OK..... I have gotten bored with the 67 Lesabre I have (and never drive). I have a 75 455 from a Riviera that my brother finally talked me into dropping in the Sabre. Will I run into any problems with clearance with the oil pan or starter? Will headers made for a GS fit this thing?? I am thinking of keeping the low comp pistons....... what options for a cam do I have? I want to be able to tell I have a cam in it......... but want it streetable. Would a TA212 bleed off too much cylinder pressure in the low comp. 455? TIA Mike
Hey Mike.I bought a `75 Riv with a 455 also for my build.I only kept the block/crank/rods.Carb,intake,heads were junk to me.My machinest said it was a great core to build.Rumour has it that the `75-`76 blocks are very good.The oil pan part #`s were the same for GS and Full size models.I did use the Riv oil pan also in my GS so I know this is o.k.Do you have some `73 and older heads?? I would think that a 212 would be max cam with smogger pistons.You can make the smoggers run pretty good with a torque cam and headers. :TU: Later,Tony.
Thanks! That gives me some idea of a starting point. I was thinking of shaving the heads, or going with some earlier heads. I am still debating trying to fit the headers in there, or taking the manifolds and porting them a bit. Thanks again! Mike
Hey Mike.I guess in comparing headers and ported manifolds it`s a matter of economics for one thing.I have seen some test results showing headers to be still worth a bit more in h.p.Not sure what the cost of a "Gessler" ported set for example would be. o No: I would go for headers myself if your not going for a "Stealth/Sleeper" project.They have that sound that manifolds don`t.An older Qjet 800 `72-`74,and older heads should help do the trick with a torque cam and headers if it was my "Smogger" engine project. :TU: Good luck with your engine planning!! Later,Tony.
67 lesabre Mike, Based on the 67 service manual I have the lesabre either had the 300 or 340 engines that year. The 400 & 430 would have been installed in the wildcat, electra & riv. Based on the frame dimensions the wildcat & electra were 3" longer than the lesabre frame in the engine compartment area. That is not to say the big block won't fit. You just my be in for some modifications. I believe you will need a mid-sump oil pan for this swap, because a rear sump pan may interfer with the steering linkage. Good Luck! Tom :TU:
Hi, I'm putting a 74' 455 in my 1967 Skylark. It should be a very similair swap to yours as they both had the same frame I believe. If it is the same frame as mine you dont want a mid sump pan. You want a rear sump. The front crossmember will interfere otherwise.
Mike, we are just finishing up a 455 swap into a 66 wildcat here at the shop. You will need a center sump oil pan, gs headers will not fit. We are doing a bulldog alum head motor for this one and a 4 wheel disc brake conversion on the car. SHould have the engine on the dyno by the end of this next week. Gonna be a sweet ride. Jim Burekp.a.e enterprises
Mike & Jim B. Mike, With the 455 swap into my 65 lesabre, I had to push the engine back 2" to accommodate the larger motor. After I reinstall the body to the frame I am certain I will have to cut the firewall & tranny tunnel to allow for the 2" movement. If the frame were 3" longer as with the wildcat I wouldn't have to cut the body. Headers are a problem because of the steering linkage being located behind the frame cross member. Jim, What type of exhaust manifolds or headers will you be running on your 455 wildcat? I tried the TA shorty headers on my 455 swap & the pass side header fit perfect but the driver side interfered with the steering box. I believe that if they manufactured a mirror copy of the pass side header for the driver side it would be a good fit. Tom :TU:
Thanks everyone for the input! I'll check into getting a mid sump pan and pick up! Jim, what kind of hardware are you going with on the brake conversion? The 67 stops like a run away train! :laugh: Mike
Hey Mike. Ooops!! ou: I guess I jumped the gun on the oil pan fitment in the older full size models.I guess I am too much of a GS guy in my thinking. Good to see some of the others gave you some good advice about this issue.Get that "Smogger" going!!! :grin: Later,Tony.
Mike, I used a disc brake set-up from a 73 Buick electra on the front end, the spindles have to be swapped side to side and slight mods made for the steering knuckles. I'll be doing a full blown write up on this on Georges site very soon. The rear set-up is a univewrsal set-up from a guy in NM, Looks to be a very simple set-up, should be installing that this week. Jim
We are using TA shorty headers in this application. Very nice fit, we may have to put one very small ding on the driver's side , kinda close to one of the bolts on the steering box. Of course the mock up was with old motor mounts, so newer ones may solve that problem anyway. Pass side no problem. The install looks sweet. we fabbed up our own frame pads. Jim Burek
