Technical 53 olds rebuilt

Hi everyone
Wanting to fix my cylinder heads. Can I put cyl heads from a 56 olds 324 on my 53 olds 303.
If I do that do I need to get a cam from a 56 324 will it fit,I will also get the intake from the same year .

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

56 cam has large journals so don't try that but the entire top end from a 56 will bolt right on to that early engine. There is a great Olds section on here that you can refer to.....I will get a link to it for ya.

 

Here ya go:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...o-end-all-other-posts-lasalle-related.149650/

 

A 1956 stock intake manifold, if put onto a 49-55 Olds motor, needs a 1956 valley pan cover.

the 56 manifold (as well as 57-58) has a lower underbelly casting for the manifold heat passages, and the 56-58 valley pans have a pressed in depression, to make room.

 

So I can put cyl heads from a 56 324 and also the intake.

I wanted to put lifters also since the cyl head is from a 56 do I need lifters from that year and also the same with push rods . Or can I use the stock lifters and push rod from a 53

 

Lifters and push rods are the same so keep those if in good shape. Just swap the 56 heads, intake and the valley cover over to the 53 and you are good to go.

 

Exhaust manifolds with squared off ports are needed. Early 303 ports are round but I don't know about '53.. I am putting together a '55 324 to replace a 303. I understand the head gaskets should be selected to fit the heads, not the block. This post is a "must read" when doing old Rocket engines:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...o-end-all-other-posts-lasalle-related.149650/ if the link above doesn't get you there. Let us know how it turns out.

 

that was my next question, are the exhaust manifolds the same 53 303 and 56 324.
if so i don't have to switch

 

No, the 303 ports are very small and use a different gasket between the head and manifold, so you will need 324 manifolds.

I suppose you could try to make a gasket to make a seal, I never tried, because the small 303 manifolds would defeat the reason of 324 better head flow

 

Are 371 exhaust same as 324 or it must be from a 324

 

Are 371 exhaust same as 324 or it must be from a 324

 

Are 371 exhaust same as 324 or it must be from a 324

 

Good question on the 371's. I just started playing around with the 371 and have a mess of manifolds but I could not say for sure at the moment if they would work. They have square ports and I feel they would bolt on but not 100% sure.

 

Would u have any 324 for sale

 

Leinsd60, sent you a pm