How hard would it be to take a 455 and put it into my 65 electra? Will everything line up? Any tips would help alot.
Awesome Idea Wildbill Burton is putting a 455 in his Wildcat. He made frame mounts, welded them in, is going to use a 67 Wildcat radiator and hoses, Probably a '67 wiring harness, have to use a BOP bellhousing transmission. He likes headers, so they are all customized, but the stock cast irons would probably fit pretty well. Go for it.
I have a stock original 425/445 wildcat in my 65 electra convertible. I know it has 445 ft lbs of torque, and 340 hp already, but I have a 1970 455 engine disassembled in my garage with a th400 as well. I was wondering if putting the 455 in would have any benefits (other than cubic inches) over the original 425 that would make it worth putting it in. Anyone have any experience with the trade out??
If I remember correctly the 425 is less torque at peak but at 2500 rpm or lower it has more than the 455... I'll have to see if I can find my spec books again,, I do know at 2500 rpm the 425 is more HP than a 455. Even the 401 is close to the same HP at 2500 rpm as a non-Stage-1 455. Personally I LOVE the HUGE amounts of torque the nailhead has at idle, I owned a 66 Wildcat 401 convertible and compared it to a Electra 225 hardtop with the 430 in it and the Wildcat 401 felt stronger than the 430 Electra. Maybe if you were to put the two cars together on the track the 430 would have outrun the wildcat because it could have been run over 3000 rpm, but during normal driving the nailhead would be my choice. The nailheads peak torque at 2800 rpm and the 400/430/455 all peak torque at 3200 rpm, and since that one Buick GS book I had shows the HP at 2500 rpm as being higher with the nailhead that would tell me that the torque at 2500 rpm is higher with the nailhead too. This means the "seat of the pants" feel in normal driving will be better with a nailhead than a 455. ps- you taking a 425 out of your car?? maybe you can ship it to me :eek2: :TU: :laugh:
if anyone need anything from a 67 wildcat i have one thats whole up here in a yard and it has a 430 in it now. its stock yet. just incase you wanted to do as the other did.:TU: email me at ghildebrand@wi.rr.com if interested i have some pics of the car yet.
