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need some one to rebuild auto engine for airboat

J

josh_2562

Well-known member
I have a 455 that I want to have rebuild. The engine runs now but has some blow by,so I want to have it rebuild so I have no problems with it. Does any one know a good engine builder around central to west fl? Thanks for the help
 
Olds motors have a unique oil fill neck and a unique water neck coming out of the intake that has an extra pipe coming off of it. Might find some info on the right side of the block.
 
Oldsmobile has 10 valvecover bolts, Pontiac has 4 and a Buick is the only one with the dirstributor in the front. And yes, Ken Keefer is an excellent engine builder. JMO

Felber
 
Mike, you know me. I like retro motors and always fancied a 455 Olds on an airboat. How hard would it be to find a good clean
core to work with for a project like that?

olf
 
They're not too hard to find Ken. Dave and I were startin to put one together bout 10 years ago, but scrapped the idea due to being convinced the engine would have detonation issues, since they're pretty quirky about cooling, and would beat itself to death if we made too much TQ and it would be too expensive to build it to rev.

I beleive Dave has a core, but it's gonna need some TLC for sure, and if you can get in touch with Scott Vanderspool here in Melbourne...He has a plethora of Oldsmobile goodies. I think the name of his shop is "Vandy's" on Post Rd.

Good Luck!
Felber
 
Well, OK .... I've already heard what I needed to. If cooling would be an issue then I'm ready to move on. Never had an Olds, but did have
a 421 Pontiac once so you understand that soft spot in my old heart.

Thanks for the input. I really like that new AL head 502 your building now, but with FI. :)

olf
 
now to be clear i was not suggesting that ken is the only builder of engines,he asked for geographical location and i thought of ken plus ken likes the weird motors of gm.thunder and felber are the goods too from what i have seen and herd.dont want to get anyone upset or mad, not that anyone is,just speaking my mind.
 
Well I can't speak for anyone else, but me personally didn't see anything negative in your post. Some people try to do damage control and corner business, I'm not one of em. In all seriousness, I think Ken is a good engine builder, just like I think Potter is.

I've built damn near every engine there is, and due to trying to make a living, and control excess inventory, have learned to narrow down what I work on. Turbos, Blower, Fords, Chevys, Small, Big LS...I think that's about all I can handle, and like to see the guys who have put the time in to learn how to walk the tougher path deserve the credit and the business.

That's as honest as it gets, and I think you gave him good advice.

Felber
 
The more Mike posts the better I like him. One of these days I'm going to go find his shop and drop in n shake hands. I can't believe we live so close and have never met.

Attitude is more important than almost anything else. Business is just a way to pay the bills, but when it comes to life, its all about attitude.

Scotty :wink:
 
I agree with Felber on the tendancy for it to rattle hard. The Olds chamber is a "less than desireable" design. The oiling system will need work work as well and the mains aren't as tough as the Pontiacs IMO. Perhaps if you desire to go BOP, the Pontiac may fare you a little better in a performance type application. Low rpms and stck, any of em ought to do.
 
The engine was on a airboat for along time. The guy said he never had any problems with it. It has allows been a dd engine. They shut airboats down for about 5 years where he lived, so the boat just sat. I just want the engine checked out and new rings and bearings put in it. i don't want to do any thing different to it. Thanks for the help
 
Many Many years ago me and Mike were going to team up on a monster OLD's 455 but realized it would detonate itself to death. I started out wanting to build a Pontiac and Mike liked the OLD's neither of us liked the Buick! One big factor is there are alot of good after market parts for the OLD's and Pontiac! Anymore any motor is a good choice because somebody has manufactured good after market parts that have fixed that particular engines Achilles heel! Their all just air pumps in the end!
 
Shoot i say give one of our own the business if they want it. These guy's take the time to spill the goods to us constantly! and are trying to build a better mouse trap. I also feel bad for them when they take alot of time to talk to people about set ups and engine's then they take the info to there local yocal guy to have it done? part of the ballgame i recon. sorry for the little rant. You motor guy's stay encouraged you are appreciated. There are still people that are willing to pay for the quality.. On the other hand i have gotten fired up on the 455 project a couple of times myself. jmo
 
FELBER632,Waterthunder If one of you guy would like to do the job for me just pm me a round about price for a rebuild. I know that you won't know much till you get it a part. I just want to replace what needs to be replaced. The motor runs now,but has oil on one spark plug and blow by.It has 40psi oil pressure at idel and 60psi at 2800rpms Thanks for the help guys
 
Josh,

I'll be happy to help you out. Just call me and I can get a little better idea of what ya got and what I can do for ya.

Felber
 
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