What are the stock Olds engine RPM limits. I did a RPM search in CO and nothing came up. Are they the same for a say a 74 Royal motor vs a W-30? Can a stock 350 rev higher than the Big Block Olds. Just curious if the factory tach is our only reference.

 

This is my 2 cents on the RPMs for a BB Olds 5500 max stock for a SB olds 5800 max stock these are fairly reasonable limits but also remember the Stock tach is not too accurate and they seem to get worse with age.

 

I've heard someone here say no more than 5000rpm. I have my limiter set at 5100 and the 455 has hit that quite a few times in the last 5 years. Only recently has the hot idle Oil pressure been alerting me to the possibility of installing a new set of bearings soon.

I run 3:91's with a 4 speed auto, 2800 lock up, and have yet to make a quarter mile pass with it. With this gear ratio I don't think it really needs to rev that high to make a respectable pass but if there is usable torque after 5400 should I go for more rpm?

So what do you guys think.

 

With a stock motor and stock cam and exhaust you really are not producing anything after 5200 rpm the torque curve is already falling off at 4800rpm. If you install a larger cam and intake and headers that will change the curve and you can get to 5500 and have usable power to that rpm and the motor will hold up! Now on your oil pressure do you have an idiot light or a gauge?

 

I doubt you have 'usable torque after 5400'. I'm willing to bet your torque peaked long before that, maybe around 3600 rpm. I personally would have no problem taking my BBO to 5500 rpm and when I used to drag race I used to shift it around that area.

 

I thought he was refering to the maximum limit for the engine in other words the RED LINE not the maximum usable rpm. I agree with you Trip the torque curve falls off quick!!

 

Oil pressure is @50 cold and 20psi hot at idle. It is an old build (95ish) as you can see by the parts, but after I finish the replacement engine for it I will freshen it up and put it in my '55 Che**.

Engine has 9:75-1 comp w/ Crane f314 cam (lost cam card but was @.475 lift and 314 duration). Heads are ported and has Blackjack headers. Performer intake and 770 holley DP, MSD-A6, Petronix.
Keep in mind guys that the nearest drag strip is 100 miles away so it only sees street action and car shows, but it does some awesome sideways smokey burnouts for the spectators.

So from what I can tell here, I can probably run 5400 ok?

 

Those cam specs are incorrect. Anything with that much duration would have more lift, probably in the .550 range. You'd also need more compression to run that because you'd be bleeding pressure so bad that it would be a complete dog on the bottom end.
I ran a Crane cam that was a little more lift but in the 274-280 duration range. Ran mid to low 12's and I shifted around 5500. Cams with the duration you listed go up to 6800 rpm.

I digress. To answer your question...............yes you can run it to 5400. But being 'ok' and doing that often will decrease longevity. Only you can decide what's good for you. If you're comfortable with the engine build then you have nothing to worry about.

 

Yeah, I was second guessing my memory when I typed it. Pretty sure now it was over .5.

Old stuff anyways and soon to be replaced.