I am looking at replacing the 330 with a 455. I am needing information on which headers will work for this engine swap. I have looked at several on various www pages but I don't know what will work in this application.

 

No one makes headers for the 1965-1970 Olds full size cars, period. The location of the steering box makes header routing problematic. The fact that almost no one modifies these cars means that there is no market for a business to waste money developing them. This has been covered many, many times here. The ONLY option is to use the reproduction of the factory LH manifold that is available from several vendors. Shorty headers do NOT clear the steering box either. FYI, this manifold only works with big block Olds motors. It will not work on the 330/350 motors.

 

Thanks Joe.

 

FYI, I swapped a 425, 400-turbo for the 330-300 turbo in my 65 Jetstar 88 about 45 years ago. Even then you could not get a set of headers that fit the 88 model. I purchased a set of headers for a Cutlass, 442 and had to rework a few of the pipes as the steering arm and idler did not have clearance to to swing . The upper A-frame area needed some tweaking as well. Now those headers are in need of replacement. Sanderson makes a set of 0455 header manifolds that look like they may be an easier swap. I don't know for sure if they will clear the upper A-frame cross bar adjuster bolts without some work. I've seen a couple of posts suggesting to stick with the stock 65 425 dual manifolds offered in the Starfire ( at least on the Drivers side) As for axles. I rebuilt mine with a Eaton posi unit, 3:90 gears, new bearing, shim, & seal kit. Axles are unique to 1965,66 Jetstar. I sourced new ones from Dutchman.com , I stuck with the 5 x 4.5 pattern, But the axles are set up for both 5x5 and 5x4.5. Front hubs you may be SOL. The Jetstar has a unique front spindle. Unless you plan on swapping that to the 65 Delta or something similar, maybe a Cutlass conversion kit to disc brakes might fit. That might get you a 5x5 pattern also. As for my brakes. Well I just put new parts all the way around mine. kept the single port master cylinder (no power) and 9.5 drums all the way around it. They work just fine. Yes, they can heat up. The trick is to always leave yourself enough room. Those first 100 feet they work just as good as any other system. It'll still lock up all fours if needed.
The appearance of mine is not anywhere as nice as the other Oldsmobile's I see on these pages. But, mine has my graduation tassel from high school in1976 hanging from the mirror that I put there when I graduated. It's always a work in progress. I took it out on the road yesterday for the first time in close to 40 years. Widow tags expired in 1984......

 

Has anyone looked into fitting Sanderson 0455 header manifolds on an 65 to 68 425 Olds? They look like a possible fit. I'd like to swap out my 65 J88, 40 year old rusty headers that I made fit for something less troublesome. Finding a Starfire LH manifold at anywhere near a reasonable price is near impossible.

 

You don't consider $269 to be a reasonable price, but you'll pay a lot more than that for something that doesn't fit?

http://www.fusickautomotiveproducts....?number=EM650L

 

I just looked on Fusick's web site (thank you for the pointer) . The set for both LH & RH is $400. I'd need both manifolds to swap out my headers. That's not that bad at all. When I first looked on fleabay the LH Starfire side that I saw at the time was $300 alone. I didn't see a new RH side and figured that would be another $300. The Sanderson 0455 set is definitely more expensive @ $700 but, they are 1 7/8" tube with 3" collectors. Mate those to a matching pipe and muffler system, I'm thinking they would be more beneficial with HP values. I just don't know for sure if there is enough space to install that system without persuading them to fit my 65 J88 425ci application. I'm sure the set that Fusick sells would be the easiest swap for me to do. Even the pipes to make it work might be available for purchase over the counter. The Sanderson system would require a full custom pipe and muffler system, more $$$$'s. More HP is always good, bigger is better but, can it be cost justified and is it doable?

 

The passenger side manifold is the same for single and dual exhaust. Nice used ones are available for a lot less than the cost of the repros. The factory just bolted a cap over the crossover hole.

 

I added disc to my 65 Jetstar 88