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None of the V8s I've owned compares with the Old 455
I checked all my plugs after having issues with the cold temperature/fuel filter issues I've been having. I was going to clean any fouling deposits on them, but they were all clean with milk chocolate brown deposits on them. I took it out for a 150 mile cruise and realized the 455 is by far the smoothest 8 cylinder I've have ever owned or driven. I've owned 2 Ford 302s and driven a a towncar limo from the 80s and a Cadillac from the same time period. I've had 2 Buick 350s, the original Olds 350, a Chevy 400 and 2 Chevy 350s. None of them had the instantaneous throttle response or smooth acceleration of the 455. Surprisingly, the Buick 350 2-bbl was close for off the line acceleration, and of course, the 5.0 coyote Ford is more powerful, but none as responsive or smooth. I'd love to have a Buick 455 from 1970, since I've heard those are better performers, but I can't complain.
A poorly tuned engine of any make is a driving nightmare, the flipside is they all run and perform like a dream when they are tuned correctly.
How true. It was no fun pushing the car to the side of the road in Roy Washington at night in 17 degree weather two weeks ago. I'm really surprised the spark plugs cleaned up just from running the car. All the sooty deposits where gone when I checked them yesterday morning.
First off I will so agree with you on the Oldsmobile 455. I am the last of seven kids. Six boys. I grew up around everything. My Grandpa had Chrysler's. Early Hemi Crown Imperial. Couple 300's. My older brother's were Mopar guys.
I was absolutely warped on Oldsmobile's performance the first ride I got in my brother's 70 W-31. That car pulled like a some B. If you have ever driven a true factory W car it is a whole different beast. I drove true W-30 cars also. You think a regular 455 runs? My first 455 Olds was my 70 SX. That car was so fun. 455 and a 2.56 Posi? People can talk smack about me thinking my 70 442 never lost a street race but it never did. Seemed like every time you lined up with someone they snickered Oldsmobile? Then I whooped your A.
PS: Ford small block😂🤣😅 I worked with a guy that owned a 65 putzstang. He had spent so much cash on rebuilding etc that 289. Always talked smack about my Oldsmobile. We finally ran for cash. I didn't even get into the back barrels until he was in third gear. I toyed with him. My car had headers and nothing else.
Yeah you got it. My SX had 2.56 gears not my 442. Thanks for your brilliance. Nice jab. 👍 And you are a moderator on an Oldsmobile website. Double 👍👍
I suspect my Cutlass is more like a stock SX than a 442 since there isn't any lope to the cam. The only difference is I have 323 gears, a quadrajet, and headers with 2.5" exhaust. I believe the 70 SX came with a 2bbl. Mine will get up to 100 in about 15 seconds.
Pretty sure probably ninety percent of SX's were two barrel cars. Not sure if that info is out there. I did change mine to a four barrel. It would drop second gear at eighty on the highway. Loved that car. Bucket seat car with a standard shifter. I owned that and my 442 at the same time. My 442 actually came believe it or not with a 2.78 open rear end. OAI hood dual gate. Sport mirrors and a 2.78 open. I ended putting a 3.42 Posi out of my brother's W-31 after it was totaled by a drunk while it was parked. I asked him to dig up pictures.
I bet that SX would do 140 or 150 if you were crazy enough to try it. My Cutlass won't downshift over 55 although it doesn't need to with all that torque and the secondaries opening up.
I bet that SX would do 140 or 150 if you were crazy enough to try it. My Cutlass won't downshift over 55 although it doesn't need to with all that torque and the secondaries opening up.
Ummm...
I was. I would pull past the speedometer all day. I wouldn't shift into third until I hit 100. I have a funny story about these girls from my high school. The driver had a Monte Carlo. They were older than me. I was coming from a cruise night on the highway. She was beautiful and had a cool car. She wanted to race on the highway. My ugly SX? I absolutely smoked her. The next Monday she and all her friends were totally cool to me. I was the short skinny dork. It was cool.
When I first got my 442 my oldest brother had a friend that was a cop. We went on west I-70. I still had 2.78's in it. He clocked me at 138 and it wasn't done. Crazy we survived. That was 1984/85.
Last edited by no1oldsfan; Jan 2, 2023 at 01:26 PM.
Yeah the 120mph speedometer wasn't a good match for that car. If it had a column shifter, I bet it was down at the "D" indicator before the car hit top end. My 81 Z28 would point to 6 o'clock at top end but that was only an 85mph speedometer.
Yeah the 120mph speedometer wasn't a good match for that car. If it had a column shifter, I bet it was down at the "D" indicator before the car hit top end. My 81 Z28 would point to 6 o'clock at top end but that was only an 85mph speedometer.
It was a floor shift car. It was Aspen green? White top. Black interior. Bucket seats. Console. Standard shifter. I have a picture somewhere. We used to put a full tank in and blast up and down the highways over a hundred back forth. Coolest ugly car ever.
Don't even get me started on how much fun I had with my one owner 69 Toronado...
