REGULAR ENGINE vs MARINE ENGINE

[Jetmate]

Thanks guys,
I appreciate all the help and info. I have the engine out now and apart. Found the number 6 piston had thrown it's rod. Have freind that is coming by to look at it for me, he works at a machine shop and rebores/rebuilds engines and is part owner of the local dragstrip here. I know the crank is going to have to be turned and bearings replaced. The problem is all of the mechanics here work on car engines not marine engines. As for the Camshaft, how can you tell what size/RPMs it is, I was told that I needed a cam with rpms up to 5800 (I think). If it hasn't been bored, I'm going to have it bored and I would like to have a little bit of a lope in it, when it goes back together. A little more HP would be nice. It does have a Holley 600 and a Edelbrock Torker 455 intake, but as for the HP now I have no idea, because I don't know if it has been previously rebuilt. What about a gasket set, can I use a regular type gasket set or does ot have to be a special type set? Friend is suppose to come by and look at it tomorrow or Tuesday.
Again, Thanks for everybodys help, I appreciate it.

First thing get a roller cam, lifters, and rockers. It's worth it!!! If the guys doing the rebuild work on enough engines they should be able to guide you to the right cam. You are going to need something with a mid range power band. If you like I can look up the specs on the cam they put in my .30 over 396. It worked out great for me. Sounds great, nice lope, not to radical. Let me know. You can then ask them what they think or maybe get close, spec-wise.

 

[bountyhunter]

First thing get a roller cam, lifters, and rockers. It's worth it!!! If the guys doing the rebuild work on enough engines they should be able to guide you to the right cam. You are going to need something with a mid range power band. If you like I can look up the specs on the cam they put in my .30 over 396. It worked out great for me. Sounds great, nice lope, not to radical. Let me know. You can then ask them what they think or maybe get close, spec-wise.

I would appreciate the specs. As far as mid range power band what is the range? Like I said, it's been years since I rebuilt an engine. I will probably be doing most of the rebuild except for the boring and bearings, I would be hitting a brickwall on them. As for the roller cam, lifters, mine has hydraulic lifters in it now, was going to replace them with new hydraulic lifters any comments/ suggestions are . Hope to finds out something tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Jetmate]

I would appreciate the specs. As far as mid range power band what is the range? Like I said, it's been years since I rebuilt an engine. I will probably be doing most of the rebuild except for the boring and bearings, I would be hitting a brickwall on them. As for the roller cam, lifters, mine has hydraulic lifters in it now, was going to replace them with new hydraulic lifters any comments/ suggestions are . Hope to finds out something tomorrow afternoon.

You want most of your horse power coming on between 2000 rpm's and 5500 rpm's. Rollers come hydraulic. Rollers will never wipe a lobe. I'll try to find my cam specs in the next day or two.

 

[Big Red]

First you need to decide how much money your wanting to spend. I assume your planning to keep a lower budget. And that 600 Holley is going to be to small a 750 DP at least. Second thing you need to know is what impeller you have in your pump. Roller cam is the best way to go but very expensive to change over in a 455. 1500.00 bucks ball park.

Any time a new cam is installed new lifters must be used.

I have never lost a cam lobe on a cam. 98% of the time improper valve train geometry is what wipes cam lobes out. A good hydraulic cam will work just fine unless you want to spend the money for a roller set up. But to be honest I would through the heads you have in the trash and spend the roller cam money on a set of aftermarket heads and get a hyd. cam.

Let me know your budget and I will give you some part ideas.

The most critical gaskets on the whole engine is the head gaskets. They need to be 100% marine. You can wing the rest but I would also run a very good set of intake gaskets also.

Link

http://www.cpperformance.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=399

Link

 

[bountyhunter]

First you need to decide how much money your wanting to spend. I assume your planning to keep a lower budget. And that 600 Holley is going to be to small a 750 DP at least. Second thing you need to know is what impeller you have in your pump. Roller cam is the best way to go but very expensive to change over in a 455. 1500.00 bucks ball park.

Any time a new cam is installed new lifters must be used.

I have never lost a cam lobe on a cam. 98% of the time improper valve train geometry is what wipes cam lobes out. A good hydraulic cam will work just fine unless you want to spend the money for a roller set up. But to be honest I would through the heads you have in the trash and spend the roller cam money on a set of aftermarket heads and get a hyd. cam.

Let me know your budget and I will give you some part ideas.

The most critical gaskets on the whole engine is the head gaskets. They need to be 100% marine. You can wing the rest but I would also run a very good set of intake gaskets also.

Link

http://www.cpperformance.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=399

Link

Yea at this time of the year a low budget is the key. I hope I have found an engine that is in a 1977 Olds Toronado and I asked him to look at the heads and tell me what letter was on it. He said it looked like a "4 A", I haven't found any combination like that on my list of Olds engines. There is a "Ka" that was put in Toros' from 73-76 and was also put in marine applications. I haven't gone and looked at it yet. He says it's his girlfriends and she is out of town until tomorrow. He didn't give me a price on it, but said it runs good, the only reason he parked it was it started overheating, so he took the thermostat out and his girlfriend got mad at him so he didn't mess with it anymore. He said he would start it up for me.
Now I think you have to change the head gaskets and the exhaust gasket to metal ones, Right? and change the CAM as well, Right?

 

[robwkamm]

your into small block heads now. 76 is the last year of the 455. its probably a 350 or 403 motor in the toro. i believe you have 77 403 smog head 4a toronado. leave it where she lays. low deck motor. will not bolt right in.

 

[Big Red]

A quick way to differentiate between small-block (307, 330, 350, 403) and big-block (400, 425, 455) cylinder heads is by the casting identifier. Small-block heads are marked with a number cast into the lower left corner of the head over the exhaust port; big-block heads are marked with a letter in the same location.
The casting number on Olds engines is located at the front of the block on top of the timing gear housing. A nine-digit engine ID code is stamped on a pad directly below the Number One cylinder. The first digit is a 3, signifying the Oldsmobile division, followed by a single digit for the year, e.g. 2=1972, a letter designating the assembly plant, and a six-digit serial number that will match the VIN if the engine is original to the car. If you're searching for an Olds 455, here are the casting numbers to look for: 396021F ('68-'71); 396021Fa ('72-'76); and 231788L (service replacement

You need to refer to this page to check your casting numbers

http://www.classicoldsmobile.com/tech/43.shtml

 

[daren34]

bigdave went with mondello they have a lot of olds parts and info
you wil need a 750 min. maybe 850 carb

do not turn an olds over 5000 rpm have your pump set for the hp your building

 

[mkhammer]

Auto engine vs marine engine

This comes up alot. I have people that come into my shop that want to put a car engine in a boat or want to know what it takes to convert the new auto crate engine they just bought for a great deal.( basically a full marine rebuild) I posted a blog on this subject from situations I observed. This is in general check out my bog at
http://blog.mkhammer.com/

 

[bountyhunter]

Thanks robwkamm,
The guy said it has "4A" on the heads and my Olds Code paper doesn't have that code or year on it, so you saved me time/money, I appreciate that. So, it will stay with him.
Again Thank you

 

[bountyhunter]

MKHAMMER Thanks for the information and your blog, I appreciate it. I'm going to contact you about some parts and tech advice. Thank you, Sam

 

[daren34]

mondello

http://www.mondellotwister.com/