1976Oldswagon

has anyone put a big block into an early eighties 98?

there is one that is REALLY clean for sale near me for cheap, with a blown 307.

my DD is a '76 cutlass cruiser that is mechanically perfect, but aesthetically its pretty beat up...

I know I'd have to rebuild the 200R4 tranny, or use the THM400 in the station wagon.

are there any clearance issues? anything I should know?

this wouldn't be a hot rod, it would be the start of a custom...I use that term loosely because of all the ghetto blaster 98's I see rolling around, I would paint it high-gloss black, get a leather interior, and a sound system a step or two ahead of stock, no 22s, candy red paint, and more video monitors than times square...final product would be a comfortable, powerful, fullsize american car too use when its to wet out to use my motorcycle, and for dates/car stuff.

any input? I will post pics tomorrow.

J-(Chicago)

It is a direct bolt in. Just use the 307 motor mounts on the 455.

Grace Stinespring-Welch

i would use the 400 tranny and a bigger radiator, just to save future head aches.

1976Oldswagon

I thought that they made stronger motor mounts for the big blocks, will I twist the motor mounts? should I spend the money to fabricate/buy stronger mounts, or are they more than strong enough?

I'd imagine a G-chassis big block swap is almost identical, and I know there is a lot of afterstock for that

EDIT: I am going to move over the 4-core rad and aux fans, along with the trans cooler...if the car already has a trans cooler, its time for double trans coolers, or add an oil cooler.

the motor is a stock '76 smog motor, its rated for 215 hp stock, and I imagine a few of those ponies ran away over the years...I think a built 200R4 can handle it. I will keep the 400 around as cheap insurance though.

henryk8398

I think you're definitely on to something! The replacement aftermaket engine mounts anchor #2328 is used on full-sized RWD Olds (and A LOT OF OTHER GM) from 1971-1990. You shouldn't have any issues with mounts. Should be a great swap and you will have a great sleeper on your hands. I don't know if anyone has run a 455 on the CCC, but I don't see why you couldn't. I know of people who use the CCC with the 350 and 403. To make life easier. Use the carb and dist from the 455. If you can, go with true duals and freshen up the motor. I'm sure you'll be happy with it either way!

1976Oldswagon

the 455 I have is a full running motor, in my DD right now. I will use all the big block parts over sb parts that I can.

eventually I'll put some pre-smog heads on it, a cam, headers, and an offy intake I've had my eye on...for now, I'm trying to find a good home for the engine.

I'm going to go look at the car now, will bring back pics.

joe_padavano

The 69-72 big block A-body cars and the 1980s 307 cars all use the same Anchor P/N 2328 motor mounts.

The 1977-up B/C-body cars use the same frame mounts as the G-body cars, so yes the swap is identical. The only issues will be the need to slightly modify the 307 accessory brackets to accommodate the taller deck height; use the water pump, pulleys, and brackets as a matched set; and of course the need for a modified trans crossmember if you are running dual exhaust.

I'd beef the 200-4R rather than use a TH400. You'll like the O.D.

1976Oldswagon

went and looked at the car.

it already has most of the work done for me, dual exhaust, stereo, the interior is nice, the top was redone, and the paint is...acceptable.

can I use the accessory brackets on the 455 right now, and just abandon the 307 accessory drive?

pics uploading now, will post later.

does anyone have experience building up 200R4 trannies? also, how do these 55mph era cars do at 85? will I need to dick around with the final drive ratio to handle the low-rpm nature of the big block?

this car is unbelievably comfortable. it turns out it is a regency brougham...I probably won't put leather seats in it.

joe_padavano

The R4 A/C compressor in the 83 won't work with the 455 A/C brackets. The alternator and PS pump brackets will work (assuming the 455 has A/C brackets on it now).

The problem is that the R4 compressor was never used on the big blocks, only on the small blocks. As a result, the front A/C bracket needs to have two small tabs welded on it to reach the bolt holes on the block. That's the only real mod required. There needs to be a spacer between the PS pump bracket and the alternator bracket also, but this is just a short piece of tube with a longer bolt, so that's easy.

1976Oldswagon

can I use the compressor on the 455 now? the system was upgraded to R134A some time ago.

EDIT: pics posted in a forum I mod on. link here

joe_padavano

I doubt the hoses from the 83 will fit. You would need to have custom hoses made. The A6 compressor may be huge, but at least it weighs a ton...

Personally, I'd go with the 307 brackets and compressor. This has been done MANY, MANY times on 455 swaps into 307 cars.

1976Oldswagon

does the sb compressor have less draw then the bb compressor?

I'm going to file this problem in the "small **** I will fix when I get there" folder.

so, you all have seen the pics of the car (found here), what should I pay for it?

ThePackRat

Value ?.

Let's see :

1) Blown Motor

2) Trans who knows ? - can't drive it.

3) Body work (needs a LR Door - bumper fillers & a repaint).

I don't think I would pay more than $500 for it ... & I think that is being more than generous considering the above even tho it appears to be worthy of saving ... as long as there are no major hidden issues such as undercarriage/body damage/rust etc etc.

Don't forget to consider your time & effort in swapping your engine/trans in as well. Just because you happen to have a perfectly good drivetrain to put in it ... doesn't make the car worth anymore on the sellers end. It's still the same car described above ... which would take a fairly big chunk of change to get running if you didn't have a drivetrain & were paying someone else to do the wrenching.

joe_padavano

Do you mean less HP draw? Probably, which is one reason why GM switched from the huge A6 to the R4 compressors. It's also significantly lighter and makes access to the #2 and #4 spark plugs much easier. By the way, they aren't BB and SB compressors, simply two different designs. The A6 was THE GM compressor for decades until the R4 cam along.

1976Oldswagon

I know that the compressors are a time thing and not an engine size thing...I refer to them as bb compressor and sb compressor to save myself the confusion :-P

I am putting together a list of things to negotiate a lower price...he has all new front suspension parts and another 98 that I can have any parts I want, and I'm trying to negotiate a good price without him pulling his offer of all the suspension parts and the few parts I want on the other 98.

I'll keep you guys posted with the progress