 head exhaust bolt pattern.
I believe you can build a 455 with the 394 engine. you would need a .060 bore a 4.134 stroke. a 6.8 "H" beam rod. Just need to figure the special piston
Probably a few $$$$$$
"In the old days" you could punch the 394 out 1/8" and end up with 419 or so. No "special" rods or "special" pistons. Good rods would be a good idea.
Kyle, new, modern rods would be a good idea. But you won't need "special, custom manufactured" ones. Tony at Ross Racing Engines has a good knowledge of whats available and whats possible. I did a walk around with Tony at the shop in May and he is smart, upfront and very capable. He also HAS the equipment in his shop. He WILL be my "go to guy" for my earlier OLDS stuff !
..........Just my two cents worth
Kyle, new, modern rods would be a good idea. But you won't need "special, custom manufactured" ones. Tony at Ross Racing Engines has a good knowledge of whats available and whats possible. I did a walk around with Tony at the shop in May and he is smart, upfront and very capable. He also HAS the equipment in his shop. He WILL be my "go to guy" for my earlier OLDS stuff !
..........Just my two cents worth
Yes, I been talking with him. That is where my 394 is going
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, in the Great White North
Posts: 359
I can't remember, does Olds used forged rods or cast ones? If they use cast, might I suggest spend the money and go forged, particularly if you're planning to do things to it. If they're forged, then get them resized. Here again, that was a common thing that wasn't done when these things used to get patched up in the seventies after the transmissions started to go south. (Improperly set up TV rods started issues that would result in first gear going wrong.)
Yeah, if you wanted to do a road trip I know where you can get a 61 Starfire 394 still bolted up to its Slim Jim. It's complete with the aircleaner and valve covers. We don't know if it runs, but it does turn, and it's still in Canada.
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta, in the Great White North
Posts: 359
Originally Posted by Kyle's77cutlass
Yep. Know Sherwood park. Drove through a few times on my way to work
Jeez...where do you work that you're taking that kind of a commute from Manitoba?
Anyway, if there's interest in that 61 Starfire motor and tranny let me know, I can hook you up with the owner. I'm going to be gone starting on Friday for a month, but will be periodically checking here.
Jeez...where do you work that you're taking that kind of a commute from Manitoba?
Anyway, if there's interest in that 61 Starfire motor and tranny let me know, I can hook you up with the owner. I'm going to be gone starting on Friday for a month, but will be periodically checking here.
lol I breath Alberta black gold!!
Pipeline baby!!!!
July 15th, 2018, 08:53 PM
