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I took the plunge and brought an Oldsmobile. It’s had a new engine fitted (455) but just wondered if you folks can see anything that doesn’t look right? Your advice has served me well getting to this point so any help would be appreciated.
Looks like a handsomely clean engine and install. Show us some more of the car if you get a chance.
A few observations,
I see aftermarket fasteners in many locations.
I don't see a temp gauge sending unit?
Your heater is not hooked up, no hose from the water pump to heater core. I don't like those plugs they sell to cap them off, it will fail sooner than later.
Fuel gauge and reg. on the fire wall. Some might consider that unsafe in that location.
Looks like someone paid a lot of attention to detail. Looks sanitary and neat. I don't know about the way the clutch fan mounts to a spacer?? Also I don't think a fuel filter is supposed to be on the suction side of the pump, usually between the pump and carb. Not picking on it though, you asked...That is a sweet car for sure.
455 in place of a 400, Bowtie breather and no wind shield washer bottle or hoses. The engine install is clean in appearance but as noted by others, many issues. But still a nice looking car overall.
Alternator wrong side for non-A/C car (had A/C in past - HVAC control, vent dash, 3 groove). With this set-up all belts are pulling water pump to the left.
Supreme taillight lenses instead of 442 (single trim ring vs. 2).
Odd fan set up. Clutch fan shouldn't have spacer(with proper W/P). Fixed 4 blade does. But that spacer doesn't look quite OEM.
Cowl vent screens should be just metal screen - not plastic inserts.
Alternator wrong side for non-A/C car (had A/C in past - HVAC control, vent dash, 3 groove). With this set-up all belts are pulling water pump to the left.
This is a fallacy. Yeah, the alternator is in the A/C position, but the "pulling to the left" is irrelevant. These cars were available with no PS and no A/C. Did that single alternator belt pull the pump to the right by just as much? Even when you have the alternator and PS on opposite sides, the result is a side force on the pump shaft DOWN towards the crank. Do the math. The pump is designed for this kind of side load.
Good to know. It's one of those things heard long ago and on the surface, appeared legit. I never bothered to look deeper. Guess I'll have to plead guilty to one count of truth decay.
We did. But the pictures that I posted then (as you noticed i think) were different on a few occasions. Some images showed different brackets being used and, from what I can tell, those images were a lot older (from the garage). So i thought I would post it how it looks now. I hope that's okay?
Fuel filter before the pump is not an issue (some have voiced concerns about this). It's better to have the filter on the suction side than on the pressure side if a person is concerned about fuel leakage and subsequent fire. As for the rubber hose between the pump and carb, I am not worried about 7 psi of pressure on a hose that has a 50 psi working pressure rating.
The car is absolutely beautiful! I would consider a K&N air filter, they are much better than paper. Also the cooling system will be more efficient with a fan shroud. The engine bay is very detailed but the Chevy valve cover breather looks out of place. Enjoy your Olds, you hit a home run with this one.
The biggest and most glaring problem is that it is not in MY driveway.
Other than that, it does have too many bowtie emblems on it. They don't effect the driveability so not an urgent repair but makes a guy think, "HUH? Why would they do that?" It does look like the air cleaner top has been rubbing on the underside of the hood so you might change to a lower profile cleaner lid. Dunno if there is enough room for that or not.
Last edited by cjsdad; May 20th, 2018 at 10:50 AM.
How do I identify the cylinder heads on this engine - 455? I have tried to look for identification marks but am struggling to identify the exact head. Any help would be appreciated.
-- Many thanks, Joe.
Is there a site anyone would recommend for replacements? I'm in the UK and there doesn't seem to be anywhere that can replace them.
Would aluminum heads be better? Or would this be too much of change from what's already there.
May 19th, 2018, 02:39 AM
