Thread: 455 Olds into Chev 4x4 pickup

Tweet

I know one of you guys can handle this; I would like to swap the 350 Chev engine in my '76 Chev 3/4 ton pickup.

The truck currently has the TH350 trans, which has been rebuilt, and I would like to keep, if possible.

The engines I can get locally, and inexpensively, are the 500" and 472" Cadillac, and the 455" and 425"Olds, about any year I need.

What kind of problems am I likely to run into here?

Will any of these engines bolt up to my existing trans without an adaptor?

Appreciate your help, folks...

Have a fine evening!

Alexi

..Welcome Alexi.......The Cad engines are great but you need to find a rear sump pan etc..most were front....The Olds 455 makes a nice power plant too...I use the front mount set up from the 70s trucks that were equipped with the 350 diesel and or were converted to gas...The entire mount riser etc bolts right in....You need a dual bolt pattern 350 trans or a tranny with short shaft and large housing pattern ..Other than that the swap is pretty clean..........Al...

The bolt pattern for chevy engines is different that it is for BOP (oldsmobile,pontiac, and buick). Cadalliac has the same bolt pattern as BOP. Un less your tranny is a unibolt pattern tranny (meaning that all GM engines will bolt to it) you will have to get a different tranny. The cheapest engine out of all of those to rebuild is going to be the 455 olds. You might run into problems withe the motor mount blocks and might have to do some fabricationto get it to fit. You will also have to get a different fan shoud. If it were me i would consider electric fans.
If you have any other question I'm sure i can answer them for you.

MARK

Al and Mark, I certainly appreciate the information.

A couple of other questions, if you have the time:

how do you determine if the transmission is the unibolt (assume this is the same as dual pattern?)

Alexi

there will be more than 6 bolt holes in the housing

That should explane it

Mark

Thank you Mark, for the information, I'll check the bolt pattern in the AM.

Al, one last question, you referred to a front sump vs. rear sump oil pan for the Cad engine; is this just a swap, or is there a clearence situation with the oil pump? Do you know what year or model I might find the rear sump pan produced?

Thanks,

Alexi

Well, I put a 72 350 olds rocket in my 83 blazer 4x4. This the same exact swap. I even used the Olds trans. The rear section of the trans is the same, except the output shaft length. If you can find another 4x4 trans, even if its chevy, measure the distance from the transfer case bolt area to the end of the existing 4x4 output shaft. Use a normal cut off wheel and chop it to the same length. Then just chamfer the rough edges. The motor and trans I used were out of my 72 CUTLASS! All I did is chop it off and bolt it up. You don't need any large or small bolt pattern. Always remember don't think to hard. If its GM, it will probably bolt up in one way or another. Ditto the part about using the front block holes for motor mounts off a 350 diesel.

Alexi.....The Caddy El Dorado front wheel for one used a rear sump oil pan...You will need the oil pickup and screen to match...I'm undecided between a 500 Cad or a 350/403 combo Olds in a 70 Chev stepside project....A 455 Olds is almost ready for my 72 C10..My 69 C10 is getting a really healthy 292L6 INLINE of course..!!.....

...Right on Tech.!!!.. .....A guy down the way just put a 425 Cad in a 68 Dodge 1/2 ton ....The thing really scoots....

Al, Mark, Richard, thanks for the help, gentlemen!

This will get me started...

Have a fine evening!

Alexi

Well now you got me goin on the 500! I've got a 73 500 cad. While down in Georgia, while at Jones (an awesome junkland!), I found a 68 Cad. I yanked the heads. I knew that if you put the 68-72 small chamber heads on a 73-76 block ( flat tops), you get 12.6/1 compression. Now as long as you don't spin the thing much over 5000 rpm, the short block is almost bullet proof. With stock bottom end 73-76, stock heads 68-72, a set of valve springs, the new lumpy Crane Cam, the new Edelbrock performer RPM, and a set of headers this combo made 480 hp and 580 lb/ft .......... UNDER 3500 RPM!!!
Now thats some low end for the street if I ever heard of it. Just hook it to the ground and you've got a street terror for about $1800 = BYE BYE MR. FORIEGN TUNER

BroeBros.

Now THAT is a street engine!

What do you feed the thing, though, with 12.6 to 1 compression?

Will it work with 93 octane?

Lordy, I can see it now...480 hp, 580 ft/lbs torque, 37" Humvee tires...if I don't pay my rent for 3 months, I can build this.

Are there any identifying features of the heads or short block? (would like to get the right match the first time)

Lastly, I get to Georgia on occasion, what/where is Jones?

Have a good 'un.

Alexi