Hi, I'm not sure this is all posted in the right board but here we go. I just bought a 72' 455 punched 30 over, stage1 + spec heads and either a GS110 or GS113 cam (guy can't remember which) It's had all the oiling mods done and studded thru out. Also came with a tricked out TH400, all the above has 45 minutes on it. The guy started a 70 GS resto and bailed on the project so I got the engine & trans cheap. :grin: This is all going in my 69'GS400 convertable. I have a few question about the swap. Here they are in order of what I think are most important. 1- The engine has been on an engine stand covered and garaged since being built and broke in, in 97'. what should I do to insure a trouble free startup? 2- The engine has an aftermarket flex fan on it, should I use it or the factory thermo clutch & fan thats on my 400 ? 3- It has a new 1970 engine wire harness. Will it plug into my 69' bulkhead connector correctly? 4- the old setup was a 400/TH350 combo will my driveshaft be a problem with the new 455/TH400 combo ? 5- It has a Stinger S4 ignition in it anything special I need to know about hooking it up ? Sorry for all the questions ou: I'm sure there's stuff I am forgetting please tell me if I am. Thanks for taking the time to read this and even Bigger thanks if you can help me here.
1- assuming he built it right Drain oil, and change oil and oil filter. Check, clean and gap spark plugs. You may want to put some Marvel Mystery Oil in the spark plug holes and then turn the engine over by hand. Check out distributor cap and rotor. Pack oil pump with vaseline (I know some folks say spin the gears with a drill, but I don't) by removing pump cover and gears, then filling up cavity with vaseline. Replace pump cover. Check out carb- the gas has probably evaporated, leaving gum and deposits behind. You may consider replacing the belts. Check torque on head and intake manifold bolts. Inspect oil pan gasket- it's easier to replace this with the engine out if you have to do it! 2- get a new clutch unit and use the new one with the steel fan is my vote. 4- Yes. Your driveshaft will be too long. Shorten it or have a new one made. Any driveshaft shop (or bearing shop- they seem to be one and the same in my experience) can do this work cheaply
I also think you will need a different drive shaft yoke as the 400 is different, cant remember, and you will need to set up a different kick down / down shift switch. I would pour a little trans fluid into the cylinders, make sure it turns over with a breaker-bar, then once in the car fire it up, let it burn the trans fluid up, As far as the wiring harness dont know. Good luck with the swap.
("Pack oil pump with vaseline (I know some folks say spin the gears with a drill, but I don't) " I have a shaft made to spin the pump while the valve covers are off to be sure top half is oiled. Mystery oil has been squirted in there as soon as I got it home. I was thinking of fogging the cylinders with oil also. "get a new clutch unit and use the new one with the steel fan is my vote" That was my feeling aswell. Already a new one on the other engine. "Yes. Your driveshaft will be too long. Shorten it or have a new one made. Any driveshaft shop (or bearing shop- they seem to be one and the same in my experience) can do this work cheaply I got a shaft with it that was for the 70' GS I hope it fits my application. I'll check it. I'll have to look at the Kick down switch, I had not thought about that!! Thanks
After a 7 year sit i would have to have a look inside. If you are not experienced in deep engine work I'd reccomend finding a tuner, from this site, near you and pay a couple of Hun to have it tore down and reassembled. Just finished a BBChevy this weekend for a guy who bought a "sho nuff" corvette motor for a deal. Turned out to be a tired 402 from a 72 Impala, w/ 86 truck heads and broken cam bearing race in the block. Those deals are out there but it doesn't hurt to invest a tad of your savings to insure the motor matches the story.
I have complete confidence in how the guy described the engine build. He is good friends with a buddy of mine. The guy probably has more spare cash than most of us and from all the other parts he had for this project that I saw he only bought high end stuff. I pulled the valve covers today and the vasoline is still sprayed on the inside of the covers so some of his story holds water. Thanks for the heads up tho :TU:
