SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: Beaveretriever on May 13, 2008, 10:01:52 AM
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I have read alot on this site with boats that have the OLDS 455, and have read a bunch of bad things. Is there a big problem with OLDS motors, if you just are going to use the boat for cruising and skiing? Im new to the V8 thing and it just seems like there were a lot of boats that were built back in the day with OLDS motors. Im in no financial shape to buy all new exhaust and motor and all the other goodies that go into changing a motor. I just had those questions, to see if i put my boat in the water if its going to kick a rod of sink my boat. thanks
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As you read thru the debris here you will come across many stories of breakage and problems with Chevys and Fords. Usually in the search for more power and are always having problems with things not going together OR coming apart unintentionally. You don't see that with the Olds stuff. Don't try to hot rod it, just keep an eye on the oil pressure gauge or hog out the drains in the heads and enjoy it season after season. Boats are supposed to be relaxing and stress free.
WTF am I smoking???
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WTF am I smoking???
Must be some GOOD shit ;)
Once i had a Olds.................it blew up. Then i got ill and bought a ford 460 ??? Went to the doctor and got medicine, and a little therapy :screwy:
All better now with my BB Chebby ;D
2sav
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Must be some GOOD shit ;)
All better now with my BB Chebby ;D
2sav
2Sav, I think you got some BAD SHIT!!!! >:D >:D DOes that BB in front of the Chebby stand for big baby?? ;D ;) :screwy: ::)
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2Sav, I think you got some BAD SHIT!!!! >:D >:D DOes that BB in front of the Chebby stand for big baby?? ;D ;) :screwy: ::)
Yeah right now it is a baby chevy ;)
2sav
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Yeah right now it is a baby chevy ;)
2sav
Gotcha!!! ;) 8)
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Gotcha!!! ;) 8)
For now BIG DOG!!!............its only a matter of time ;D
and the BB will be sayin.......BIG BAD Chebby
2sav
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I HAVE AN OLDS IN MY DAY CRUISER AND RUNS SEASON AFTER SEASON WITH NO PROBS. RUNS NO HIGHER THAN 4200 RPM BUT CRUISE @ 3500 RPM ALL DAY. IT DOES HAVE THE BIG OIL PAN AND ALL THE OIL MODS DONE.
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I just had my olds built and we shall see how it does. Dozzr just did a lot of work to his. Maybe he will reply and add some info. I think that if you stay with in moderation ~ 500 hp and it is built right, the Olds should be a good lake boat engine, but if I started with no motor, plates, exhaust, etc. I would probably choose a BBC.
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I personaly feel that a Olds 455 can put out HUGE HP numbers after the oiling mods are done.
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OLDS 455 = Sweet memories of Vista Cruiser station wagons with wood siding and backwards facing seats (sounds a lot like KonaCole). Those motors are perfect for moving big heavy things all day long and not ever working hard to do it. As long as I am thread jacking did anyone see the article on building up the 500 cu in Cadillac a few months back. Popular Hot Rodding mag I think. Fairly easy to do to get MASSive torque. How cool would that be in a boat?
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I got a complete running olds 455 as well as a truckload of other scrap metal goin to the metal gods ill keep my ford thanks................I am a chevy guy by the way............
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Don't listen to these non-believers. While the ford and chevy motors are great for racing setups, the olds is a fine cruising motor. From my extensive research, as long as it is maintained properly and the oil and water mods are done, it will last for years, long after the "others" are home rebuilding there stuff you can laugh all the way to the boat launch. I wouldn't choose anything else for my boat personally. It has served me just fine and has all the power I need.
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Don't listen to these non-believers. While the ford and chevy motors are great for racing setups, the olds is a fine cruising motor. From my extensive research, as long as it is maintained properly and the oil and water mods are done, it will last for years, long after the "others" are home rebuilding there stuff you can laugh all the way to the boat launch. I wouldn't choose anything else for my boat personally. It has served me just fine and has all the power I need.
X2
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We need more guys like Huk around here. Upgrade the quality of people in this place a bit.
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We need more guys like Huk around here. Upgrade the quality of people in this place a bit.
::)... :-*..... ;D
2sav
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::)... :-*..... ;D
2sav
Jealous bastard! Thanks for the compliment. I'm a big fan of forums, they are such a great tool to get good info and meet cool people and so on.
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Is there a big problem with OLDS motors, if you just are going to use the boat for cruising and skiing? ...it just seems like there were a lot of boats that were built back in the day with OLDS motors. I just had questions, to see...if its going to kick a rod and sink my boat. thanks
There were lots and lots of Olds motors available druing the jet boat craze of the 1970's and a lot of boat manufacturers installed those engines. The factory Olds oiling system is not the best for sustained high rpm and so a greater percentage of those engines kicked their rods out of the pan. Anytime a grenaded Olds comes into the shop--including as recently as just last week--me and Van look at each other and just know that the engine has half-grooved mains.
Enter the fully-grooved main bearing. Fully-grooved Oldsmobile 455 main bearings were not around at the time that all those jet boat engines were installed, but today these bearings are everywhere for the 455. There all all kinds of oiling mods to alleviate the Olds high rpm oiling problems, but the short and simple answer is that if you build the Olds as a jet boat engine, at least use the fully-grooved main bearings so that you get continuous pressure feed to the rods. As a rule, we install these bearings into every 455 Olds that we build, regardless of application....passenger car, whatever. Finally, don't be alarmed if your set of 455 Olds fully-grooved main bearings have a half-grooved main bearing shell in the package; that one goes into the #1 main saddle (the #1 main journal in the 455 Olds is cross-drilled).
LO