ROCKET VAPOR

I am looking for some original engine parts that are in good condition for a '70 442.

1. 6 valve cover bolts, P/N 388708, Hex/Flange headed screws, Head markings "L" with 3 dashes (grade 5).

2. 455 "Hot Air Pipe" P/N 405259 (exhaust manifold stove heat riser pipe). Good restorable condition without dents and alot of pits if possible?

3. Valve cover bracket as shown in Parts Manual as group 4.931, but no part number listed for referance. This bracket goes on the top rear of the drivers side valve cover to support the intake manifold vacuum pipe that goes to the brake booster.
BRACKET.png


Thank you for your help, as the salvage yards here in OKC are bare of old Olds parts.

442crzy

You have a PM.

dingusboy

Inline Tube might be able to help with the heat riser.

stevengerard

and the bracket if you are willing to use repos. But both those parts are out there if you are looking for originals, the bracket came on 350s too

507OLDS

I have plenty of valve cover bolts in mint condition,and I have pictured bracket & clamp too.

stevengerard

Brian I could use some of those bolts as well if you have a few extra after Rocket Vapor gets his. Aren't those bolts the same as a tranny pan too

BlackGold

Don't forget the tea strainer that sits on top of that pipe! (even though no one will see it)

stevengerard

and the correct mounting hardware for the pipe. I do see the screen for sale now and then, saw an NOS one go for 30 bucks a few months back - good price but again, who will see it and once on its not NOS!

ROCKET VAPOR

Brian "507OLDS", thank you again for the valve cover screws, valve cover bracket, and brake boster vacuum pipe clamp. Photos of the restored parts below.

However, I am still on the hunt for a nice restorable condition heat riser pipe for a '70 455. This is the pipe that goes inbetween the exhaust manifold stove on the passenger side up to the air cleaner assembly.

valve cover bolts
GRADE5FLANGEHEADEDVALVECOVERBOLTSWITHLMARKINGONHEAD001.jpg

valve cover bracket and clamp glass bead blasted and re-phosphated as original
006.jpg

valve cover bracket painted with Supercars Unlimited Olds 455 engine blue paint
001.jpg

507OLDS

Purdy!

BlackGold

FYI, you can tell that the little hose clamp (for the vacuum pipe) that Brian send you is an original, because it has the square ears. Compare it to the modern replacement with round ears in your first post. Of course, the disadvantage of the square ears is the way they slice open your skin when you rip your arm or hand across it.

Have you tried Ron Memmer for the heat riser pipe?

ROCKET VAPOR

Brian, I have not contacted him, do you have contact info?

Rick Duden lives a stones throw from my house in Yukon, maybe I should try him?

The problem I have is identifying the correct pipe for my '70. I understand that the pipe for 350 is different than a pipe for a 455.

I do not know how to tell them apart?

BTW, I have been using the heck out of your "engine assembly manual", GREAT RESOURCE!!!

BlackGold

I'm glad you like the Engine Assembly Manual. It's amazing how often I find myself looking stuff up in it.

It's been years since I contacted Ron Memmer, so I can't guarantee this info is current:

Ron can be reached at 219-583-9763, or classiccutlass@monti.net

He used to advertise on 442.com, but now that Brothers took over, his ad has mysteriously disappeared (along with everyone else's). He usually has an ad in the classified of OCA's Journey With Olds, but I noticed it was missing this month. If you have any troubles, let me know and I'll look further. Ron's not always the quickest to reply (or even easy to get ahold of), but he has tons of Olds parts and definitely knows the difference between a 455 and 350 heat riser pipe.

Does anyone know if the big cars (88, 98) with 455 used the same pipe as the 442s? That would certainly expand your search.

Oh, I just remembered: I saw last night (must have been in JWO) an ad selling a heat riser pipe with exhaust shroud. I think he was asking $175. Good condition. Maybe he'd separate the two? Let me know if you don't have JWO. I don't have access to it right now, and I'll be away from the internet probably until Tuesday. e-mail is better than private message or posting here.

stevengerard

I saw that ad somewhere too, man that is a lot of money for those parts.

507OLDS

You would think that the big cars would work,but they don't.They use a different shroud on the exhaust,and the pipe is longer,if I remember correctly.I've had a few complete 69/70 Deltas that had all of that,but both of those pieces are completely different.The snorkel might even be on the driver's side.I don't remember that,but I know some of those cars had it on the other side.70-72 Cutlass/442 with 455 is what I would focus on.The 350 cars are different due to the difference in deck height of the blocks,and the heat shroud is different again.

BlackGold

Now you got me curious, so I spent some time with the factory Parts Catalog, April 1976 edition. The Hot air pipe is in Group 3.417.

Far be it for me to trust a parts catlalog over your personal experience, but, for what it's worth, the catalog says that all '69 - 70 455s (but not the 400), except Toronado, used the same pipe, 405261. That listing made no metion of series (apart from excluding the Toronados). In contrast, the '68, '71, and '72 455s all list different pipes.

But you're right, there certainly were a lot of different pipes. The catalog lists:
-- 3 different pipes for '69 - 70 350s.
-- 5 different pipes for 1971, depending on 350 vs 455 and the series.
-- 5 different pipes for 1972, depending on 350 vs 455 and the series.

Anyway, if the catalog is right, RocketVapor can expand his search to '69 - 70 88s and 98s.

ROCKET VAPOR

Brian, thank you for the information. I will keep an eye out for '69 - '70 88s and 98s.

'70 Assembly shows this pipe as a 405259 and '76 parts manual show the pipe as 405261, this is odd?

Can someone post a photo of their original with some sort of length measurement, as this would be great help in identifying the correct one.

jugdish

Attached is a picture of an extra riser I have from a 455. Looks to be approx 17" long.

ROCKET VAPOR

Thank you for posting a pic!

Do you know what car this came off of?

507OLDS

I have one of those.I think it came from one of the Deltas.It's too long.

ROCKET VAPOR

Thanks Brian for the heads up!

I am still looking, even though I don't know what one should look like.

jugdish

Yep, came off a '69 delta 455

RATCHETMASTER

In my mind (and I make no claim to have a lot of knowledge on oldsmobiles) but I would think there are several factors that come into play.

1. Does the car have A/C?
2. Small block or Big block?
3. Duel exhast or single?
4. Year of vehicle?
5. A body, B body, etc.

I just removed a set of A body exhausts of off a 73 olds 98 with a 455. It had the A body duel exhaust manifolds on it (W and Z). Air cleaner was missing. The heat riser was on the drivers side with a short pipe still attached.

(EDIT) I looked at these again and realized the drivers side is not a W but an X which looks almost identical to the W.

Now, were these parts original? I don't know. In the pick, I had already removed the pipe.

I have a heat riser setup off of a 69 delta 88. It had a/c and was on the pass side with a long pipe because the connection was much closer to the firewall since it had to clear the a/c pump.

I had a 68 442 cutlass and it was more or less centered on the pass side and had no a/c.
my 69 442? I don't know what it had as it was missing when I bought the car 10 years ago. It is non a/c and the air cleaner seems to indicate that it would line up on the pass side.

I am sure someone with more knowledge can elaborate on this subject.