65cutty

Iam replaceing the 350 in a 65 cutlass with a 72 455 what would one run into doing this? I know the wiring for the starter needs lenthen as the starter is on the passenger side on the 455 and is now on the drivers side on the 350. what about mtr mounts? has any one did this swap? thanks ...jim

citcapp

The starter on the 455 is in the same location as the starter on the 350. It is a straight foward install use the motor mounts from your 350 and it will bolt right in. If you are keeping the turbo 350 tranny you don't need to make any changes on there but you will need to have the tranny built to handle the extra torque of the 455. If you use a turbo 400 there are other revisions required to the rear tranny mount and drive line. check the big block and small block sites there is lots of information on this subject use the search engine

65cutty

I have a tci 350 transmission with a 10 inch hole shot 2600 stall convertor will this bolt up to the flex plate? and will my hooker super comp headers work on the 455?

gearheads78

Not 100% on the converter but the headers will not work at all. The taller deck height on the 455 requires a BBO header.

joe_padavano

Yeah, the factory did it with the 1965 442, which used the externally identical 400 motor. First, ALL Olds V8s have the starter on the driver's side. If you have a 455 with the starter on the passenger side, it's a Buick. Second, the factory used the same mounts on the 330 and 400 in 1965, so use the original 330 mounts (which should be the ones on your 350 also) and bolt them to the 455. If you need new rubber mounts, get Anchor P/N 2261. DO NOT buy mounts for a 455. They will not work with your frame mounts. You will need to change the exhaust manifolds to A-body manifolds or else run headers. The 64-67 frame is narrower than on the 68-72 cars and the later headers don't fit without some hammering. Kooks makes correct headers for this chassis, but they are pricey. You'll need a larger radiator. You'll need to use the accessory brackets, water pump, and pulleys that are currently in the car, as the narrower frame precludes the use of the low-mount PS pump from the 68-90 cars.

72 cutlass455

Do the front springs also need to be replaced because of the additional weight of the motor and radiator ?

65cutty

OK, went and looked at the 455 and its starter is on the drivers side, Iam using becool 4 row alumi radiator and have front springs for a/c equipt car on the car now for header clearance, wow headers cant be used! well thats one for solving .the exhaust manifolds on the 455 pass side has two outlets one for the cross over the other for out the rear. kooks hum!

joe_padavano

There's only about 100 lbs difference between the two. I've done a number of BBO swaps and kept the original springs. Frankly, the stock A-body cars sit too high in the front for my tastes.

For exhaust, consider the repro W/Z manifolds as an alternate to headers.

zed

I remember when I put the 455 into my 66 Cutlass. The springs were the originals and compressed pretty good. No need for lowering springs...(lol)

65cutty

w/z manifolds where can they be purchaced?

J-(Chicago)

Thornton
Reproductions

832 Mine Road
Quakertown, PA 18951
Ph: 610-282-2494
Fax: 610-282-2484
Toll Free 800-495-0442

65cutty

ok and thank you j-(Chicago)

Jamesbo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...SS%3AUS%3A1123

65cutty

so all in all purchasing a set of manifolds to replace the headers, thank heavens, dont like headers and possibly the convertor am ok with this swap. will the 400 convertor work with my 350 trans?

svnt442

Yes. So long as the 400 wasn't a switch pitch.

65cutty

455 is from a 70 or 72 98 will ck that...

65cutty

I know its been a lot of questions but Ilike to have my ducks in a row, besides the torque convertor will there be any hood clearance problems and will my eldelbrook 600 cfm be ok?

svnt442

Should be fine. They came stock with 400's and they are the same height.
The 600 might be a bit small.

65cutty

what carb should I use? the Qjet on the eng? and how can I tell if the convertor is a switch pitch ?

svnt442

You need to know what year the TH 400 is. I'd tell you to look for two wires where the kick down connects, but that isn't always a giveaway. Some (like my car) have an advance retard system that uses the trans and vacuum so there is an extra terminal on the trans for it.
The Qjet should work for you. It may need to be re-calibrated or even rebuilt depending on condition.

65cutty

thank you svnt442 you folks have been a great help!

65cutty

need to know what will transfer from a 350 to a 455, valve covers, oil pan, short style water pump and joe p stated the am to transfer the pullies and brkts from the 350 to the 455 as they are the single grove pullies, also am to transfer the mtr mounts from the 350.

citcapp

All of the above. Good luck

svnt442

Use all of it.