THE oldsmobile rocket 303 324 371 394 post to end all other posts, (lasalle related )

It won't fit.....JUST KIDDING
Here is a 56 conv with factory standard trans. The owner passed away in 2003, so I can't ask how easy the swap was. His 50+ year old son said this was the honeymoon car for his parents, so maybe it was one owner. Anyways it is a 394 Offy 3x2 carbs.

 

BrandonB and F&J, thanks for the great info!! Love the thought of that ragtop with a tripower 394 mill.
Despite his blog listing quite a few major changes, to be done, sounds like something I could do. My 98 TH400 project has stretched my skill set to the next level.
JT

 

Anyone know the P.N. for the oil seal on a Weiand timing cover?

 

Cross member altercation work for sure I would think. Other than that it should fit like a glove IMHO. Get the yoke from the donor car and the drive shaft if possible.

 

Here's one I been picking away at Slowly. 303 for my Roadster, Neal's old intake. I recently acquired a bunch of Olds parts. I am thinking about building another one. Can I bore a 3-3/4 block to a 4" bore?

 

I would sonic check the bores first to be safe. I have a 324 that is out to 4 using 371 pistons. The project looks great, quite similar to the one I am working on.

 

ditto, sonic test it. Every time "how much can I bore it" comes up on here, theres a bunch of wild speculation, magazine bullshit, and old wifes tales. The answer is so straightforward. Sonic test it and find out.

 

Thank you, I will Sonic test it.

 

Thanks, this ones taking longer. Something about paint makes this happen.

 

Here are a couple artsy pics of the '54 engine I had in my '36, but had to pull 'cause it was tired...






And the first fire of the replacement '56 engine...



This one was pulled from a wrecked car a couple decades ago and sat in a few shops until I picked it up from a buddy. I tore it down to check the clearances and since everything looked good, I replaced the seals and gaskets and buttoned it back up. I'll eventually swap the intake for the 4x2 or one of my others.

 

Sonic testing is wise, but just to let you know how much "meat" is on these blocks I had a 324" that was bored to 4" when I bought it and took it .030" when I rebuilt it. I had it in my 41' Ford for 15 yrs. Of course when I had it rebuilt again a few years ago I had to get another block.

 

That pretty well fits with what I have heard. I have pretty well made up my mind on going to 4" just for the compression.
Pete1 got my cam core on Thursday, has already reground it to Isky E-3 specs, and is putting it back in the mail on Monday. Man, no flies on that guy!

 

The block I sold you with standard bore and no ridge?
I should have sold you one of my less pristine cores

 

I'm leaning that way. To tell the truth, I really kinda feel a little bad about it, it IS such a nice core. but DAMN, compression in these things is HARD to come by with flat-tops. I'd really like to see 10.5/1 out of it. That's why I have a such a hard-on for steel shim head gaskets. Then at least I don't have to deck the hell out of it.

 

ha, George you are as bad as the rest of us,
I have an extra '57 I'd trade ya back
if it's cubes and compression you want

 

I haven't ported the heads yet, and I should. once I get valves in them and cc the chambers I'll have a better idea, but I have been crunching some numbers, and it looks like it is going to be hard to get over 10/1 with a +.030 324.

 

Played hooky today,
pulled the heads off a spare '49 for a visual inspection,
standard bore, no ridge but a bit of rust near the top of one cylinder..
oh well, if I build this one it'll likely have to get an over bore.
but in the mean time,
I pulled some parts off the pile and set them on it
and snapped a couple pictures

 

snagged a pair and a half of Belond headers recently,
one used set and an NOS single,
the single still had the label on it
meant for a 303 but here it is on the spare J2
'had to hang it somewhere

 

Dear gawd' .... that's beautiful. ^^^ What the heck ... you almost have one for every day in the month. Wow.

 

Paul, that looks cool as hell with the dogbone linkage and the SP's.

 

Here is my mill, nothing much happening those days. Waiting for inspiration,,.

Paul,, you sure got a lot of cool stuff,

 

Olds porn. My 303 from the machine shop

 

Nice to see the early blocks getting some love

 

Some good toilet reading from 1955. 1938 Cadillac Lasalle to Olds

 

Thanks for putting this all in one place!! I found this a little while ago looking for olds related stuff and just read all 20 pages..

I have a question about the starter housing that switches it from left to right side. Installing a 56 324 into a 40 Merc/Ford, is there enough clearance for the steering if you use a mini High torque starter on the left, or do you need to swap the starter to the other side with an offy styled housing? Given this is the Early olds thread I figured someone here would have an idea... Thanks.

 

Here's mine 324

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...d-with-40-trans-starter-questions-etc.637743/

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/olds-rocket-303-into-a-40-ford-coupe-build-thread.642322/

Those threads should help you out.

 

Well thank you. Yes very helpful. Just what i needed to hear..

 

What's the deal with regrinding these cams I have two 394 cams that I don't know whether to throw away or keep the lobes aren't really that bad but they're definitely not worth putting in a car as is. I would give them to somebody if they paid for the shipping. Are these older camshafts better??
I had one done years ago by Egge machine and I was never 100% satisfied that it was the best way to go. Never got any paperwork with the cam as far as specs.

 

I know Paul has used several regrinds in his Olds engines. I sold him a Isky High
rev that I think he had reground. He may jump in here on this subject.