Oldsmobile/Buick: 455 CI OLDS INTO 1983 CUTLASS, kind car, crossmember

Question
ED..I AM PRESTLY REBUILDING A 1972 455 CI OLDS.(1) WILL THE FACTORY REAREND HANDLE THE HORSES? IF NOT WHAT MIGHT I CONSIDER CHANGING OR IS THERE A WAY TO BEEF IT UP...I KNOW I'LL HAVE TO MODIFY THE TRANS CROSSMEMBER FOR THE DUEL EXHAUSTS, WHAT PROBLEMS WILL I HAVE IF I DECIDE TO GO WITH HEADERS?..ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I MAY RUN INTO?ANY INFO WILL GREATLY BE APPRECIATED...THANKS ANDY

Answer
Andy,

That is alot of power on the low end of that rear end . I have no way of specifically telling you what you need for this application . Call a Custom shop and ask what type of affordable rear end you should buy .

Headers can be difficult because of the huge size difference in the engine . The 83' Cutlass I own barely had enough room for the hooker heads I put in . This all depends on what the original size engine was . I know mine was a less common 231 CID V6 but the majority were 305's.

If I were you I would opt for a 350 or maybe something a bit larger then that . Unless you are really bent on putting this HUGE engine in I would go with your dreams .

Andy I'm sorry I couldn't be of any more help to you . This is truly one of a kind car your building . I can gurantee you would be the only one with a 455 big block olds . If any more help is needed finding any type of parts or questions feel free to send another e-mail . Don't forget to rate my response to you .

All the best,

Ed McKenna