Looks like a handsomely clean engine and install. Show us some more of the car if you get a chance.
A few observations,
I see aftermarket fasteners in many locations.
I don't see a temp gauge sending unit?
Your heater is not hooked up, no hose from the water pump to heater core. I don't like those plugs they sell to cap them off, it will fail sooner than later.
Fuel gauge and reg. on the fire wall. Some might consider that unsafe in that location.

Looks like a fun ride.

 

Missing radiator seals.
The brake fail warning light sensor not hooked up.
Clutch fan and no shroud.
Oil dip stick not inserted all the way.

 

Looks like someone paid a lot of attention to detail. Looks sanitary and neat. I don't know about the way the clutch fan mounts to a spacer?? Also I don't think a fuel filter is supposed to be on the suction side of the pump, usually between the pump and carb. Not picking on it though, you asked...That is a sweet car for sure.

 

455 in place of a 400, Bowtie breather and no wind shield washer bottle or hoses. The engine install is clean in appearance but as noted by others, many issues. But still a nice looking car overall.

Pat

 

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can sort this stuff soon.

 

Thank you.

Do you mean the plugs on the water pump / heater core?

 

Yes, they are a cooling catastrophe waiting to happen.

 

I would be afraid of the rubber fuel line and filter at the fuel pump. Once you have had one on fire, you avoid rubber line like the plague.

Great looking car. I guess it starts and runs well? No glaring problems with drivability?

 

Thanks for your response.

I've had a few issues but not necessarily with what you mentioned. Its going back to a garage for them to correct the issues.

At least with what you guys have said, I have a few things to do. Any ideas what I should do first?

 

How nit-picky should we go ?

Alternator wrong side for non-A/C car (had A/C in past - HVAC control, vent dash, 3 groove). With this set-up all belts are pulling water pump to the left.

Supreme taillight lenses instead of 442 (single trim ring vs. 2).

Odd fan set up. Clutch fan shouldn't have spacer(with proper W/P). Fixed 4 blade does. But that spacer doesn't look quite OEM.

Cowl vent screens should be just metal screen - not plastic inserts.

Nice looking car. Love the color.

 

This is a fallacy. Yeah, the alternator is in the A/C position, but the "pulling to the left" is irrelevant. These cars were available with no PS and no A/C. Did that single alternator belt pull the pump to the right by just as much? Even when you have the alternator and PS on opposite sides, the result is a side force on the pump shaft DOWN towards the crank. Do the math. The pump is designed for this kind of side load.

 

Why, there is no pressure there? Do you know of any other way to connect the pump to the hard lines at the frame with out using a rubber hose?

 

Good to know. It's one of those things heard long ago and on the surface, appeared legit. I never bothered to look deeper. Guess I'll have to plead guilty to one count of truth decay.

 

I love this place. Please. The deeper the dive into whats wrong and where I should start first the better.

Thanks guys.

 

Didn't we already have this discussion in your other thread about this car? I know I already covered many of these points in that thread.

 

We did. But the pictures that I posted then (as you noticed i think) were different on a few occasions. Some images showed different brackets being used and, from what I can tell, those images were a lot older (from the garage). So i thought I would post it how it looks now. I hope that's okay?

 

What did you do to the dashpad? It looks ... inflated.

 

Wasn't me. I mentioned that the dash was cracked before I purchased the car and the garage upholstered it

 

It's actually kinda cool, just not exactly "correct".


Nice car, overall.

 

Fuel filter before the pump is not an issue (some have voiced concerns about this). It's better to have the filter on the suction side than on the pressure side if a person is concerned about fuel leakage and subsequent fire. As for the rubber hose between the pump and carb, I am not worried about 7 psi of pressure on a hose that has a 50 psi working pressure rating.

 

The car is absolutely beautiful! I would consider a K&N air filter, they are much better than paper. Also the cooling system will be more efficient with a fan shroud. The engine bay is very detailed but the Chevy valve cover breather looks out of place. Enjoy your Olds, you hit a home run with this one.

 

1. Easy change the water pump plugs for something more reliable!!

2. Drive it and tackle any pressing issues as the arise

3. Worry about the nit picky stuff at your leisure.

 

The biggest and most glaring problem is that it is not in MY driveway.

Other than that, it does have too many bowtie emblems on it. They don't effect the driveability so not an urgent repair but makes a guy think, "HUH? Why would they do that?" It does look like the air cleaner top has been rubbing on the underside of the hood so you might change to a lower profile cleaner lid. Dunno if there is enough room for that or not.

 

Hi,

How do I identify the cylinder heads on this engine - 455? I have tried to look for identification marks but am struggling to identify the exact head. Any help would be appreciated.

The engine block number is 396021F.

Regards

Raffi

 

The number above the center two exhaust ports is the casting number. In your case, 411783 are smogger 1973-76 "J" heads.

 

Just noticed looks like they did the sport wheel too!

 

-- Many thanks, Joe.
Is there a site anyone would recommend for replacements? I'm in the UK and there doesn't seem to be anywhere that can replace them.

Would aluminum heads be better? Or would this be too much of change from what's already there.

Sorry for all the questions.