Hey everyone! I want my car as close to stock looking as possible. Its a 68 442 with a 445 in it (not sure what year 455). It has Ga heads, headers, and an edelbrock carb.

I found some orig X/Y manifolds I want to put on it, and I was wondering about putting on different heads and a stock carb. For heads, I read that the C heads are pretty much the best ones, and are still fairly easy to find. Also, would a 400 carb work on the 455?? Or would i need a 455 carb? I am new to the muscle car game and learning as much as i can since I also have a 68 gto vert project.

Any advice would be helpful to me. As for exhaust systems, what is the way to go?? Pypes and flowmaster seem to be the top ones. Stock, or have the crossover pipes? Trying to figure out as much as I can, since I am due to leave germany and head back to the states within a few months. Its been driving me crazy that my cars have been in the states for 2 years, and I only got to see them a couple times The 455 was rebuilt in the olds by the way, and sounded pretty good. Has an overheating prob, but I will fix that as soon as I get back. Thanks in advance!

 

I guess it depends on how "stock looking" you want it to be (since the F block 455 isn't stock to start with...). The Ga heads have the advantage of hardened seats, but unless you measure them, you don't know whether you have big or small valves. The C heads are certainly good ones and are correct for a 68 big block. The X/Y manifolds are correct, but the 69-72 W/Z manifolds flow better. It's unlikely most people would know the difference. I assume the 400 carb you have is the original 68 carb? It's a good starting point, though depending on what you've done to the engine you may need to swap the primary jets and/or secondary rods to fine tune it.

A good 2 1/2" mandrel bent dual exhaust system is adequate for all but the most radical motors. I like Pypes personally and the do make 2 1/2" trumpets for the cutout back bumper. I recommend an "X" pipe. Mufflers are a matter of personal taste, however be advised that the Flowmasters, despite being obnoxiously loud (OK, you now know my personal taste), regularly are the most restrictive performance mufflers in test after test. I prefer Walker Dynomax turbos, which to my ear have a nice sound and outflow the Flowmasters.

Be sure to do what I did for my 69 and paint the 455 the correct bronze.

 

thanks for the info!!! Right now my carb isn't stock, its some edelbrock carb. I am looking for a stock carb for a 68. I wasn't sure if a 400 carb would work for a 455.. if not, what kind of carb could I use (a toro carb or later 442 455 engine carb?).

Are the 69 exhaust mainfolds better flowing due to the seperator in the middle?? If you looked at the engine (and it was painted bronze instead of the red it is painted now), you wouldn't really notice it was a 455 in there instead of a 400.

I was told by the guy who I bought the car off of that its a toro block from a 68 (don't know yet until I go back to the states again). As for mufflers, I don't want it to be a LOUD car.. right now whatever the car has on it, it has a rumble sound. thats all i want.. a typical muscle car sound. I will have to look into those exhaust systems. I do want the trumpet tips on it, since they are on the car right now.

They repo the 69 manifolds don't they? I don't know what has been done to the engine actually. Just what I can see on the outside, and what the guy told me. I am trying to make it a nice driver + car, while i resto my GTO.

I have the car on carsdomain.com, my name on there is viper771. I have a lot of picts of the car if anyone is interested Thanks for the info joe!!

 

"Mmmmmmm, Walker Dynomax" he said, drool and spittle dribbling out of his mouth, "Those are nice".

 

anyone have a vid clip of one of these dnyomaxs in action? there is so much i must learn!! Flowmaster is what i heard for years, didn't know there was anything better

 

I like them too. Bought these 16 years ago when they were called Super Turbo.

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