my442olds Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 Just got a '67 Olds Cutlass Supreme 442. Car is an original 442, but engine is not original. It has a '78 403 in it. My trans is a 400 and the rear end is a 10 bolt. Replacing with 12 bolt. I want to put a 400 or a 455 motor in it. I know the 455 is a tight fit & not offered till '70. Car will be for show, won't be drag racing, but want to put the fear of Olds into the late model Chevy and 5.0's running around town. I know there is good and bad with both engines. I have a friend that can build me what I want, but is not an "Olds" person. He is into Chevells. This being my first and only muscle car I want to do it right. Been told 455 needs bigger oil pan to keep from locking up the engine as it pulls all the oil to the top. Told the 400 can not be boared out as the walls are to thin. Either way I have to be carefull about overheating the engine. I know nothing about cars. I like the look of the '67 read up on them, to make sure I was buying a real 442. How to read the codes, numbers and so on. But when it comes to power and best over all engine I don't know. The rear end I have right now has 3.90 gears and hits a wall at 80 mph. The 12 bolt will probably have 3.26. Any and all suggestion are welcome. My friend will understand even if I don't. I want power, but I also want to be able to go on cruses. Like the Power Tour. thaks for helping this newbie out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
66400 Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 Your 67 left the factory with a 400 engine that will take an extreme overbore without problems. The latter 455 engines are the same physical external size as the original 400 that was in your car so its a matter of just having the right parts to return it back to a big block car.Henry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my442olds Posted December 1, 2004 Author Share Posted December 1, 2004 Is there any benefit to going with a 455 over a 400. I was told the 400 had a better low end, but the 455 had a better top end. It seems I can order a 455 just about anywhere, but have not found anyone local that can get a 400. Any advice is welcome. I'm not a motor person. Pros/cons anything I should stay away from doing to my engine. I'm getting alot of mixed messages from local guys that I am finding is not very good. One guy told me my car could not have come from the factory Red as the 442 was not offered in Red that year. (That is the kind of people I am dealing with here). I am a new joiner of OCA and the nearest club is 4 hours away. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dave Wyatt Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 You need to visit www.442.com and do some reading. The FAQ there is a great resource from folks who actually know something about Oldsmobiles. Far better than the suspected "bowtie boys" you may be dealing with at home. Not knocking the other brand here, but Old is different than what they are used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my442olds Posted December 2, 2004 Author Share Posted December 2, 2004 There are no other 442s in my area and I knew I wanted an Olds car, not an Olds with a Chevy engine. What they all wanted to do. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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