I have a 1955 olds 88 that I want to put a 455 into it. I have the engine from a 1973 Toronado already. I want to go to side engine mounts. The car has power steering in it already and I want to use the original steering box. The original 324 had front engine mounts but I want to go to side engine mounts. Any suggestions on mounting brackets ? Does anybody know of any aftermarket engine brackets that I can use? It's going to be a challenge getting the brackets around the steering box. Anybody done this swap have any suggestions?


Tim

 

I moved your thread to the Vintage section. There are a few guys that have done this mod.

Here is a good read:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...gine-swap.html

 

This might help you. I did it a few years ago. the car is my daily driver so it needed to work and work well.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...r-swap.991789/

 

I know you want to use side mounts but have you looked into a Toro front mount.. I have never done this but have read about it being used. As I remember just a small amount of adapting is necessary.... Tedd

 

Cittcap who unfortunately is no longer with us did this swap on his 57. You can probably use the search feature and find his thread. I remember he had to offset the engine slightly to the right side to clear the steering. This is not an easy swap and involves quite a bit of fabrication.

 

See link, post #2

 

I rode in that car and it was AWESOME! It was great meeting Pat when I was in Tacoma, WA.

 

I have considered this option. They both use front mounts however the bolt pattern on the toronado mount is a little bit wider and I would have to either expand the existing holes on the frame or make a bracket to use. I've decided to go with the way flatoz has done his.

 

I have seen his thread and decided to do what flatoz done with his.

 

I wish there were some way of contacting him to get some dimensions on the mounts he made. I believe I can duplicate them though.

 

Thanks for the info and pics. I'm planning this same swap. Could you tell me what is the dimensions of the bracket on the engine and what are the dimensions of the bracket on the frame also what are the rubber mounts from ? Any info would be appreciated.

 

send me a pm and we can swap emails.

Easier that way and you will get me quicker than here.

Happy to measure anything you want, but don't forget you may want to set things up a bit differently. There are a few things I would do a little differently but all in all I"m very happy with the outcome.

I would also suggest the brake swap too, as if you're going to add all that power, you don't want to ram it into something when the brakes don't work.

I hear that 'G' body brake setups work. We don't have G body stuff here so I had to improvise, again, happy with what I did and 5 years down the track I think I can say that it works.

 

The article in H.A.M.B is very good, I just don't like the frt mount like that. To me it is to long a distance from the frt to the end of the trans.
I like how "PAT" did his. the brkts off the cross member and back to the side mounts.
To me the weight is better distributed better, not so much weight on the bell house of the trans.

A side note, when did Pat pass. I miss that some how.

Gene

 

Thanks for the post. Do you have the link from the article by any chance?