455 in a 00891 cutlass supreme1970-F-font- block c head , intake Edelbrock455 Torker headers M T ,F carburator Quadra Jet 4bbl.Tranny-1969oc 400 i assume. The car came with a 350HC4bbland m38 tranny. Was it common for guys to yank original motor in favor of the 455 that was readily available at that time?- any info onthe 69 tranny ?

 

Depended if the original broke - strange things happened back then!!

 

A lot of things have happened in the world over the past forty years.

An engine swap would not be the strangest one I've heard of.

- Eric

 

I did 455 swap into a 70 Cutlass S in 93. A lot of guys do it.

 

Not sure of the time line, but my car now has a 455 under the hood where a small block once resided. No accident, as built the engine myself, and the heads are custom polished/cc'd jobs. If your cars for the street, you may consider changing the intake to a dual plane. Was running a Holley Street Dominator on a car that pulled good at high rpm, but not much down low. Changed to an Edelbrock Performer, and wholly crap, thing became the burnout king. Torque everywhere.

 

I would say this is a pretty common swap.
I have done one in the early 90's and in the process of saving $ for a second.

 

the reason why i ask is the car was built the last week of August 1969-The 455 in it casted November 1969 in KC the warranty card in original manual is missing-A friend bruoght up that maybe the motor was replaced under warranty.. Car was owned by a dealer for two years- Iactually spoke to him and he was going to look it up in his records-I am trying to determine if this was a period swap or one that was done much later-Ted

 

No way it was replaced under warranty, and it is highly unlikely you'll be able to figure out exactly when it was done, short of finding a period-appropriate beer bottle cap in the oil pan.

- Eric

 

About the only thing that would help is the stamped numbers on the block - no vin numbers would designate a replacement block/shortblock, and help explain the 'C' heads!
When I was at Nickey in Chicago, [parts] there was a lot of 'under the table' warrantee deals going on, and the difference being paid in cash!
Usually to the Service and Parts managers!!
Now I can't imagine that going on with a 'dealer owned' car!!!!







p

 

I agree that anything could have been done "back in the day" for "proper consideration."
As Ricknan pointed out, though, an official warranty motor should have no VIN derivative or a hand-stamped VIN derivative with the proper number.

- Eric

 

...under back seat... close... the block unit #-39x 122488 does not match cars vin- Those who put in this motor did not miss a thing and did a really good job. Hopefully the original dealer will have some info-i was to give him a few days. These warranty jobs did happen and it was the dealers responsibility to carry them out-re stamping motor etc-tracing this when dealing with a 40 yr old car is another matter!