olds 455 Rocket engine ID

[John]

Okay all you Oldsmobile guys...I need your help in identifing what I have here.
...a friend pulled this motor out of a street rod and says
"It is a 1970 455 Rocket motor..with turbo 400 , holley 750 carb."
It has what appears to me to be aftermarket "oldsmobile" aluminum valve covers" and "offenhauser 360" aluminum intake.
....numbers on the carburator are:
4777-4
0805
...
...block casting is # 396021F
...head casting is #cfd 394 648 313
...it has a silver with red copy round metal piece on the air cleaner that says "OLDSMOBILE 455 ROCKET"
... Where would I find the casting date on the block?
... Can you tell from this info what horse power this motor is?
...The motor is on a stand so I can get photos if they will help....thanks

[John]

...the block is painted RED....

[Canuck]

John
I cant help with the carb ID as Olds did not use Holly on any of its applications.
That engine casting was used from 68 to 71. You can find the date at the back of the engine near the distributor. Also check the serial number pad on the left side below the #1 cyl location. This will tell you the plant, and serial number of the car it went in to.
I do not recognize the head casting but the closest I see is a 394548 which is a head used on 400,425 and 455 67-69. It could have the big or small valves depending on its application. There is no external id as to what the valve size is. There should be a letter "C" on the head near the #1 cyl.

C heads were not used on 1970 motors. My guess is you see a 1968 or 1969 455. Olds used a consistant color to ID their engines. Gold 350 Bronz 400 Red 425, Blue 455.
Get some photos so I can tell more.
Check the trans number and see if it belongs to that engine. Serial number on left side abobe pan flange and right behind linkage point. ID tag is located on right side near the modulator.

Let me know if I can be of further help.

Paul Martin

[John]

thanks, I will get some photos tomorrow

[PeteLeathersac]

I remember years back looking at the vehicle numbers to confirm the original engine in my '70 442 post car...man, you have enough room to get one eyeball about an inch away from the numbers when it's in the car...good thing I was young as today's eyes sure couldn't read it!.

Good luck w/ what you find!.


~ Pete

[SmallHurst]

[ QUOTE ]
John
I cant help with the carb ID as Olds did not use Holly on any of its applications.
That engine casting was used from 68 to 71. You can find the date at the back of the engine near the distributor. Also check the serial number pad on the left side below the #1 cyl location. This will tell you the plant, and serial number of the car it went in to.
I do not recognize the head casting but the closest I see is a 394548 which is a head used on 400,425 and 455 67-69. It could have the big or small valves depending on its application. There is no external id as to what the valve size is. There should be a letter "C" on the head near the #1 cyl.

C heads were not used on 1970 motors. My guess is you see a 1968 or 1969 455. Olds used a consistant color to ID their engines. Gold 350 Bronz 400 Red 425, Blue 455.
Get some photos so I can tell more.
Check the trans number and see if it belongs to that engine. Serial number on left side abobe pan flange and right behind linkage point. ID tag is located on right side near the modulator.

Let me know if I can be of further help.

Paul Martin

[/ QUOTE ]

Paul,

You forgot to mention that the 455's in '68 and '69 were RED! I am sure that the motor got a coat of paint along the way.

[Canuck]

Paul,

(Quote)You forgot to mention that the 455's in '68 and '69 were RED! I am sure that the motor got a coat of paint along the way. (Quote)

I am thinking that the red 455's were the Hurst engines???
Others were blue.

I am open to clarification here.

[JOZW30]

68 & 69 455's were red. Not just the Hurst cars. Remember the 425's being a silvery greenish blue in 67. Not the same blue as the 70 up 455 though.

[John]

...here are some photos of the motor

[John]

...air cleaner photo