Originally Posted by Clark455

As many of you know, I have been very busy developing much needed camshaft thrust plates for our beloved classic Gen II 1964 - 1990 Oldsmobile Engines. As a result of all of this prototyping, I have built a number of rather beastly test engines to prove out my cam thrust plate designs in live testing with a variety of different flat tappet and roller camshafts along with a variety of popular timing chains. I have four engines in various stages of prototyping. This 403 has very successfully served its complete purpose at this point and is now ready to go up for sale. It has successfully achieved over 25 cumulative hours of run time on the test stand, having been torn down for re-inspection and confirmation of the tolerances and run time wear testing quite a few times to ensure the validity of the new 403 only cam thrust plate design. This engine is currently installed in my '86 442 test bed vehicle. You can run engines all you want on test stands, though it is my opinion that real world in car testing is the final word. This engine has surpassed all of my expectations, being an "oversquare" package with a large 4.351" bore versus its 3.385" stroke. Unlike its true big block brethren, this "big little small block" has really turned out to be quite the little rev monster, eagerly willing to rev very freely as per enjoying the good cylinder head flow characteristics of the big block heads installed onto it! The Crane roller cam, the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, and the 10.5:1 compression have come together in such a way as to surpass all of my expectations. This build is belting out a solid 500+ horsepower, but it is also providing a very large amount of unexpected low end torque too. It is VERY civil with excellent drivability, smooth but distinctive roller cam idle.

* Check out the new action videos posted on 5/24 * (Scroll all the way down to the latest posting on 5/24 - post #35)

Here is the parts list that went into this rather exotic 403:

1979 Firebird Formula Engine Core Casting 557265 4B
Olds 330 Forged Crankshaft
Machine Crankshaft .010 / .010
Polish Crankshaft Rear Main Seal Flange for Viton updated seal design
4340 Chromoly Steel H Beam Connecting Rods
Racetec 4.351” Bore Forged Flat Top Pistons 4cc Valve Relief / Moly Rings
King (Performance Oiling Modified) Main Bearings
King Connecting Rod Bearings
Durabond Cam Bearings
Crane Cams Hydraulic Roller Cam / Lifters 276 / 284 Duration .520 / .542 Lift
CNC Machined Bronze High Performance Camshaft Thrust Plate
Speedmaster 4130 Chromoly Heavy Duty Pushrods
Speedmaster 5140 Chromoly Adjustable Pushrod Guide Plates
Speedmaster 4140 Chromoly 7/16 Rocker Arm Studs
Speedmaster Stainless Steel Roller Rocker Arm Set
Speedmaster Top Sprocket Adjustable Timing Chain Set
Cloyes .005 under size Timing Chain
Speedmaster Custom Milled 69cc Cylinder Heads
ARP High Performance Series Cylinder Head Bolt Kit
Cometic MLS Head Gaskets .027" installed thickness
Edelbrock Custom Milled Performer RPM Intake Manifold
Edelbrock Intake Manifold Gaskets
Mr Gasket STOCK HEIGHT Chromed Valve Covers
Edelbrock Valve Cover Gaskets
OLDSMOBILE V8 HEI 65,000 Volt Performance Distributor with 4340 Chromoly Gear
Delphi Ignition Module (observed longer dwell time for improved coil saturation for hotter spark)
New Oldsmobile Oil Filler Tube & Cap
Rocket Racing 2 Piece Billet Timing Cover
Performance Quotient PQx SFI-Rated Racing Damper
Milodon Adjustable Billet Timing Pointer
Grade 8 Crankshaft Bolt and OE Reproduction Correct Washer
Speedmaster Billet Flexplate
ARP Flywheel Bolts
ENGINETECH 2 Piece Viton Rear Main Seal
MELLING High Volume Oil Pump
Oil Pump High Pressure Spring Kit
Oldsmobile Non Bypass Design Billet Oil Filter Adapter
Correct Brass Oldsmobile 442 Reproduction Oil Pressure Elbow
8 Quart Chromed Oil Pan (yes, 8 quarts)
8 Quart Pan Oil Pump Pickup
Milodon Oil Pump Driveshaft (shortened to correct length)
Port Rear Crankshaft Main Cap Oiling Passage
Oil Pump Mounting Stud Kit
ARP Main Studs
Dick Miller Racing 5 Point Main Girdle with Windage Tray
Machine Crankshaft Main Caps for use with DMR Girdle
ARP External 12 point Stainless Engine Bolts throughout
Balance Rotating Assembly to within a 1/4 gram (thank you Grant Racing!)
Hot Tank Engine Block
Hone Cylinders for Moly Rings
New Replacement Cylinder Head Dowel Pins
New Overlength Replacement Timing Cover Dowel Pins
Moroso Extra Long Bellhousing Dowel Pins
Fel-Pro Composite Oil Pan Gasket
Fel-Pro Timing Cover Gaskets
GMB Aluminum Water Pump Late Model 5.97” Height
Four Seasons Cast Aluminum Thermostat Housing
180 Degree Gates HD Thermostat
Billet Handle Custom Oil Dipstick
Milodon Brass Freeze Plug Kit
New Replacement Oil Gallery Plug Set
Canton Racing Billet Aluminum Mechanical Fuel Pump Block-Off Plate
New Replacement Crankshaft front oil slinger
New Replacement Crankshaft Key
FST Performance RT Plus Series 750 Double Pumper Carburetor
Chromed Carburetor Fuel Line
Chromed Throttle Return Spring and Bracket
Stainless Steel Intake Manifold Port Plugs
Mr Gasket 14” Low Profile Air Cleaner
Thornton W31 Reproduction Coated Exhaust Manifolds

Ready to Run! Includes FST Performance 750 CFM Double Pumper Carburetor tuned in just right, runs like it is fuel injected! Ignition timing and advance curve dialed in just right, includes 8mm spark plug wires – ready to drop in and run. Complete turn key engine from air cleaner to oil pan!
NOTE: Includes late model 5.97” length aluminum water pump, but does not include any other front drive accessories / pulleys beyond the harmonic balancer. Currently equipped with the CVF Serpentine Drive System which is being transferred to the next prototype engine being installed in place of this engine.


Initial Test Runs Completed

Ready to go into the 442 next

Freshly Honed STOCK bores! (Lisle 15000 Cylinder Hone 320 Grit Finish)

Racetec Piston and H-beam Rod about to go in

DMR 5 Point Girdle Test Fit On Machined Main Caps

Windage Tray Installed

DMR Windage Tray Installed 2

Final Production Thrust Plate Installed

Rocket Racing 2 Piece Billet Timing Cover

As you can see, a LOT has gone into beefing up this engine. I believe the bottom end can easily now handle an additional 150 shot of nitrous on top of the power it is already making. It now has almost 200 miles of road use in the 442, finding that it wants to rev and rev and rev, but I am shifting at 6 grand right now because I feel like it is right there at peak power. It is likely capable of pulling well into 6500 RPM's, but I just don't see the need for it.

Summary? This engine is now officially for sale, with an asking price of $12,500 FIRM. I have tallied up what has been invested into this build, and it surprised me to see just how much I ended up putting into it. I want to keep it in the 442 until a perspective buyer is ready for a test drive, as it is quite the handful that really should be experienced live in the car. You've got to watch it with this beast, as it will absolutely light the tires on a 15-20 roll, then continue to just blaze the tires well into the top end of second gear! Needless to say, I'll be doing the driving. If you want any particular picture of any aspect of the build, let me know, as I have quite a few on file. I have videos of testing the rotating mass while on the stand available, and can shoot any requested run time videos or take any particular pictures you may want. This engine is located in Lebanon, TN on the eastern side of the Nashville area. PM me if you are interested - SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. Payment must be in cash. Once payment is received, I will commence pulling the engine out of the car for you immediately, ready for LOCAL pickup within 24 hours or less.