To all my friends in the Oldsmobile community I have listed a few pictures of the project we have started since finding my long lost L69 has been near impossible on a working man's salary. I decided to convert my 66 F85 Deluxe to a 4 Speed with a 400 (E) to give into the urges of refinancing my home for a real W30 or L69, LOL. Just a few notes. all my 4 speed parts have come from other Olds guys on this forum including Steve Minore, Mike Richards, Dan Fasci, F85(Josh) and Joe Donnelly. We are using all OEM parts and these parts I either had in stock or were purchased from the above members who I consider now all friends.
The Motor and Tranny are both date coded (built within days, let alone 3 months) to my car and that came from 67442x3 Dan Fasci. The tranny was rebuilt by Dave Reed Performance Transmissions here is CT and is a M-21 that was rebuilt using M-22 New autogear Italian gears, I have used these in the past and they are super strong and let out a nice whine. I will list the engine build at a later date as I would like to leave some anticipation to my Olds friends, sorry boys and girls.

 

and we have lift off. The motor ran like a charm but was just not enough for a former L69 owner. Plus if I can still do math I think I am missing 2 gears (Switch pitch does not count, sorry)

 

 

Here we are file fitting rings for the .057 over forged pistons and a mild port job in the bowls (just enough to not loose to much bottom end). Intake and Exhaust runners (A.I.R. bump removed) were also gasket matched and the bowls we bowl hogged prior to guide boss metal removal.

 

 

Motor was spec'd by myself and Steve Minore with Steve doing most of the assembly and myself doing all the head work including the porting. I had E and G do the guides, seats, valve job and open up the intakes for big valves. These heads are original starfire heads and yes the 45 cba heads will work on the 39 cba block so long as you use 5/16 pushrods. More info on the motor build coming soon...

 

Looks great! Im sure when your done it will be even better! Well at leat a hole lot more fun! Keep posting pics as you go!

 

I will be watching this one. Looks like it will be super nice.

 

Looks like nice port work in the heads! Reminds me i need to get back to working on mine...

 

Thanks guys I will keep you all posted with pics as we go. Plenty more to come.

 

Here is my Shepherds resting after a hard day of hiding my hard to find parts.

FYI if any of my fellow Olds guys are interested in Shepherds please let me know as I have a litter due in February. Both my dogs are working lines, AKC and OFA Hips. PM me if you want more info.

 

 

Where are you located?
How much are you looking to get out of the little shepards ?

 

The shepherd puppies will be $900 with AKC reg and raised in a law enforcement family. Sire is Bi Color Czech dog long Shutzhund history along with the dam who is West German Black and Red. PM me for more info

 

Here's (Master Engine Builder) next to me of course, haha Steve Minore working some magic with the E block.

 

Here is a few photos of my tranny after Steve Minore connected the linkages and after Dave Reed Transmissions rebuilt the M-21 with M-22 gears.

 

Pulleys and Brackets drying

 

Here are some photos of the OEM shifter hole being cut and plug welded. It is now sealed with seam sealer and ready for the carpet hole to be cut.

 

More Pics. I figure I would detail the hole the most as alot of people have questions on where to cut the hole. If you have any questions PM me and I can send you some measurements and a picture of the template I used. Easiest way is to use all OEM parts and have a section of a 4 speed car cut out so you can trace it. I was lucky to own 2 4 speed floor sections that were cut from junk cars so making a template and tracing was rather easy

 

Here are some pics of my detailed engine bay. I had a new AGR steering box that will work well with my power steering pump. This is a quick ratio box and we used them years ago in our race cars. I just happened to have a new one sitting on my parts shelf. I tried ebay but could not get what I was asking so what the hell put it in the Olds.

 

Here are some pics of the motor.

 

E Block 400 bored .057 over with 350 flatop forged pistons.
Decked surface .005
Crank turned .010 and .010
Rods Shot Peened and reconditioned with new Rod bolts
Comp XE274 cam with roller cam bearing to allow less than .005 cam walk
6 Quart oil pan, stock appearing
Comp Roller Rockers
Heads Bowl Hogged
Heads Ported and Polished with bowl work (tear drop Guide Bosses)
Three angle valve job and new guides and seats
Headers along with 2.5" flowmaster exhaust

 

Heads decked .005"
I am sure I am missing alot of mods and I will post them when I can

 

Looking good Sal. I may have to pull my motor and paint it bronze.

 

Is this build posted in real time updates or is it already done and you are doing showing what you did. If this is real time you don't mess around.

All looks killer

 

Real time boys. Only problem I have had is the z bar bushing appears to thick for the clutch rod to go through. I am trying to address this issue as we speak. Hoping to get her fired soon but the current snow just took a chunk out of my hard diligence and motivation. Getting ready to install the interior and hookup the pedals.

 

Haven't decided on carb yet but I will be using a torker intake that was just bead blasted and looks new. I have a new reman rochester 4v that may go on but I may also use a holley. I will decide reall soon.

 

L69 I will be interested in seeing how the 400E performs for you. Nice job...

 

Therobski thanks. I will be sure to post everything regarding how this motor performs. I have built several similar E blocks for customers and friends and a few were dynoed and all made between 415-425 horse depending on the intake and carb. I hope to be around 420 with my combo and torque should be around 475.

 

I will be building the 425 in a few years. My 67-400E that I'm using now is pretty much stock internally. On the outside it has a performer, Dean Oliver Q-jet, Morroso pan, HEI, and W-Zs. The way you built your 400E what is the approx shift point staying in the power band, 6000 RPM? But stock with a 200R4 and a 350 gear it should still move a light weight 64 F-85.

 

L69 I like the bronze paint on the engine. What brand did you use?

 

I have used Bill Hirsch paints for years.

 

So based on your title, are you planning on eventually obtaining a L69 setup and the ram air inlets & componets?

Just curious.

 

I love that dual snorkle air cleaner. I really want to make my original one into a dual... but the little stubby snorkles on the non-442 ones keep me from doing more than daydreaming.

I need to find another air cleaner thats more readily available that has good looking ones to scavange them off of...

 

Should have known .... Sal and Steve opted for Italian Gears

Looks good.

Sal, i'll be by in the spring. I will take a swing over when i go to Cars and Coffee at F40 Motorsports.

 

Nice car Sal

It is cool to see it coming together. Thanks for sharing the pictures and details!

 

Those are two Starfire air cleaners, I removed the snorkel on one and fabbed it into the other.

 

George,
I used Fusicks Bronze. Its always worked for me in the past. Thanks for the intake it came out awesome.

 

Looking for an original L69 someday again. Cant find a project anywhere.

 

Now I'm confused after looking back at the pics. They look different depending on which pic you look at. I prefer the brighter bronze color rather than that dull bronze.