Hi - Thought I would start a build thread since I have been making some progress on my first ever engine build but also to say thanks to the many people whom helped answer questions on the forum and through PMs. My goal was/is to build a 'stock' Olds 455 to replace the original 403 that came in my 1979 Trans Am. I even painted it a custom-mix of GM Corporate Blue which the 403 would have been originally painted in 1979; PPG 15159 is the actual paint code but not available locally. The TA has a pretty wild paint scheme from the 80s along with some time period add-ons (Hooker "Show-Bar" and Hurst Lightning Rod Shifters). It also has a scoop on the hood (not the original shaker) so I will not currently have issues with the 455 being taller than the 403 once its all together.

The 455 came in a package deal and was a great buy! Details about the rebuild:

• 1976 455 block with full machine work (tanked, bored, line honed, crank ground, etc)
• "J" heads with larger intake/exhaust valves, seats from machine shop
  • Prior to sending, I spent time and learned how to use carbide cutters and enlarged oil drain backs as well as some home 'cleanup' in terms of smoothing port exits but nothing radical or in the bowls. Also ground out the A.I.R bumps. I know the J heads are not the best, but its what came with the motor and I like the originality.
• Speed Pro SLP-L2323 pistons that will give about ~9:1 compression with Fel Pro gaskets
• COMP Cams 42-229-4 High Energy camshaft
  • From the mfg website: 218/218 Duration at .050". 110 Degree Lobe Separation Angle. 0.456"/0.456" Valve Lift. Works well with mainly stock components such as rockers, manifolds, heads, compression, torque converters and gears. COMP Cams High Energy camshafts are designed for street engines with an 8:1 to 9:1 compression ratio.
• Edelbrock 2151 aluminum intake, used but in perfect condition!
• Thorton 6.25 QT oil pan
• Aluminum, heavy duty water pump
• ARP bolts on mains and heads
• Main Bearing clearance: .0028 - .0030. May seem tight for most 455 builds here but I trust the machine shop and it's not a 'hi-performance' motor. I've read every post it seems before sending the block over on this site and believe (hope!) this will still be acceptable given its a cruiser
• Fel Pro Viton® 2948 Rear Main seal

I hope to achieve 375 horsepower and 450 ft lbs of torque; just something more than the original 403 numbers (185 hp / 320 ft lbs). A 'built' Turbo350 with a factory type high-stall (1900 rpm) converter will be behind the motor along with the original 2.73 posi rear end. The car will never see the race track and just wanted a dependable cruiser that could get out of its own way.

Olds 455 GM Corporate Blue

Thanks to @pettrix for sharing his history/knowledge of the 455, @VORTECPRO for some sage advice on keeping things clean, measuring and cleaning things again and all other forum members that answered on my other posts! Most of the people whom I PM'd gave me their phone number to call them directly and talk through things; something that is unusual given we are 'strangers' but very much appreciated to a newbie!

Hope to have the engine installed before New Years and will have some updates then...

 

Here is an original picture of the car in the early 80s as it spent time at many street machine type of events. The motor shown here is long gone...

 

Wow, that was a radical looking machine back then. Good luck with the build, and I'm sure you know we like to see lots of pictures.

 

Cool project. My uncle owns two 79 Trans Ams. One silver one gold.

 

It looks exactly the same today except for a set of brand new white letter tires. Ha, I will get more pics soon!

 

Nice. All he needs is a bronze one now. Silver an Anniversary edition?

 

Yes I believe so.

 

Finally had a chance to pressure wash the engine compartment and underneath. Put new stainless fuel lines and brakes lines on from Inline Tube; they fit close to 90% with a little bending here and there. New coil springs, shocks, upper control arm bushings and new lower control arms. Also installed Energy Suspension polyurethane motor mounts; used 403 motor mounts which bolt to generic GM "clam shell" frame mounts. I am not sure the new rubber motor mounts would be good toque-wise and the mounts are not fun to change out especially with suspension in place.


Pressured washed before work began

 

Engine also installed with no accessories! Do have some questions as when I did a mock-up of the power steering pump, the pulley is about 1/2 inch away from the steering box. Trans Ams (F-body) did have a unique alternator and power steering setup however, if I use the original setup I think the alternator will be too tall and hit the hood when closed and/or when engine is torqued.

Can I run a smaller power steering pump pulley like a 5 or 6 inch instead of the stock 7"? Or will it be too much revolutions on the pump and then the pulleys and belts won't line up as well?

 

Are the valve covers on correctly? Something looks different.

​​​​​​The paint looks excellent.

Good luck!!!

 

I had a 50/50 shot putting them on but I believe so! I had to take lots of pictures for reference prior to disassembly since it would sit at the machine shop forever. There is a little curve at the bottom of the PCV portion that looks like it's in the right position?
Thanks! First time painting with a sprayer. Used a single stage from Dupont. Very thin stuff but shines well.

 

How freaking cool is that car???!!! I absolutely love customs.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing the journey with us. Nice you are going to give that car horsepower. I love your disguise on the motor 🤔👍

 

They do look upside down.

 

Do you have the part number for those poly motor frame mounts? I may go that route, on an Olds powered 88 to 95 truck. Is that high stall converter factory in those Trans Am? It beats the usual 1600 stall for sure. Very cool car, should be very fun to burn rubber in it.

 

Tony Angelo is doing a cool a cool 80's style 1974 Firebird build with a blown Pontiac, if you watch videos on YouTube. His channel is "Stay Tuned" and he's also on Hagerty's channel.

 

Most appreciated! Yes, I was lucky to find it in such good condition.

 

I just checked the Chassis Service Manual and it looks correct...Might be an optical illusion since its from the top?

 

#31116 from Energy Suspension; Classic Industries carried them at the time in their catalog. Just be sure to cut the alignment tabs off before you mount to the frame per the tech representative when I called. It shows 1600-1800 stall according to one available at RockAuto but I am not 100% what factory came with. I asked the supplier what would be one step above stock and be good with 2.73 gears.

 

Haha. That is very cool. I wish mine had more of the flake/metallic!

 

Been a while since posting but busy working on getting it running...Needed a new battery!


Battery removed from car

 

455 was not a pain to install at all, really. I even had a valve cover leak on the passenger side (next to A/C box) and removed it no problem; without even lifting engine. Valve cover slid right out. I have since went back to the original oil sender fittings and need to finish some small items. I used a steel fuel line from pump to carb and covered it with a rubber hose and haven't had fuel vapor lock issues the few times I drove it.


455 in engine bay

Washed but not waxed or polished

 

Installed a "brand new" cassette deck with 50 Watts. Actually sounds good even with T-tops off. Shifter is giving me some troubles with the cables and will need to be a winter project fix. I plan to hard-wire in Bluetooth to the radio as well.


NOS Cassette deck

 

Hey, love the progress i have the same cam in my 455 that's im putting into my 79 trans am! how does the motor sound? Do you have any videos of it running yet??

 

Thanks! The motor sounds great, not real lumpy but better than stock. Assume sounds close to traditional "RV" cam. I can try to upload a video of it running although a little embarrassed I have 2 exhaust leaks that won't go away...hard to find anyone who bends exhaust anymore to make a permanent fix.

What intake are you running? I have a Toronado for when I plan to run the shaker instead of scoop. Headers or manifolds?

 

I would love to hear it! Mine is going into get broke in on the engine dyno on Tuesday, Its nothing crazy .30 high compression pistons and the comp cam lifters and springs. And I'm not sure what intake i have on mine might be a tornado i got the motor in multiple pieces. From what i have read it should work with the factory shaker, ill find out soon enough, and I'm just running the stock manifolds, I don't want to deal with the headaches that come with headers

 

Good luck with the break in! Lots of great info on this site about what to do if you have questions as I did. To me it does look like a Tornado intake you have on there. I hear you may need a Pontiac air cleaner base but I am not at that step either.
Pypes Inc offers a set of down pipes that come off the manifolds made for the Oldsmobiles that might work if you plan to run duals exhaust . I need to research more on those though.

 

I have a set I ordered should be arriving tomorrow. We’ll see if they fit or not!

 

Both cool Trans Am's with Olds power! I had an Audiovox cassette deck for years in my 77 Dodge Van then my 81 Delta 88. The 50 Watts with a couple of speakers is plenty, mine only allowed 3, I believe but I spliced in a 4th. Been years since I have seen or heard the name Audiovox with car stereos.

 

Little up date the break-in went well first pull motor made 322 hp 437 tq had issues with quadrajet opening the secondary's so didn't get much tuning done.

 

Only clean pull we got

 

Great success! Looks like good numbers. I am running 'small block' manifolds too and wonder how restrictive they are on the 455. Currently debating buying Thornton's new big block or trying a set of 455 Cutlass headers...

 

Yeah, those factory SBO exhsust manifolds are crap. Not big power numbers but I bet that torque came in down low. Probably too much spring tension on the secondary air door, easy fix. How much timing and what were the AFR numbers?