As stated before I own a 78 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with a 403 that needs rebuilding. Will not be a drag car(mostly street drivin a couple days out of week) but it will see a track occasionally. It has been brought up by a couple members to possibly go with a 455. Well I have found a someone in the area that owns a shop who has 12-455's (2 already built race motors and 10 blocks with misc. parts). Depeneding on price of any of the parts or motors I will most likely be getting something. Is it anything you look for when deal9ing with shops? Anything I should be looking for when I look at the blocks or complete engines?

 

Look for completeness. If he is including heads stay away from J's. If he has a few of them look for the one with the cleanest cylinders if the heads are off. Since he has a few ask if he'll let you exchange if the block doesn't pass a magnaflux inspection. If you pull the valve covers & oil pan look how gunked up it is and look at the oil passages.

 

Sorry I haven't responded to this post, but the guy wanted $800-1K for an engine that hadn't run in I don't know how long. Maybe it's just me but for the budget I have to spend ($5k) I thought it was a little much.