455 big block and 400turbo

[Final]

Alright,whats a 455 big block still runs, prob needs some polishing and cleaning up, 400 turbo transmission, decent shape i suppose. Anyway whats all the worth(in a 74 olds rusted body plan to trash) and will it fit in my 98 bird(currently 3.8). How much trouble would it be to do this? should i stick with my t-5, use the 400 turbo, or go with a t-56 (v8 ta tranny), or something different? Please any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[David Blalock]

You're going to run into a lot of problems trying to get a big block in a 4th gen. Have you ever seen the stock LS1? It's halfway under the cowl already, now imagine sticking a big block in there. GM did this when the 4th gen first came out with a 572ci BB and they had a hard time getting it to fit but they did it. Now, if you could fit a BB in there you'd have one hell of a car but keeping it street legal (emissions) would be next to impossible unless they aren't required where you live. Supposing you do get the engine in, I'd go with the TH400. A big block would shred your stock 5-speed in no time. I'm not sure about bolt patterns or anything but the TH400 would probably be the (relatively) easiest to make fit and survive if you're planning on building that engine up. Not to try and keep you from trying but you should know it will almost definitly not be a street car when you're done. I'd love to see it happen though, good luck.
David

[3.4 slow to go]

the dude I got the 3.4 from dropped a 454 in his car. I've seen pics of a 350 chev in a 4th gen, person ran a crank trigger to deal w/the distributer. yeah, e-check is the biggest prob.

[hockeyman]

Sounds good, BUT...
remember the engines back then had regular distributor's that stuck up at least an extra 6" above the intake, high rise intake's, and carb's and carb cleaners.
Not to mention that the 455 has a different (angled) exhaust manifold set-up, different intake set-up so you wouldn't be able to use one's from a current LS1, LT1, or Z28.
And, the 74 Olds 455 only put out around a measley 200bhp because of catylitic converters that were introduced in 1974, and gas eficiency liberalls that were talking out their A$$'s, so rebuilding it would be a PITA. You would definately be better dreaming of a carb'd chevy Mouse engine. Even though it would be tough to cram under the cowl, it'll fit MUCH better than a 455. Even though a 455 was the same exterior size as the 305 buick/pontiac/olds engine(s), they just seemed to have more stuff sticking outta of them to take up needed room.
I sold my 76 T/A last October. It had a 455ci and a Muncie 4 speed trans. Although it sounded and looked good, it too only put out a measley 200bhp. I removed the Cat-Conv, and installed headers with dual exhaust, but it didn't make much of a difference. The prices for buick/pontiac/olds engine parts were outrageous! Much easier and cheaper to rebuild a chevy -Rat or Mouse Motor.

Just my opinion. But good luck on what you try. You may just suprise yourself and proove me or anyone else wrong.

-Marc

[3.4 slow to go]

hp on the old BOP engines were controlled/limited by cr & cam selection. My od 76 Bonnie & 77 T/A, may hav eonly had 180-200hp, but they also had no less than 325 lb ft tq. and that's w/7.6-8.0 compression. Smaller cr heads, bigger cam, new springs & pushrods. after market intake, holley tb conversion, 400 hp is not that difficult to achieve.

[3.4 slow to go]

just remembered, if you can score a 2004-R tranny, it will bolt up, can be built to withstand the 455, and give you overedrive. best donor is a trashed TT/A, or late model gnx, as teh later the year car, the better built/improved the tranny got. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Slow-N-ugly]

It can be done, you can do anything, but why?

How good of a deal is it?

Why not go stroker small block?