Hello all, I am beginning a new build to keep me busy for the coming winter months. It will be an old school car using a model A 5w body and a 1956 Olds engine. One of my goals is to use up a lot of spare parts that I have accumulated over the years. I have a 1956 Olds 324 engine and a dual 4 intake for a 371 olds (57 or 58). What will I need to do to make it fit my older engine. The intake gaskets look to be a good match, but the spacing seems a little off. I notice on Ebay some sellers indicating that their offerings will fit from '49 to '58. I am not sure this is right. Thanks for any help you may offer.
The 57/58 version of the 371 will fit the 324's if you machine the intake gasket surfaces to make it narrower. I believe Ross Racing Engines could do the intake, but you need to ask to be sure. The intake year ranges are: 49-53 303 which has smallest ports. These bolt on to a 324, but you have small ports on a bigger port head opening. 54-56 324 which have bigger ports.These bolt on to a 303, but you have a port mismatch. You can blend the 303 head ports to make a better flow. 57-58 which are wider due to the higher block deck height, which spreads the heads apart a bit. Just in case someone reads this and wants to use a stock Olds 57-58 intake on a 324 or 303 by machining the gasket surfaces; Those stock iron intakes hang down in the center, and you must use a 1956 Olds 324 tin valley cover which has "dents" to clear the bump on the bottom of the stock 56-58 intakes. 55 and older valley covers do not have the dents.
You nailed it Frank..... 371 manifolds need approx .100-.125 off of them to fit a 324 Tony Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thank you Frank and Tony, I knew there was something that needed to be done. You confirmed my thoughts. I have a "J" head mill, so I think I will take a shot a it myself. I really do appreciate the help. I intend to do all my own work on this build, as much as possible. My first hot rod that I built back in the 60,s had an Olds engine in a model A. So this is sort of a trip down memory lane for me.
Ok, let me preface this by saying I dont own a rocket, so haven't really hunted for parts, so I am just repeating what I have heard, but arent there a lot more used intakes floating around for the early short deck motors than for the late ones? If this is case, wouldn't you be $$ ahead to sell your intake to someone who needs a late intake, and pick up an early one? Just asking...
some more intake swapping.. pic of the motor; it shows a 2nd series Edmunds 49-53 303 2x2 intake on a 324 motor. Some 303 intakes like these are very narrow as far as casting meat at the tops of the head ports... You end up with the intake manifold not quite covering the taller 324 ports, so you can make thin plates to be able to cover the gaps. You use a 324 gasket under the plate and then a 303 gasket on top of the plates. Keep the plates as thin as possible, but strong enough so that upper edge won't distort when tightened down. Or...if you want to weld more metal to the 303 intake sides, that was done both then, and now. Some people don't want to weld to a vintage $ part, so then go with plates. other pic shows old aftermarket adapter plates to allow a 324 intake to fit onto a 57-58 style 371.
That is one beautiful polished Edmunds 2x2 there. I'd hate to ask what going price for one is, (assuming you could find one)?
If you are talking dual quads? then I think there might be a better chance of finding a 371 manifold, rather than a 324 one. at least that is what I used to see on sales sites. There are also some dual quads for the 303 small port, but usually don't show up often, and the market was not too strong 4-5 years ago. I did see some gaining interest ($) when I left ebay. Get a way back machine and turn it to 6-9 years ago...and all you want for 200 or even less, in either style of the Edmunds 303 2x2. I had a few of each style, but kept changing my mind, so I only have one now. Last one I sold on hamb, a late one like in the pic, was 200 I think. One early one I got on ebay in 2008 with 2 Stromberg Aerotype AA26 was $130. The later style is slightly taller for use with the taller distributor than what 49-50 had. Edmunds made aircleaners for the 49/50 OLDS Rochester AA rear draft 2x2, and if you use a short early intake, with his aircleaners, on the taller distributor, then use carb spacers or use 90 degree wire boots on the dist cap. I did end up with an early chromed short distributor, AFTER I sold the early intake
There is an issue of PHR from about 1964-5 that has an EXCELLENT summary of Olds interchange 303-394. It covers bolt ons and what can be done with later innards to bore and stroke. Probably someone here will pop up with the proper citation...if no, maybe I can find it. Someone needs to scannit and get it on here!
there is alot of good olds info in this thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=715390
I must have entirely too many magazines.................................. As I was reading this thread earlier I also remembered a magazine from the mid '60's that had a very good article that answered most of the questions that were asked. But the one I remembered wasn't from PHR. It was a much more obscure magazine and it has excellent information about the interchangeability of 303 thru 394 Olds engines. I dug around a little and finally found it. Not to say that there wasn't also a PHR article but this is the one I remember.................... Rodder and Super Stock from August 1966. I believe I may have bought this issue specifically for the article. I'll try and figure out how to scan it later. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2022703&stc=1&d=1378338868 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2022704&stc=1&d=1378338868 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2022705&stc=1&d=1378338868
Actually found the right PHR: Popular Hot Rodding July. 1964. Generally Olds-themed issue, also has a good Hydro article. Late to early interchanged, combustion chamber developments, boring, etc. Needs to be scanned onto here!
Is someone looking for a stock 4bbl manifold for a Olds? I have a intake with carb from a '57 model. It can be had for the price of shipping it. I don't want to just junk it, I hope it will help someone. With a little machining it will fit an earlier 324 engine.
Well, here is the deal, when I got the magazine in, the mail man folded the envelope, which pretty much broke the binding of the mag. I was so pissed, but I can't recall now what I did with it. Anyways, I can't find it anymore. So I'm afraid I won't be able to scan it... @Speedy Canuck
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