so i bought my cutlass 2.5 years ago and changed little things here and there. the motor since the last owner rebuilt it has only 9800 miles on it, but i want a lot more power from it. i was told that its fully forged bottom end with a after market street/strip cam iron heads and a eld. intake performer. so im keeping the intake the way she is changing the heads to the Mondello heads with their JM 22-55 cam with a .512 int lift and .523 exh lift. got their head gasket recommended to increase compression a little and of course the lifters. the pistons are dish, motor is supposed to be bored .030 but ill find out when i pull the heads. Mondello also recommended the Demon 750 cfm carb that they tune for the set up i have. im hoping to be over 400whp and 500wtq with this set up. The employe from Mondello assured me that i will be over what i wanted but the dyno and strip time will tell. pictures will follow when i start installing everything in 2 weeks

 

Look forward to the build.

 

Which Mondello heads are you talking about, Bernard or Lynn in Paso Robles?
You'll need more cam than that for 400rwhp. and with a dual plane I'd use an 850, not a 750.

Jmo.

 

I was thinking the same question. Same about the carb too.

 

http://www.mondellotwister.com/ thats the web site from what I understood was this is the original Mondello and the other web site is not really working that well. as for the 750 they told me that they rework the carb and tune it for the setup i have. I am also tempted at cutting the plenum but not sure if I would benefit from it. i have done some reading but when it comes to building a motor i just know what i want to be at for power and the rest im just listening what the pro's say.

 

That's the last place to do business with. Many many better Olds specialists to deal with who won't lie to you or charge you an arm and a leg for something special that isn't.

 

so this shop i guess is not what and who i thought they were and i got taken for?

 

Very possible. Just do some searching on that place. You'll find a lot of negative in many forms.

 

Go somewhere else, you'll be glad you did.

 

its kinda to late i paid for everything and it was all shipped out already. now i guess once i install everything i will see what happens. now since a couple of you that are commenting what should i expect then from this combo?

 

Should run ok. But it won't make the power they're telling you it will.

 

I bought a complete motor from them.I went on the reputation the shop once had.I stumbled onto this site after spending my money.There is a lot of negative print about them,but so far I've been lucky as my build has worked out OK. Wait and see how the parts you purchased work,and know there are many guys on this site that really know their sh** will steer you in the right direction and will work with you....Good Luck.

 

yeah i going to do that. if i seen all those reviews before i bought the stuff then i would have not got it. but i had a oldtimer in cali tell me about mondello and that was before i got on this forum i was told they were the #1 guys and that there was not other old performance only shops. i learned to trust this old guy as he showed my my wrong ways with my 69 "numbers matching" firebird that looked like it was nice but great body work done to hide the real problems. but my goal for now is to try to get 400-500 RWHP with more RWTQ but i will be happier with more then i currently have from a dyno saying i only make 283 RWHP and 364 RWTQ

 

The old timer probably isn't aware that Mondello's is no longer owned by anyone named Mondello. They just rely on the name to keep selling to people who don't know any better. They are famous for relabeling parts made by others, doubling the price and claiming them as "special". For example, those heads they have for sale with their logo. I would bet my paycheck they are just Pro-Comps with "Mondello" milled in them.

 

Mondello of the past and Mondello the man were the Olds people to do business with. Its too bad Mondello of the present falls way short of the reputation they enjoyed. Joe sold the company and unfortantly the new owners have manage to destroy in a short time what Joe spent decades building.

I havent heard anything about their engines or engine building abailities in years. Hopefully it works out.

 

I hope I'm as lucky with the 455 as I was with the 400g.But then again Lyn didn't build the 400,a local shop did back in the early 90's.Made 20 or more passes with the 400,not sure I'll make any with the 455 just because of all I've read about these guys.But will see..It's not a bracket car or I'd really be worried. The price was right and I do have a warranty.Not that I was looking for a cheap build.I'm more than willing to pay for quality.

 

if i post up pics of the heads would you be able to tell if they are Pro-Comps???

 

Probably.

 

so here is the pic of the heads and the package i just got today the cam i got today also cam with a cam card.

 

Plain old pair of ProComp heads. Can't make out the cam card but at least its an Engle. Repackaged Cometic MLS gasket. Repackaged SCE intake gasket.

 

You mean Mondello doesn't make all of the parts they sell?!! Really?!!

 

No, but that purple Mondo board they shrink wrap stuff on adds 30-100% to the price.

 

for the head studs should i get the 12point or hex head? both are 190000psi rated

 

Personally I hate the 12pt. If a person has a room issue like using a Jesel or T&D rocker system they are a must. Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I like the heavy hex nut for everything else.

 

good i ordered the hex since they were $50 cheaper.

 

so the install has begun and is going good so far

 

1. Measure the main housing bores and make sure they are in spec with no taper
2. TQ up the mains with the bearings installed
3. Measure the bearings with a SUNNEN dial bore and note sizes 1-5
4. Have the crank ground by a competent shop based on your measurments, I give the # 5 main journal an extra .0005 clearance
5. Ck the clearances again after the crank has been ground and CK the run out on the snout, rear main seal journal, and #2 #3#4

 

I hope after 6 years his project has moved forward...can't say mine has...haha