1FSTLS1

Can I get enough support on this site to help me through with my Olds 455 Big Block build.

It is from a 1976 Olds 98 going into a 81 Trans Am. Motor has 90k on it and runs ok. Where to start. Do I do the bottom end or leave it alone. I want this to be a all motor car N/A (no Nos/turbo ect.)

If I do the bottom end how far should I go .30 or .60 over and what pistons do I get. I see so many options.

Thanks

$tryker

Welcome to the forums. To respond to your question, we'll need some more info. Will this be a daily driver? How much do you intend to spend?

Classic Oldsmobile has the best members, bar none. And hell yeah, we'll get you through your build-up!!

For starters, your 76 block is the low compression version. If you bore the block, you may want to up the compression a bit. It will be contingent on the intended purpose. For a street warrior, 10.5 to 1 will set you up nice. I prefer Speed Pro. A good Crane cam in the neighborhood of .496 to .520 lift, and a set of C heads will get you 400 HP.

Keep us posted, the members here are extremely respectful and will help you out.

Olds64

Welcome! I agree with Stryker 100%, the people here are AWSOME and will help you out for sure. His statement about the C heads is also dead on... They are by far the best heads out there for a BBO. Don't waste money on Edelbrock heads if you are doing a street project, a set of C heads will flow just as good if not better and run alot less to buy.

442Harv

On boring the block, bore the smallest possible, then if down the road you need to do it again, you can. If you go .060, you are at about the max, after that you will have to sleave it.

GoldOlds

C heads would be ideal, but ANY BBO head other than the J heads that are probably on your '76 motor would do the trick.

- GoldOlds

1FSTLS1

Ok I have to do compresion test to see if I am going to build the bottom end or not. I want this to be a streetable car but not neccesarly a daily driver. I do want to be on pump gas so up with the compression as much as possible. Where do I find C heads? Thanks all so far.

1FSTLS1

Oh yea I am looking for more than 400hp more like 500. My Z28 has about 400hp want more. Also what intake is good.

Olds64

Even if you have good compression you might want to consider rebuilding the bottom end. If you are going to put new bearings in the bottom end then you might as well put in new pistons and rings. When you tear the block down use a dial bore gauge to see how much wear you have in your cylinders. If the cylinders aren't too far out of tolerance then you could always hone the cylinders and use stock rings. This would be better than doing nothing at all, and cheaper than boring the block.

1FSTLS1

Yea iv never done the bottom end before so we will see. Not that i am scared to do the bottom of the motor. Plus if there is a problem down the road would give me another project.

GoldOlds

A Performer RPM might do the trick. For 500 hp, I don't think the regular Performer will cut it.

- GoldOlds

Olds64

I thought there was no Perfromer RPM for the BBO. I heard the Performer for the BBO performs just as well as the Performer RPM does for the SBO.

1FSTLS1

What about this one what is it worth??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OLDS-...spagenameZWDVW

J-(Chicago)

It's worth about $175 I'd say.
But don't bid on that one.
59-59-59
Is a buddy of ours on this forum

I'd take the stock Iron manifold over that alum. one anyday.

1FSTLS1

Few more?s Should I go carb or fuel injection. I say carbed. Does any one make a blower for this motor? Wondering if that would look cool poping out of the hood where the shaker goes. But for real:

What pistons should I get if I do the bottom end. Think I may as well. There are so many different types. I want the highest compression with pump gas. I will be doing the compression test and deciding on the bottom end this weekend. Even if the motor still has good compression maybe I should just go .30 over and that will give me more cubic inches any way. Also I like the look of the polished intake and think I may get one of thoes. Seems that headers are hard to find. Any recomedations on a oil pump?

captjim

The 6 or so cubic inches you gain will never be noticed. You bore to get 8 nice round holes, not for the extra cubic inches. The 455 is also taller than a SBO, so even with a stock intake there may be fitment issues with your shaker. The Performer is taller than stock, so keep that in mind. As for the cr, the cam will also play a large part in whether you can run pump gas. If I were you, I would work closely with a reputable Olds builder and follow his recommendations. Or, copy an existing build. 500 hp is a fair amount, don't get hung up on those #s. 455s make a LOT of torque, which IMO is really more important on a street car.

1FSTLS1

Thanks for the input. Never ralized the cam had any thing to do with pump gas or not. Can you elaberate?

I would work closely with a reputable Olds builder and follow his recommendations
YEA If I knew one.

I understand about the 500 hp thing. Just want it to be more bad *** than my LS1 camaro.

captjim

The duration of the cam will have an effect on the cylinder pressure. Lots of duration and overlap will lower the cylinder pressure so that you can use pump gas. But, it also effects low end throttle response and idle quality. I live in Fl and my builder is in Wisconsin. Telephones and UPS!! I am new to this board, I don't know who the favorite and not-so favorite builders and vendors are. Perhaps some old-timers will chime in. PM me if you like and I will give you the contact info for the guy I am using.

1FSTLS1

Block is out and going to the machine shop this week. Now time to start shopping soon. So what balancer and distrubuter should I get. Or shoul I just keep the stock balancer and clean it up and paint?
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294871851

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294855357

Capriceguy

Don't underestimate the importance of changing the heads. I bought an 1982 Firebird with an Olds 455. I didn't know anything about olds motors and the seller told me it was a W-30. Ran it down the drag strip to a whopping ET of 18.5 seconds. Found out it had smogger J heads, so it wasn't a W-30.

Found 2 sets of C heads at a swap meet. Got em for $75. Sold one set on ebay for $200. Used that extra cash to get the remaining pair cleaned up. Stuck them on the car and it ran a 13.2.

J-(Chicago)

A 5.3 Second Difference between J and C heads?!

1FSTLS1

Well I am using the J heads they are at the head shop now. Maybe down the road E-brocks but with the economy in the crapper I am saving $$. Now I am looking for help on picking an intake. Looking at the Torker or Victor.

Oldsguy

See my response on your other thread, but NO to the Torker or Victor.