455 in a 56?
#1
455 in a 56?
Guys is it major surgery to install a later BB Olds in a 56-88 or a matter of getting the right engine and transmission mounts from another year and car? I'm thinking 400,425,455.
#2
Several guys have done it. I'd check with Citcapp as he's shared details before on what it took for his cars.
On a different note... several years ago I purchased the remains of a 1970 Vista Cruiser from a Buick guy. He had taken the rolling chassis and put it under a 1956 Buick body. He claimed that the wheelbase and width matched, and even the steering column came in at the right location. Fabricating new mounts in the body to match the Vista Cruiser frame was the most significant mod he said was needed. If you could do that with a 56 Olds that would provide newer drivetrain/suspension/brakes with the vintage body lines.
John
On a different note... several years ago I purchased the remains of a 1970 Vista Cruiser from a Buick guy. He had taken the rolling chassis and put it under a 1956 Buick body. He claimed that the wheelbase and width matched, and even the steering column came in at the right location. Fabricating new mounts in the body to match the Vista Cruiser frame was the most significant mod he said was needed. If you could do that with a 56 Olds that would provide newer drivetrain/suspension/brakes with the vintage body lines.
John
#3
Done this on my 57 which is very similar. You have to fab all of the motor and transmission mounts. Offset the engine a little to the passenger side say about an inch to clear the steering box. Set of WZ headers. Also depends on what transmission you use to avoid conflicting with the the X frame member. Drive shaft conversion either a single piece drive line (my choice) or a two piece out of a chevy truck. Either way this mod is required as the stock drive line will not hold up. Stock rear end works fine. Send me a pm with your e-mail address and I will send you a drawing and pictures of what I did
#5
love this...
Sometimes the coolest stuff is happening, always dreamed of building a milner coupe, 55 chev ala american graffitti, now I look at oldsmobiles, . Have a 69 350 with 5 heads, crank is drilled for a 4 speed.... maybe find a 62 cutlass, straight axle fender well headers, then i remember I am still working on my 69 vert lol. And it all goes poof.....I guess One can dream..... looking forward to the build anywhoooooooo
Last edited by Eddie Hansen; December 20th, 2014 at 03:15 PM.
#6
BB engine in a 56
I recently pulled the stock frame from under my 55(should be same as 56). Someone had tried to put a 455 engine and TH400. They had welded angle iron to frame for motor mounts. Sort of messed up. Anyway I'm in process of putting a 71 Vistacruiser frame under it. Several weeks worth of work to make it fit. Body mounts fall over top of rail in some places, but wound up welding recessed pockets in the rails. Had to shorten both ends. Think it will work with engine mounts in front holes on block best. Put in four wheel disc brakes also. Still a work in progress tho.
#7
I recently pulled the stock frame from under my 55(should be same as 56). Someone had tried to put a 455 engine and TH400. They had welded angle iron to frame for motor mounts. Sort of messed up. Anyway I'm in process of putting a 71 Vistacruiser frame under it. Several weeks worth of work to make it fit. Body mounts fall over top of rail in some places, but wound up welding recessed pockets in the rails. Had to shorten both ends. Think it will work with engine mounts in front holes on block best. Put in four wheel disc brakes also. Still a work in progress tho.
John
#10
A frame
The VC frame is longer. Wheelbase and track is almost identical to 55's, but like I said, had to cut some of both ends and welded on the 55's crossmember stock support the bumpers. I already have the body back on the frame so probably can't get any worthwhile pictures. I had to recess the body cushion mounts in order to keep the body as low as possible. My first efforts had it looking like a monster-truck. I'll try on the photos tho.
#11
That's what I plan to do to my '50 Olds coupe.
I used a Vista frame for a flat top Cutlass wgn wheel base is shorter like a 4 dr Cutlass.
I'm using a '68 Vista frame which is 121 wheel base.
I have since found that a '67 Vista frame is 120 wheel base which is exactly what my '50 is. But i already have the '68 frame.
You will have to get creative on the steering box for it is out front of the axle and will be in the way of the radiator support. I have seen it done, so I have to figure it out.
This is my winter project, i will start a thread.
Gene
I used a Vista frame for a flat top Cutlass wgn wheel base is shorter like a 4 dr Cutlass.
I'm using a '68 Vista frame which is 121 wheel base.
I have since found that a '67 Vista frame is 120 wheel base which is exactly what my '50 is. But i already have the '68 frame.
You will have to get creative on the steering box for it is out front of the axle and will be in the way of the radiator support. I have seen it done, so I have to figure it out.
This is my winter project, i will start a thread.
Gene
Last edited by 64Rocket; December 23rd, 2014 at 09:43 PM.
#12
455 in a 56
You are right about the steering box, but a big benefit of that is that you can sit a 455 or 350 in stock mounting holes with no problems. As for the radiator support, I ended up fabricating one from square tubing .
#16
#17
Some where in the past I vaguely remember someone telling me they uses the front motor mount ,water pump cover off a Toronado to eliminate the front motor mount problem and had good success with this adaption. It bolted up much like the original 56 mount.....Tedd
#19
I'm not sure of using the stock location frame mounts. I believe your going to set the engine back some and use the stock engine mounts with brkts off the frame side rails.
To me if you use the Toro style mount you will have to fab some kind of mount off the bell housing similure to the original style mounts from the 50's car.
The convert frame is boxed but the wheel base is too short. '68 to 72 is 112" wheel base. The Vista is 121" and the 4dr and flat roof wgn is 116'
You can cut and stretch the other frames.
You just need to know your wheel base is and find the frame that fits.
lonestarjarhead post what ever pic's you have and can you show how you mounted the engine and your rad mount?
Gene
To me if you use the Toro style mount you will have to fab some kind of mount off the bell housing similure to the original style mounts from the 50's car.
The convert frame is boxed but the wheel base is too short. '68 to 72 is 112" wheel base. The Vista is 121" and the 4dr and flat roof wgn is 116'
You can cut and stretch the other frames.
You just need to know your wheel base is and find the frame that fits.
lonestarjarhead post what ever pic's you have and can you show how you mounted the engine and your rad mount?
Gene
#24
Not much progress so far. all I've been able to do so far is take the vista body off the frame. I have no paper work for the wgn. So i cut it up, and no place would take it, for they were to big and still wanted papers. So I cut it into tiny pieces and took it to the scrap metal place. I think I should have just dump it at the local pick & pull. It took me 2 days to cut it up and got $20. A penny a pound, to much work for that. I spent that much on lunch for the two days.
Anyway body is gone and need to clean the frame. Have been busy with a couple of projects. may get to this soon.
The pic with the C-clamp, when I first lit body, the balance was a little if'e, I had to clamp the body to the lift to keep it from tilting back. I had the lift as far as I could to keep the balance.
Gene
Anyway body is gone and need to clean the frame. Have been busy with a couple of projects. may get to this soon.
The pic with the C-clamp, when I first lit body, the balance was a little if'e, I had to clamp the body to the lift to keep it from tilting back. I had the lift as far as I could to keep the balance.
Gene
Last edited by 64Rocket; July 26th, 2015 at 06:44 PM.
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