442much

Has anyone every heard of Oldsmobile heads with X in the place of the C,D,E,F etc. I hate to admit it but I never have. I know of a guy selling what he said were 455 Oldsmobile heads. When I asked him what letter is on the heads (I sent him a diagram to show him where to look) he said it's an "X". Anyone know what these could be and from what year if they even exist?

Mr Shifty Sidney

Probably "K" instead of "X".

Don W

64Rocket

have him send you a pic.

Gene

442much

Thanks guys. I'll see what he has to say.

cherokeepeople

i have an x exhaust manifold

costpenn

I once had a pair of strange OE heads. Back in the 90's I found a set at an engine rebuilder down in McAllen Texas - they were CA heads, but both letters were small - like the "A" in Ga heads, and both letters were in the middle of the pad where the big letter would normally go. I wish I had kept that set - if for nothing else interesting conversation pieces.

Allan R

Not the same thing as heads. X manifold is casting 389269 used from 65-68 on left side.

Also casting 412287 on BBO from 70-74.

442much

Here is the picture he sent me..... oh wait...I think I see a "J".

64Rocket

I don't think that is a Olds head.
Does he have any better pic or at least a bigger one?
I'm going to guess it may be a 455 Pontiac

Gene

83hurstguy

Those looks like a Pontiac head to me, though I'm not an expert.

2blu442

Yep. Check out this ebay auction. The Pontiac heads have an X cast into the same location as your photo. John

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1974-PO...c68a66&vxp=mtr

67 Cutlass Freak

Thought you'd get a kick out of this -

firefrost gold

that photo came to my mind from the porting post's .

442much

Funny, I also thought it might be Pontiac as well since they have 4X, 6X, etc. heads. He claims it's Olds. Photo was from his cell.

pogo69

he claims wrong...

1 olds didnt make an x head
2 those are not olds heads

BlackGold

Wait, are you guys saying that the Olds 455 and Pontiac 455 are different?

vpapa57

I Have an Olds 455 engine and it does have X heads I don't know what this engine came out of originally but the block number/casting # 396021F should be out of a 442 1968-72 and it now sits in my 65 442 Convertible.

Fun71

That casting was used in all 455s: 88, 98, SX, 442, Cutlass, Vista Cruiser, Toronado.

Oh, and you revived a 2 year old thread.

vpapa57

LOL I was looking up the X heads and came across this thread and wanted to clarify the fact that there are X heads on the 455 engine. Nice to meet you!

joe_padavano

Welcome and no you don't have "X" heads. They don't exist. Please feel free to post photos and prove me wrong.

Olds64

Might they be K heads as others mentioned before? Apparently, Pontiac had X heads.

I've run across folks before that mistake an Olds 307 with a smog pump and CCC Qjet carburetor for a 455. Mistakes can be made.

vpapa57

This is a big block olds engine and I am pretty sure that X is stamped right on the heads I am going to check it further to see if there are other numbers stamped on the heads. It is clearly the correct casting code for a 1968-72 F block engine (did Pontiac have the same casting code on it's 455 engine)?

joe_padavano

I'm 110% sure it is NOT an "X". Casting number on the block is the same for all 1968-1976 Olds 455s. Pontiac motors are COMPLETELY different designs with completely different castings. Nothing interchanges. Once again, photos will solve this question in very short order.

vpapa57

I don't think I know how to attach the photos I get them to upload but can't figure out how to send. I didn't say it was an X block, I said that the F block has X heads

vpapa57

I guess I figured out how to attach the photos, I hope they put the debate to bed 110%. I was reading other threads and many mention a Pontiac 455 engine which I know is a totally different animal! Also mention of a 307? I can't see mistaking a 307 for a 455 BB it is totally obvious that it's a BB just by looking at it!

oldspackrat

Your head does indeed have an X on it but not in the position that this thread is talking about. Oldsmobile heads either have a number or letter on the far left outer corner. The heads in your picture have a J in that spot.

vpapa57

ahh, ok I see it now, (left side of the head)? didn't see it before just saw the X jumping out at me and figured that, that was the casting on the head. Not trying to be argumentative just honestly thought that the X was the casting. I found out now what I have. Can anyone tell me about the J head? Is that a common head or anything special about it to know? Thanks, Vinny

vpapa57

also how do I add a photo to my profile? can anyone help with that? Thanks, Vinny

don71

I consider them common. J head castings were installed on 1973-1976 455 engines. The heads are not considered the best for performance due to their design to meet emission requirements of their day.

I don't see an option to add a photo to "profile". But..If you want to add a photo for your avatar under your screen name, go to "user cp" and find "settings and options". There you will see "edit avatar", follow the instructions and understand the photo will probably need to be resized to meet the requirements. Good Luck and happy motoring.

joe_padavano

J heads are the 1973-76 BBO smog heads. Small valves, small ports.

vpapa57

Thanks for the info! My block casting # 396021F is listed on BRO442 as 455ci 68-72 so I guess the heads must have been swapped out at some point or (could be a late 72 build)?. motor runs great so I am not going to do any work to it until it fails then I will think about my options. I'm just cleaning it up and painting it bronze so it looks correct in my 1965 442 convertible.

vpapa57

Thats what I meant, I thought that was considered a profile pic (like FB) Thanks for the help and info! I just purchased the 65 442 and going to make a nice driver for now and then see where it goes from there...you know how these projects just keep growing and growing!

vpapa57

How do I flip my pic? For some reason it is upside down, I tried rotating it upside down but it still won't right side up! LOL

steverw

Post more pictures of that 65 project, theres several guys here with the same. Some are also projects and some complete.
Welcome aboard

don71

The device you are using probably needs a setting adjustment, regarding the upside photo. It happens, and in my experience, its the device or tool...phone, tablet, pc etc.

66-3X2 442

Joe

I had a set of those CA heads and I read somewhere or somebody told me they had hardened seats in them. It may be in the Joe Mondello spec book where I saw it.

vpapa57

Does anyone know what the correct bulb size is for the rear quarter (arm rest) interior panel lights for a 1965 442 convertible?

joe_padavano

Despite what you may read on the web, the "F" blocks have been documented in cars as late as 1974 model year. The F and FA castings were used concurrently for a few years. In any case, speculation is unnecessary. Simply check the VIN derivative stamp on the block. The second character of the VIN derivative is the model year. The J heads were not used until the 1973 model year, so if the block is earlier, they are not original to the block.

vpapa57

Hi Joe I'm learning as I go along and was also hoping that my block was an earlier year with a better set of heads etc. but as I said in my earlier post the engine actually runs really well and I am not building a race car so it's fine for now. Thanks again for the info!

Olds64

Sorry I mentioned the 307 story earlier, it's just something I ran across in the past.

I know other folks must be wondering too, what is the X stamped on those heads? I've seen plenty of J heads in the past and I don't recall an X stamped there (maybe I'm just forgetting). Might it indicate a place of manufacture or an OE replacement part?