I chimed in late on this thread, but simplest way to determine a big block is the hump right next to oil filler tube, and the letter stamped in the block next to that. The compression ratio is based on the size of the dish at top of piston. The shape of the notch and number of notches is also a key. Are there cyl heads with the block, do they have numbers or letters cast into the out side corner front for driver rear for pass sides. Also if intake is there measure the width, it is about 1.5 inches wider I believe than a 350. Just a few ideas Ron
rodney fama OCA #033098 1969 cutlass s 1969 442 north carolinia car 1969 442 cali car. assembly required stay away from www.calicars.cc what a hassle. 1972 cutlass convertable 1976 phx y-76 arizona regional car. assy. required 1977 cutlass supreme (3) 1986 honda shadow vt 1100c cruiser 1987 cutlass supreme 1989 chevy k-2500 4*4 pick up 1991 yamaha warrior atv 1994 chevy caprice 9c-1 police pkg 732-986-6388 cell 732-254-9500 wk 2 pm best time to call week days web site. shows disc brake conversion using 79 trans am rear disc on my 77 cutlass,and my 77 restoration project, along with other toys http://home.comcast.net/~77w30442/wsb/html/view.cgi-contact.html-.html http://home.comcast.net/~77w30442/wsb/html/view.cgi-photos.html-MerchantID-2 21197-Publish-t-makestatic-true-skip-45.html you may have to copy and paste the address to web browser. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of sharron&neil Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 9:26 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: update on the 455 Hello Milton, Thank you for all of that it was not my intention to be rude to you and if it seemed that I was then I apologise I was just trying to determine what engine it is another look through the csm shows me that the notch means high compression 350ci the intire engine was bought in the states where this guy worked for six years and then brought it out along with his car and this as his spare engine my only concern was that the engine was a 350 and not a 455 but the block markings say 455 as in a large f on the side and f4 68 at one end as long as the block is a 455 then I guess as you said the pistons would be right just not to go with the notches NEIL R STOKER 1969 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Infinite Space Systems, Inc. Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 1:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: update on the 455 Neil, > Oh and there is also a 20 stamped into the piston top which I presume > means > 20 thou over Yes, it should. That engine was rebuilt sometime in the past. > Thank you for that information the problem that I have is that > this engine should be a 455 and if this is true then how can it have 350ci > pistons I would have thought that the 350 pistons would be too small for > the > 455 bore ????? Your question was this: "Closer inspection today revealed a narrow v shaped notch in piston edge which according to my csm says 350ci low compression could this be right??" I said: "Most GM products exported from the US had low compression engines. GM would not guarantee what fuel quality would be available. Olds had a low compression small and big block for domestic sales, and both were used for export vehicles." I simply said that Olds had both small and big block low compression engines. Actually, in the 1965 shop manual, the piston needs to be installed in the bore with the notch facing the front of the engine. The compression ratio is indicated by how deep the dish is on top of the piston, the deeper the dish, the lower the compression ratio. Your 455 should be configured the same way. So should any 350 engine. Since I don't have access to the shop manual you are referencing, I can't tell if Olds changed the way they did things, or if it's a misprint in the shop manual, which has been known to happen. For 1965, the lineup of Olds engines was as follows. I'm positive that for the year of your 455, something very similar was done: (all engines have a head gasket thickness of 0.025") 330 with 10.25 to 1 CR, 2 bbl. 330 with 9.0 to 1 CR, 2 bbl. 330 with 8.3 to 1 CR, 2 bbl., export option 330 with 10.25 to 1 CR, 4 bbl. 330 with 8.3 to 1 CR, 4 bbl., export option 425 with 10.25 to 1 CR, 2 bbl. 425 with 9.0 to 1 CR, 2 bbl. 425 with 8.3 to 1 CR, 2 bbl., export option 425 with 10.5 to 1 CR, 4 bbl. 425 with 10.25 to 1 CR, 4 bbl. 425 with 8.3 to 1 CR, 4 bbl., export option All I'm saying is your 455 could be low compression, depending on how it got overseas. If you can determine how deep the dish is in the top of your pistons, we should be able to tell you what the original compression ratio is. I wouldn't go by the "V" notch. Milton Schick 1964 442 Cutlass [EMAIL PROTECTED]
