madmax442.com

Trying figure this one out. Was thinking about using a 1956 block casting with my slant pan Hydramatic. Do all the 1956 blocks have a plug where the vents are on my 1955 casting 563922?

Tedd Thompson

Maybe I don't understand the question correctly, there are differences that occur when swapping a 56 engine to a Slant pan that was in a 55. In 56 mostly post cars came with a Slant pan, so the differences are minimal and external like gear selector indicator radiator cooler attachments and linkage changes as they are unique to the Slant pan, no vents are involved in any swap that I'm aware of... Tedd

madmax442.com

The pic shows the '56 block. Question is do all '56s have the vents plugged? Im keeping the '55 Hydramatic, it doesnt have cooling lines like the '56 Jetaway, so if the '56 blocks dont have the vents Im not going to use the '56 block.

madmax442.com

So I have decided not use the 1956 block, going with the same 1955 casting # 563922 with the screens. The slant pan Hydramatics don't have cooling lines, so those should be there, IMO.

Tedd Thompson

Where the Slant pan gets it cooling is because it has 9 1/2 quarts of ATF floating around in a cast iron case. The over heating of a Slant pan is not a common thing. This swap is a common swap and has been done for years with no issues....Tedd

madmax442.com

Thank you Tedd, still keeping it original as I can in the end. The 1955 block looked better than this 1956 I was looking at anyway. In the 1956 block, he had to saws-all the rods to get the pistons out.

Tedd Thompson

That's what happens when you buy a stuck first generation Olds engine, you can't get to all the rod bolts, and you can't rotate anything to help your self out. There is a way, but run away from this problem...Tedd