455 Olds question...

[hkunz]

Sorry if you see double posts, i'm looking for the info quickly so I can get it back together this weekend.

I'm slowing assembling my 455 that is now a 468. On the top of the block, in the lifter valley, is a plate that runs the length of the valley and bolts to the block with two bolts. It covers the large holes over the cam. I cleaned up the plate and painted it to aid oil drainback, but after i installed it, it seems that it may block oil returning to the crankcase. It also may be to keep oil from splashing up from the crankcase to the lifter valley. So, does anyone know?

The motor is .060" over, Speed Pro coated pistons, relieved rods, Total Seal rings, Comp cam, block and heads modified for drainback, Melling HVHP oil pump, 10 quart pan, Masterlube accumulator, but pretty much stock iron heads. Single Holley vacuum secondary carb, Edelbrock manifold.

[Red Horse]

Dont mark my words here...

I think it is to keep oil from slinging off the cam and onto the bottom of the intake manifold. The area where the heads and intake meet get really hot on a 455. Water passages are not to close in that area. This plate could aid in keeping the oil from getting cooked.

The more oil in the bottom of a Olds the better. They have an oil return problem. One of the ways to keep oil in the pan is to limit the amount going up.

It has been some time since I have been around this stuff. I also tried looking for this information on the internet with no luck.

I would put the plate on.

One concern I have is the paint used on the tray. There is a chance it could flake and clog something up if not up to the stresses inside the engine. Metal needs prep work to stick well.

Good luck:thumb:

[just another payment]

On the money Ken.

[hkunz]

Thanks, that's kind of what I thought. The paint is hi-temp engine paint, and the parts were prepped like anything I'd paint - scrubbed by hand with Simple Green, then brake cleaner, than put in the dishwasher on the potscrubber setting. I've been painting the insides of engine blocks, heads, and other parts since the days when we had to use electrical winding paint - Glyptal - to find a paint that could take the heat:thumbs_up: In fact, the paint from last assembly 5 years ago had to be removed so I could have a nice painting surface:D

:Thanx:

[Red Horse]

Cool.

Let us know how it all works out:thumb:

[hkunz]

Fired it up today. Almost set it on fire first:Laugh_at: The ign hot was touching the ground on the last guage, so all the gauges got hot when i went to do a pre-fire check. Since I had just replaced the gauges this AM with new Auto Meter classic gauges, it was weird to see the oil pressure at 75 PSI before I activated the Masterlube. Then there was the heat, and the smoke. I finally found it, easy fix, and then on to starting it up. Sounds very nice, did the cam breaking sitting in the boat in 101* weather, in the full sun. Got it final timed and idle set. I'll put the tools away Tuesday, and finish the final little things, then we take it to Havasu Friday.

[Red Horse]

But you are running and gonna go to the lake!!

What kind of speed are you expecting?

[hkunz]

We got 67 on GPS before, with a point lower compression, a smaller cam, and 7 fewer cubes LOL, but there's no more GPS for this boat, it died of old age.

I'd like to think it'll go 70, but I think there will be two issues - strange noises from the pasenger seat that get louder as the boat goes faster,:rollinglaugh: and the fact that it is a quarter-stringer boat. The whole hull flexes when I get in and out on the trailer. Great for light weight and fast acceleration, but I'd guess it will squirm on the water at higher speeds. If I ever decide to redo the interior, I think I'd glass in some stringer extensions from the front of the motor, where they quit now, up to the front of the front seat. In the meantime, 70 MPH 6 inches off the water will be plenty fast.:drinkers:

Maybe to see how fast it goes I'll have to run with Keith again on the upper river:thumbs_up: