Big Block Torque

[E7mack96]

I do not know about the chevette article, but I am telling you that that big block olds would twist the chassis enough in the '78 regal that it would crack the windshield. It also broke the rear end if i did a full throttle shift into second. Now, if i eased out of it and let it shift, then hammer down, all was fine.



Maybe that chevette was so short that there was not enough length in the frame to develop substantial twist.

 

[PZicha]

That doesn't say much for the regal either , Look guys I'm not disputing that the 455 olds wasn't a powerfull engine but when it comes to comparing all three versions of the 455..... pontiac ,buick and olds from what i've experianced the torque and power where almost identical with all three , there is no way the 442 put out 140ft/lbs more from the factory than the other two. I am pushing 365hp and about 510ft/lb at the flywheel ( 1970 specs ) and I have yet to have trouble getting past a stock 1970 442. There is a man that has been in car craft many times . He is an expert on Oldsmobile big blocks and rebuilds them professionally i'm going to see if emailing him is possible to clear this up . . my very first car was a 1969 olds cutlass that had a 455 put in when the 350 blew. I bought the car for a $100. 00 . The frost plug rusted out and the owner thought it was a cracked block , his loss . . dumb twit . On fresh pavement we once laid rubber for two whole blocks ( 2. 56 GEARS / OPEN DIFF ) we were constantly replacing the passenger side tire , also the first car I ever got laid in.....

 

[PZicha]

Found him ... ( Joe Mondello ) MONDELLO Performance Products DEPT. PPC-SIP, 1103 Paso Robles st. , Paso Robles , CA 93446, 805/237-8808 Phone him , I know I will



websit..... http://www.mondellotwister.com/

 

[E7mack96]

Joes' the Man

I built my motors to his specs.



Never said the regal was a good candidate for the big block. But it was available, and the motor fit.

 

[PZicha]

I just finished talking to Joe's right hand man , He states that they were the two original guys racing the factory 442's in the 70's . HE STATES that the pontiac , buick and olds were within 5 horsepower and 5 ft/lbs of each other in 1970 , the 640 thing he totaly disputes . . If you doubt me there is the website and phone # above

 

[E7mack96]

I agree with the fact that factory motors were very close in specs. Never disputed it.

 

[DPelletier]

PZicha,



Not trying to start a war here! Nice T/A by the way. Some observations:



- 1) I'm not saying that the W-30 is putting out 140 ft lbs more than a stage 1 Buick. I am saying that the Buick is likely rated incorrectly from the factory as well. Forget the 640 figure and use the 600 ft lbs in the article that I did find. Is it that unbelievable that the Buick put out perhaps 550 instead of the rated 510, after all the Buick was rated at 360 hp, but put out closer to 420 (gross). Being as how the W-30 put out 440 hp stock and the buick put out 420 hp and they have the same displacement and similar rpm limitations it is logical that the Olds had more torque.

The base 442 engine was rated at 365 hp. Do you really think that Olds developed special heads, exhaust manifolds, camshafts, etc to make 5 more hp?





- 2) Joe Mondello is the guru of Oldsmobile engines. I put alot of faith in what he says. I have no doubt that a base 442 455 a base Buick 455 and a 455 HO pontiac were very similar in power outputs. But I don't believe that a W-30 engine was within 5hp of a 455 pontiac. The Olds makes the most power, followed closely by the Buick, with the Pontiac trailing. For some reason Pontiac concentrated its efforts on the 400 RAIII and RAIV, I don't know why, but it seems generally acknowleged that a RAIV is faster than a 455 HO. The heads they really needed weren't devised until the 455 SD in 1973. I guess thats why a '73 SD is listed as the fastest Pontiac despite the low compression. Great heads.



I could go on forever, quoting various material but since the length of these posts is limited (I'm way over on this one), I'll shut up now. Flame away!



Dave

 

[PZicha]

you have some good points dave , but i've still seen joe take a 455 pour a pile of parts into it and come out squeezing out 542ft/lbs and there are some exotic parts put in...

 

[DPelletier]

PZicha,



OK. Peace

The problem now is that all this talk has gotten me excited about musclecars again! I bought a Classic car trader and I find myself highlighting cars and writing down phone numbers. I'm looking at either another 1970 W-30, a 70 - 73 Trans Am or a 70 chevelle

LS-6. The LS-6 will probably be too much money. I'm not really a chrysler fan (except my truck), but a 440 6 pak would be nice. A hemi is out of my range.



Happy Motoring,

Dave

 

[PZicha]

Dave I will leave on this note by wishing you luck on your quest , when I bought my firebird I got it for $6700. 00 canadian 7years ago hopefully you can find a similar deal also . P. S. I have always considered the 442 as one of the top few real musclecars... Later