I read often in this forum that Oldsmobile engines are known to be high torque engines. I can understand that the 455 with it's 41/4 stroke have an advantage by just that, but the smallblock has only 3.385 and that alone shouldn't justify the label for a high torque engine. So what is the hard facts? Is there a inbuilt advantage in the olds head design when comparing to other small block engines or is it a myth?

I hpe we will have a great summer
Stanley

 

The following is just my opinion. Oldsmobiles and Buicks are frequently thought of as having a lot of torque, but that is mostly the 455s. Buick and Olds engines generally speaking make more power lower in the rpm range, useful for moving BIG, heavy cars.

As to the small blocks, yes and no. While the stroke is nothing special, there are other factors. IMO, other than cubes, port velocity is the most important factor. Olds engines have long runners and small-ish head ports, resulting in decent torque. Is it significantly different from a Chevy 350 with similar compression and cam? Probably not.

 

OK, thats make sense. I thought it maybee hade something to do with the combustion chamber shape and the and the small 8 degree valve to cylinder deck angle.

 

Not saying it doesn't, jusy my opinion. Again, I think the thought came from the 455s that made a LOT of low RPM torque.

 

I agree on that, thank's for the reply.

Stanley

 

You're right Jim. The ports on a Small block head are very conservative. That's one reason why I recommend the RPM intake for virtually every small block build. They're still not that big.
Peak Torque happens when you've filled the cylinder most efficiently and with smallish ports that'll happen early in the rpm range. A Ford, Chevy or whatever would react the same all else being equal.