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Blew the HG on my 455

fordguy

blah.
Joined
Nov 24, 2022
Member Number
5787
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280
Was running hot but I kept pushing it. Original 1973 radiator. Stupid serves me right. Now overheats on freeway and white vapor from exhaust (no matter how warmed up).

Trying to determine if worth the effort, or put that money towards an LS swap and a 4l80e. This 3 speed sucks on the highway, and started leaving drips.

The grand prix is a heavy car, but I would like it to move, I mean really move. Putting a new front sway bar on, bilsteins, big brake kit later. Figure for the weight, 450hp/550tq would be the great.

I dont want a high strung fragile engine, would liie to be able to drive it often, long distances, etc. All motor 455 may not be worth the work from what I read.

Needs some torque, not 8000rpm redline. Whats the better way to go? Or will I be 15-20k in and should just change the head gaskets and rock on for a while?
 
As a 70s car fan, change the hg and carry on. That being said, pics of the car are needed.


You should be able to get some power out of the 455 and keep the old car feel. Probably a lot cheaper than your planned swap.
 
Unless you have a LS/4l80e sitting in the garage ready to rock, I would throw some head gaskets at it and take some time to figure out what you want to do, what you want to spend, and start collecting parts while you drive it.

LT/10 speed?
 
Stuck said:
Fuck the LS, 8.1 swap. Everyone thought the 455 was a big block time to put one in it.
Click to expand...

Came in here say this. The car needs a big block and the 8.1 is the way to go if you are looking to modernize with a big block.

I would probably just do head gaskets and get it going again, but that is mainly driven by my self awareness of what would happen with the car if I started in on a complete drivetrain swap. Thing would sit for years.
 
Personally, I'd yank it, tear down and inspect the bottom end. You may head off an upcoming issue. Check the bore and go from there. Bump the shitty compression up and throw so aluminum heads and intake on it. Maybe a mild lower rpm cam. Big gains in hp and torque and sheading tons of weight off the front end.

And put good radiator in the damn thing :flipoff2:

Yes, the heads and intake are money but you'll only need to spend it once and rolling the peddle to light the tires up will put a smile on your face thats worth every penny.
 
Thumping said:
Personally, I'd yank it, tear down and inspect the bottom end. You may head off an upcoming issue. Check the bore and go from there. Bump the shitty compression up and throw so aluminum heads and intake on it. Maybe a mild lower rpm cam. Big gains in hp and torque and sheading tons of weight off the front end.

And put good radiator in the damn thing :flipoff2:

Yes, the heads and intake are money but you'll only need to spend it once and rolling the peddle to light the tires up will put a smile on your face thats worth every penny.
Click to expand...

I agree. It wouldn't take that much money to get good power out of that 455.
 
The thing is aluminum heads for that thing are $$$$

I agree no LS...
 
CarterKraft said:
The thing is aluminum heads for that thing are $$$$

I agree no LS...
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Do some measurements and deck the heads to bump compression. Then port em and a nice valve job. They will probably give the same results but no weight savings.

Or, don't the 69-70 olds 350 heads bolt up? Thatvwoukd be a huge compression increase.
 
I would revamp the 455, do some fuel injection, and maybe get a BOP adapter for a 4L80E and you'd have a really neat cruiser that should get up really well. I don't know how nice the car is or what, maybe it's not worth it? Even a sweet new Q-jet and a 4l80e (or a 4l60e, honestly) with headgaskets and a cam would be a sweet setup without killing the bank.
 
spayed bolt mains ram horns treefiddy camel hump 3/4 tapper cam

4.8/80e, whatever you've got on the parts shelf for forced induction, e85
 
Cheap old BBC would be my vote. LS are cool, but the aren't perfect for cheap high torque applications.

Sombtichel jump a coke can.
 
Ditchrunner said:
Buddy of mine has a 455 in his cutlass. It gets around just fine with shaved and cleaned up iron heads, cam, intake, headers and good carb. Do injection instead of a carb if you have to buy new.
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Tryloff said:
oldsrocketparts.com

OLDSMOBILE ALUMINUM HEADS 330,350,403,400,425,455

DONT BELIEVE ALL THE BIG NAME COMPANYS . THIS IS THE SAME HEADS THEY HAVE FOR A BETTER PRICE .This ad is for a pair of complete assembled aluminum Oldsmobile cylinder heads for 350-403 & 400-4…
oldsrocketparts.com oldsrocketparts.com
Click to expand...

It's a Pancho 455 not an Olds 455.
 
Tryloff said:
oldsrocketparts.com

OLDSMOBILE ALUMINUM HEADS 330,350,403,400,425,455

DONT BELIEVE ALL THE BIG NAME COMPANYS . THIS IS THE SAME HEADS THEY HAVE FOR A BETTER PRICE .This ad is for a pair of complete assembled aluminum Oldsmobile cylinder heads for 350-403 & 400-4…
oldsrocketparts.com oldsrocketparts.com
Click to expand...
Pro Comp heads:lmao: Those piles of shit will need another $1K in machine work to make them usable. Stay far away.
 
[486] said:
spayed bolt mains ram horns treefiddy camel hump 3/4 tapper cam

4.8/80e, whatever you've got on the parts shelf for forced induction, e85
Click to expand...
What the fuck is a spayed bolt main?
 
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