Hi there,

My 76 Oldsmobile 98 Regency has got some engine problems that I was suggested to have it replaced. However it is hard to find a Rocket 455 in New Zealand, especially considering my 76 Ninety-Eight that is most likely the only one in the country. Although I've heard that some big cars like 76 Buick Electra and 78 Chrysler New Yorker also had the smallblock options, under the worst scenario can I fit a smallblock like Chev350 or 400 into this big landyacht? How will its performance and fuel economy be affected by that?

Many thanks,
Oliver

 

welcome to the site. My suggestion is to rebuild the 455, its the easiest and most economical direction. If you go to a Chevy small block you will need everything including a transmission or adapter plate.

 

Thank you! Aw I have just rebuilt the transmission not long ago...what if fitting a smaller later model engine like an Olds 307 or 350 that are fitted in post-77 full-size Oldsmobiles? I've heard that their size (exterior dimensions) are basically the same?

Here I've uploaded the filmed engine knock of my Rocket 455 onto Facebook for comments from specialists (including Fred Nissen who is an Oldsmobile specialist):

https://www.facebook.com/oliver.huang.73/videos/vb.1526182892/10207532459219371/?type=2&theater
And it is commonly believed that it could be caused by a bad rocker bridge, valve spring, etc. in which case it can be fixed even without pulling the engine out, sounds a bit optimistic...any comment?

 

Pull the valve cover and see if its coming from there. Could be a rocker bridge, lifter,...

 

Haha it seems a consensus! I have no idea how to open the valve cover by myself, however (I don't want to mishandle it and bring further damages), will take her to a mechanic tomorrow to find it out!

 

Hi and welcome to Classic Oldsmobile! Nice to see a '76 98 all the way out in New Zealand! I know of one in Australia too but that one is RH drive.

Anyway, I completely agree with oldcutlass in that you should repair or rebuild the 455 and not replace the motor. I own 2 '76 98 Regency coupes and although I am not an engine builder, I do know these cars very, very well. The J head 455's may not be the highest horsepower, but they still put out 350 ft/lbs which is damn good and gets these cars moving very well. They are excellent and very reliable engines as long as they are well maintained and not abused.

Did you get to a mechanic yet? I also agree that it may be a simple repair that can be done without removing the engine from the car. Make sure they put an oil pressure gauge on it. Depending on the mileage, it's possible that the cam timing gear has lost its nylon teeth and the remains of it are choking up your oil pump's screen.

By the way, your car has some nice options on it. I see that you have tilt and telescopic steering, cornering lights, low fuel & low washer fluid indicators, and even the high output alternator. That one is fairly rare actually.

Can you please post some pictures of your 98?

Thanks and welcome again!

 

That is no rocker bridge issue....lol.

Rebuild that for sure.

 

Hi mate thanks for your advice! I have asked my Canadian mate to have a listen and spotted that the noise is coming from the top of the engine not bottom (so unlikely to be anything to do with the big end), and we have tried unplug one of the spark plug leads and the noise has reduced to just half. We may open the valve cover today, but that is all depending on weather conditions. Currently we're parking the car in his yard due to its huge size that his workshop has no room for it yet, so we have to wait the weather to clear a bit to do some major operations.

I think there are probably two of this kind in Australia (as far as I know of), but probably only one here in NZ. All of them are RHD, I have yet seen an original LHD 76 Ninety-Eight down under here hehe.

 

It looks to be in good shape.

 

Are you suggesting that the rocker bridge is gone, or that is "not" the rocker bridge issue?

Won't have money to complete rebuild the engine (mechanics here gave me a quote of $7k at least for a complete rebuild), will opt to buy the $2k second hand one if this one cannot be saved.

 

Do your troubleshooting and go from there. It could be a rocker bridge, collapsed or worn lifter, wiped cam lobe, bent push rod, etc...

 

Hey there! I hope you're able to save the motor at a minimal cost rather than having to rebuild it, but either way, an original Olds 455 is the way to go. I didn't even realize that your car was RHD at first, that's great! Can you please post some pics of the dash? I have not yet seen one that's complete and the guy I know in Australia needs to complete his as he bought it only partially converted. Also, does your car have the half red/half amber taillight lenses? His does and it was the first I had ever heard of them as the standard lenses are all red.


When you have a moment, take a look at my new website www.regencyclassics.com . I am still putting it together and I have a registry going with all 71-76 Ninety Eight's. I'd love to add yours if you you'd like to be a part of it. Post whatever pictures you can on here and I'll pick the best 2 to use.


How long have you had your 98?


John

 

Hey a nice website!!!

Since my 98 Regency was a diplomatic vehicle like the most other big American broughams of the time, and was used by the British colonial administration in Hong Kong, it had to be converted to RHD (only Canada and Gibraltar would drive the LHD under the British Crown lol...), and they done a poor conversion! When I bought her 9 months ago I had to spend $5k and go through everything again from transmission to gearbox and even the steering wheel!!!

I think I know the Oz one you're talking about, and that is one of the two 76 Ninety-Eight in Oz I've mentioned above, another being a black-coloured LS that is currently for sale online (for $15,000 AUD). Again a diplomatic vehicle that was used in Japan (if I'm not remembering it wrong), had a dent on the roof and the speedometer in km rather than miles. I think mine is very different from his, it is more original (of course with the speedometer in miles) apart from being an RHD, and I was kinda surprised by the half-red/half-amber taillight lenses too! How is his progress?

I don't have many photos of my car available online, and I don't know how to upload images from computer here. May I email them to you?

 

turn off that motor and STOP driveing it till u know what it is or u will cause more damage to the motor.

 

We did that already, the car is now parked and going to nowhere, just need to wait the weather to get better to open her hood as the workshop is currently full and she has to be parked in the yard outside.

 

Thanks, I'm glad you like the site! It's very new and I'm constantly making updates to it so keep checking on it and you'll see changes fairly often. If you'd like to send me pictures, I'll send you a private message with my email as I can't seem to get the email on the website working yet.

Nick is the Oz that I know, is the same guy you're thinking of? If I remember right, his car is silver with a burgundy interior. So your car has the red/amber taillight lenses too? I suppose that's just part of the European conversion but I had never heard of it until seeing Nick's. I had also never heard of a KM speedometer before his! I love how those cars were used by diplomats, etc. overseas. It just shows how luxurious they are, even around the world!

Keep us posted on the diagnosis of the motor. I won't be surprised if it's something simple.

 

There are not many big Oldsmobiles down under so there is no doubt we're talking about the same one. :-) And since I said that I was surprised by his red/amber taillight lenses, obviously that is because I've never seen that before lol. Regarding the KM speedometer, I suppose the car was originally made for Canadian market?

I have received your message with your email address, cheers mate!

 

Unfortunately I will have to get another motor, the noise is too deep that no one is convinced it has nothing to do with the big end. Here is the only choice for such engine in the country:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=931200670

can a late-60s Rocket 455 fit a 76 Ninety-Eight?

Meanwhile would the existing engine worth anything if we part it and sell the useful bits?

 

But have you pulled the valve covers?

That engine is a 1973 or '74 (perhaps '75?), and should be essentially identical to the engine in your car.

Steep price.

- Eric

 

They have listened through the scope and refuse to open the valve covers, believe that would be a "waste of time"...

Maybe this is a wrong country for this car. :-(

 

So removing 20 small screws is more trouble than scratching a piece of paper for $1,900?

I wish I had your resources, mate.

- Eric

 

Even that $1,900 replacement would be the cheapest option, I cannot afford the engine rebuild that could cost more than $5k here.

BTW judging from the picture, what do you think of the state of that engine?

 

This is why most of us learnt to do our own work.

 

I'd say probably '73 based on the valve covers, right? What years did they have OLDSMOBILE on them like that? They didn't in '75 anymore for sure. I agree, the price is pretty high but I guess they're not very common over there.


John


Pulling the valve covers to potentially save you the time and money of replacing the whole motor seems pretty reasonable to me. The driver's side one is very easy to pull as you only need to remove the alternator and then the valve cover is accessible. The passenger's side is a bit more challenging since the A/C compressor is in the way and those things weigh a TON! Either way, all of those parts are coming out if you swap the motor so I say pull them and the covers and take a final look before pulling the motor.


John

 

Absolutely nothing.

There is no way that you can determine the condition of an engine by looking at the outside of it (that is, unless a rod is coming through the side block, or it has been used as a boat mooring...).

The idea of buying an old engine that is not in a car and so can't be tested, with the expectation that it can be immediately used to replace a blown engine is dumb.

The idea of buying an old engine that is not in a car and so can't be tested, with the expectation that it can be immediately used to replace an engine that may just need minor repairs is insane.

Unless your daily transportation questions can be framed as "should I take the Lear or the Gulfstream?", you need to really think about this for a few minutes

- Eric

 

The 455 you mention will bolt right in and should be basically identical. I think you are right put it in. Then take the time to gather and learn to rebuild the original one.

This is why we learn to do these things on our own. It is expensive to pay someone else to do it.

 

Hi John, do you have Nick's contact details? I may need his help on finding an Olds motor nearby. There is only one here in NZ and that is the 455 I mentioned above, and $1,900 is actually pretty cheap in NZ compare to the more popular Chevy 350 that are averagely selling for $2-3k. But since I cannot get hold of the seller the quality of the engine is questionable. I don't want to rebuild another one! If I can find a good condition Olds engine (even if that is a 350 or 403) selling around $2 or less in Oz that would be super!

 

What about buying a crank kit from say Jeg's and an engine crane from the local paper or Chinee tool store, and $200 worth of tools and get in there and just do it?