I came across a 1966 toronado with a good running 455 engine, so instead of rebuilding a non running 455 engine from scratch which I also own , I may just swap the engine from the toronado with my 350 that is currently in my 72 cutlass.

So what does this have to do with my question? well the guy is selling the car as a whole. I dont really see many toronado's out there or interest for parts but that may be because im not looking in right places. If I was to remove the engine and sell the toronado as is, would there be interest? what if I was to make it a parts car, can I make some money? The body has rust and interior is OK, the pictures are not the greatest.

Ebay, craigs, I dont see much activity for toronado... if the steering wheel, seats, console, dash was from a 442, I would not ask this question so Im looking for your input based on your experience with Toronado's, how much would you estimate that I can make from selling the car without an engine or via parts -thanks.

 

anyone? I guess this answers my question

 

There is interest , but not as much as the Cutlass , Supreme , 442 . I sold the dash out of the 68 Toro I use to own for a good price along with the rest of the interior parts . It didn't take long either , but that could of been coincidence .

 

Personally, I wouldn't take in a Toronado parts car... unless I needed a Toronado parts car. You'd part it out eventually, but it will take a while. The parts usually fetch a fair price though.

 

what should i do? the engine runs but its ticking, is this a easy fix? take heads off replace valves or more serious in general?

im debating if i should buy it? its a toro engine with C heads, F block and a K intake....

 

ticking is prob just the valve train.. lifter thats not pumped up from the car sitting.. ( looks like its been ) does it have hi miles? i had a 403 olds years ago in a 76 firebird. and it was always noisy.. i replaced the rockers and bridges .. lifers.. i could not shut it up...lol

 

i thought the 425 came in the 66? maybe someone swapped out the motor

 

yea, in the 70s he swapped with a 455.

can you elaborate on the possible fixes for valve train?

 

well you don't have to remove the heads to replace lifters or worn rocker arms it's a very cheap fix.. if your doing all the work. does the motor have good oil Psi? if it was not maintained there could be sludge in the motor.. did you bring it up to temp or was it just a cold start and then shut it off?

 

Very true.

The engine described - F block, C heads, K intake - would be a '69-'69 Toro block (or non-Toro block with a Toro intake manifold), so if it's on a '66, it's not the original.

This could be good if a worn original motor was replaced with a low-mileage (or new) motor at some time in the past, but could be bad, as it indicates that the car has been messed with.

- Eric

 

If you have a couple of spare valve covers, cut a relief slot in the tops and open them up so a socket or screw driver can get to the rockers and put some down pressure on each one. The noisy one should change and with a VC gasket in place you can run the engine until it warms up WITHOUT running oil all over creation.

 

the engine was replaced few years after 66 but then the car was parked indoors since the 80s, until 3 yrs ago it was kept outdoor.

Fray - interesting technique, i understand applying the pressure, if thats the fix, great! whats a VC gasket?

 

I presume VC refers to valve cover gasket

 

Well, it could mean Victoria Cross.

- Eric

 

or Viet Cong.

 

Of course. How is Victor these days, anyway? I've heard he traded his black PJs for an Italian suit.

- Eric