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well it is almost 2 years. I wonder what has gone on. Must be running or close to running. I hope all is well with the project.
Gene
I'm getting close to running it .I'm almost finished with the chassis , the exhaust is installed , the A/C compressor and alternator and fan belts are on .
Next project will to be to hang the radiator in front of it , get a battery and a gas can , and run it .
I'll probably run it for 1/2 hour between 1500 and 3500 RPM to break it in .
I even have a Jeg's thermometer installed temporarily in the port for the " Idiot " light .
The good news is I got this beast running for the first time since I assembled it in 2018 .
The bad news is that the fuel line ( from pump to carb ) was leaking gasoline .
Here's a video ;
Hello. I checked out your build of 394. Great work. I just bought a 1963 Oldsmobile super88 holiday with a 394 That was rebuilt but who ever built it Never compensated for the oil pump relief sticking out and I was hearing a knocking noise from the engine. It was the crank hitting the windage tray. My question is even after you made a relief mark in it did it not hit the crank with that minimal clearance ?.
Hello. I checked out your build of 394. Great work. I just bought a 1963 Oldsmobile super88 holiday with a 394 That was rebuilt but who ever built it Never compensated for the oil pump relief sticking out and I was hearing a knocking noise from the engine. It was the crank hitting the windage tray. My question is even after you made a relief mark in it did it not hit the crank with that minimal clearance ?.
I actually bent the windage tray to clear the relief valve .
Looking back on it , I should have cut a notch in the windage tray to clear the oil pump relief valve .
So you were the guy doin this 394 I remember I could view it but I wasnt a member yet! Was havin trouble with the email to confirm me,anyway that looks badness how is it runnin?
I got the fuel leak fixed .
I ran the engine for a total of 45 minutes or so . At least enough to break in the cam .
No, I didn't dyno it . Maybe a chassis dyno after the car is assembled .
This is one of the best First Gen Olds build thread resources on the internet. Great work.
Thank you very much .
When I started this thread there weren't any 394 build threads . At least on this websight .
The 394 and earlier engines have some unique engineering , as opposed to a Chevy or even a '65 and up Olds ,
It was those nuances , that I wanted to get across in this build thread .
Thank you very much .
When I started this thread there weren't any 394 build threads . At least on this websight .
The 394 and earlier engines have some unique engineering , as opposed to a Chevy or even a '65 and up Olds ,
It was those nuances , that I wanted to get across in this build thread .
I totally agree. It's an engine, it's not brain surgery. People treat these first gen engines like there's some sort of black magic to them. In reality, they're caveman simple with a bit of specific issues to be not he lookout for. Your thread addresses those nuances perfectly.
I've got 6 first gen engines including the 324 humming away in '56 Holiday 98. Looking forward to building one for one of my other projects and I'll surely use your thread as a valuable resource.
I have a 1960 Motor Manual that has all of the torque specs, technical data, bearing clearances, etc. I'll scan them and include them
Last night I was surfing the net . Pretending I had just won the lottery , and was shopping for cars .
I saw a good looking '62 Starfire coupe . It was maroon , with a good original red interior .
When I got to the underhood shot , I almost puked .
There was a small block Chevy , in place of the 394 . UGH !
Ya that be bad to have 350 chevy in 394 place big mistake I think,another thing bout 394's an all 1st gen big block olds is the timing order is different than later v8 olds that was some awesome engineering I should of became a engine maker!
A 394 Olds ;
Was the winner of the first Daytona 500 .
Has an " air gap " intake manifold , from the factory .
A forged steel crank , from the factory .
Full floating piston pins , from the factory .
" Beehive " valve springs , from the factory .
A " four and seven swap " firing order ( 18736542 ) , from the factory .
The first car I ever drove was my Grandpa’s 63 Dynamic 88 4 dr. Holiday Sedan with the 394, I was probably only 13 at the time. I would get those tires spinning pretty good on those gravel roads!
The '59 Chevy #48 was a lap down .
Lee Petty #42 was just that far ahead of Johnny Beauchamp #73 in a Ford Thunderbird after racing 500 miles .
The flagman awarded the checkers to Johnny Beauchamp , but Petty protested .
Bill France and his NASCAR crew poured over news photos and photos provided by fans for 3 days .
They finally determined Lee Petty and the '59 Oldsmobile the official winners .
Look at the crowd , right up against the fence .
Last edited by Charlie Jones; Jul 3, 2021 at 08:55 PM.
Theres a online place I was lookin for olds parts,the guy said on phone they sold any parts for olds motors except 394! Said 394 was not never a performance engine! Need show him this! Since I been on here I found some good places to get parts!
Wow nice a blown old!👍 isnt that where j2 came from? Olds had a 371 b4 394? Right thats some bad engines! That one charlie buillt is bad! I gathering parts for mu 394 oh ya!
If you ever come to Florida , the Don Garlits Museum is a "must see " for any gearhead .
Two or three hundred cars on display . Sometimes Don himself is there .
On I-75 a few miles south of Ocala .
Last edited by Charlie Jones; Jul 5, 2021 at 05:55 PM.
Wow nice a blown old!👍 isnt that where j2 came from? Olds had a 371 b4 394? Right thats some bad engines! That one charlie buillt is bad! I gathering parts for mu 394 oh ya!
1949 thru 1953 was 303 cu in .
1954 thru 1956 was 324 cu in .
1957 and 1958 was 371 cu in
1959 and 1960 also had 371 two barrels .
1959 and 1960 four barrels and all 1961 thru 1964 engines were 394's
The J-2 option was introduced in 1957 and consisted of a special manifold with three two barrel carbs .
It was discontinued after the 1958 model year .
There were two blown Olds motors there . One with a 6-71 blower and the other ( Bill Mullins ) with an 8v-71 blower .
Last edited by Charlie Jones; Jul 5, 2021 at 10:33 PM.
Hey olds fans,well just got all my parts to finish building my 394I just got mains from fleabay it looks like hole in bearings was overdrilled will that mess up journal? Thats right where crank rides would you all use them? Heres some picss
The hole look ok. Like said, make sure the line up in the main saddle.
The pic’s make the bearing surface real ruff.
I hope it is only in the camera.
I took a 394, boared and stroke to 431 cid. Use #23 heads, dual quad intake. Sanderson made some headers. That thing would scream. Then we put a blower on it, couldn’t keep the big Mikey Thompson tires on the ground.
Ya sounds good guys,I guess theres a coating they put on them, after a while it starts wearing off which makes em look rough gonna go over them with scothbrite pad!I will post how progress is goin! Callin camcraft next week for correct cam!
