Didn't know where to put this so here goes. My buddy has a 55 Oldsmobile with a smog era 455. Your basic low compression turd. It is stock besides your typical Holley Carb and some big mid length headers. I was going to do a cam and intake swap but after finding out it is a low compression turd we said screw the cam. We are going to rebuild the Carb and rework the crappy, crushed bent inch and what ever exhaust that's currently on it and replace it with 2.5.,,

So my question is, how restrictive are the stock, iron Oldsmobile intakes? Is there anything to be gained if we swapped a performer on it besides weight savings? If we can gain 20 horse over the smog era intake it will be worth it.

Thanks guys.

 

Try asking on a Olds forum about performance changes.

 

I'm aware of that, just thought I would try here first before I registered on another site.

 

Heck.........The mid 70s 455 Cutlass had a SINGLE exaust!
I can assume the 455 log exaUST manifolds must flow ok.

www.73-77olds.com

 

They make a buttload of torque
Modest (not too big) cam, headers intake they will surprise you!
most the 70s big block anythings were super low compression dont worry about it. They will still pin you in the seat

 

I'm not wasting my time putting a cam in a 455 with 8:5:1 and crappy stock heads. He also has a 10 second 363 fox so power isn't needed. Other wise it would have a stroked kit and aluminum heads.

 

On that note why even bother with an intake.

 

I've had a few 455 Olds engines, they feel like a diesel without the rattle and stink. The name of the big block Olds game is torque - these things can do a burnout at 2200 RPM. Setting it up to rev up is a big undertaking, I would just take it as it is. The parts for these engines are expensive, and they run really nice in stock trim. Aluminum intake is a good idea for weight savings alone, the cast iron one on a 455 is unbelieveably heavy. Make the exhaust real dual. The original exhaust in most configurations plums the left bank into the right manifold, and then out the back. Your going to have to block off the crossover inlet on the right manifold of course.

 

Another reason he wants an intake is because the iron piece is so heavy. He's just going to find a used intake and throw it on.