Good morning all!
I just signed up this morning. I have a 1963 Olds that was my my moms car ( drove it a bit in high school). it has been in my garage for 30 years. I was always intimidated by what it would take to get it going. Since then I have had a 1999 and now a 2003 Land Rover Discovery. Land Rovers motto of "Making Mechanics out of owners for years" is me. I have replaced the 4.6 (bad bottom end) in the 03 with the 4.0 from the 99. I have totally rebuilt the top end of the 4.0. So now I think I am ready to dive into the Olds. Looking forward to solid advice and encouragement.
Rick

 

Welcome. If you still have the 4.6, build it to go in your 63. It's pretty much a bolt-in.

 

I would hope I could keep the 215 running for a while. It only has 33K miles on it.
The 4.6 is a junk motor in the LR world. Lots pull them at the first sign of trouble and replace with the earlier 4.0

 

Cross-bolted mains in the 4.6 block make for a nice build. Buick 300 crank, new sleeves with Chevy 305 pistons, and you get a 298 replacement for the 215. 275-300 HP is doable. Dress it to look like the 215 and no one will ever know.

 

Welcome. Lots of help here. Love to see pictures of the 63.

Wayne

 

Thank you!

 

Welcome! Lots of 61-63 Cutlass and F-85 starting to surface. Lots of help and advice available for them now. Post some pictures when you can.

 

Welcome Rick! I have a "1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Deluxe".

 

Welcome to the site, lets see it.

 

Do you think anyone would have interest in the 4.6? I wouldn't want much for it
Also, when I figure out how to post pics, I sure will

 

Just a beauty! Mine is a 2 door. Light blue but you can barely tell anymore because it sat outside in the sun for so many years

 

Where are you located?

 

Sorry for the delay Joe
I'm in Central Ohio

 

Welcome! Sounds like a pretty nice car to start with. pics?

 

 

True three on the tree. Nice. I dig the rocket sticker on the valve cover. Do you have any exterior pictures?

 

Looks like a slick car!
I WILL own a ‘63 before I die!

(anyone know how difficult it is to stab a 455 in?)

 

It can be done, but why? The aluminum V8 weighs 320 lbs dripping wet. The 455 more that doubles that. Add the weight of the trans, bigger rear, bigger brakes to stop it, beefed suspension to support it, bigger radiator (and lots of metalwork to fit it) and you've turned a 2700 lb car into a 64-65 A-body (and I think you already have one of those). On the other hand, go with a Rover block and Buick 300 crank and you get 298 cu in with no increase in weight. 300 HP is my goal with that combo, and in a 2700 lb car that's better power-to-weight than a 1970 W30.

 

Ugh…
You and your logic!
Do you think the rest of the drivetrain could handle the 298?

 

I'm planning on using a WC T5. I wouldn't use a Roto5. The rear end is marginal, but frankly if the tires break away before the rear breaks, that's your mechanical "fuse".

I'll add that I've toyed with a few other options for swaps. An Aurora (well, Northstar) would be cool, but since CHRFab shut down some years ago, the RWD conversion parts are unobtanium (and good luck finding a factory RWD N*). Add to that the tremendous width of the DOHC heads that likely will require engine bay mods. The crate motor turbo 4 cyl that GM sells today fits nicely and makes 295 HP, but the whole electronics and 4cyl thing just doesn't do it for me. The small block Buick is just a tall-deck 215 and even with an iron block doesn't weigh that much more than the 215 (this swap has been done a lot). The Buick V6 was a factory option in the Skylark and in turbo or supercharged form could be fun. And it really pains me to say this, but an aluminum LS makes more sense than an iron 455.

 

Some interesting options for sure.
How similar was the '63 Chevy II's drivetrain layout to the F85's?
(really just interested in the rear interchangeability as it has much more AM support)

 

Zero interchange. The Chevy II used a full unibody with a completely different front suspension, different floorpan, and leaf springs in the rear. The Y-body cars are based on the Corvair platform, but even then there are significant differences among the divisions. Besides the Corvair-derived transaxle, the Tempest used different front suspension, steering, and brakes from the F85 and Skylark. The Y-body Tempest was the only GM car to use the normally Ford/Chrysler 5 x 4.5" wheel bolt pattern (that's a trivia question for you).

 

Wow. I had NO idea how unique they were.
maybe it’s just better to toss in the LR rebuild and cruise it.
Definitely beautiful lines though. I’m really digging the 63’s in bothe the B-body and A-body platforms.
there a few of each down here for sale rather cheap for their condition.

 

Get it running and drive, no need to dump a lot of $$ in it and a 3 on the tree awesome...

 

3 on the tree , my first car was 3 on tree , but now would think that would just about make the car theft proof !
Joe , good saying tire break out is a mechanical fuse

 

Fact 😄