Olds 455 Supercharger?

[mud duck]

Does anyone know of a supercharger built for the Olds 455?
I know Whipple doesn't have one. I believe Weiand, B&M and Vortech do not have one either. I can not find a ProCharger that seems to bolt up.
Does anyone build a supercharger for these engines?

[custom-cruiser]

I have seen supercharger intakes thru CP performance.Also I believe you can find one at http://blowerdriveservice.com/ (I have a Wieand and a BDS and prefer the BDS) they have an 8/71 available, although I have heard the Olds isn't a good candidate for supercharging. Maybe someone else can elaborate http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[hot_rod]

If your going to put a blower on your olds I would highly recomend putting some 1/4"
steel plate in the bilge to prevnt the rods from going through the hull when they leave the engine. http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://free.***boat.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[77charger]

have heard that these engines do not like high rpm and have bearing failure when turned past 4500.

[Hallett19]

I heard the same, I was going to buy a 76 Hallett with a 455 Olds, asked world famous (not kidding) cylinder head master Ben Alameda and he said they don't like high R's and they like to smoke bearings.

[Hallett of a Dream]

I have a 76 Hallett, I have an Olds 455. I have a couple of spun bearings on the garage floor. I am building a new Olds 455 on a stand. This could very well be the last Olds I use. You want the supercharger? Go for it, but you're going to spend more for it than you would a BBC. Also make sure you have a 10qt oil pan or dry sump system.

[mud duck]

Thanks for the info.
Decisions, decisons.
I believe to swap out this 455 with a BBC would require several changes to the Berk hook up, and motor mounts. Maybe it is time to look for a different boat. Currently I am only getting 50 mph maximum out of this setup.
(Olds 455, 750 Holley, Berk JE, ride plate, place diverter)
50 mph just isn't enough anymore.

[Hallett19]

if you are going BBC, go 502 crate, I hear these guys pump out SHIT LOADS of power, but are a tad on the pricy side, if this 460 craps on me one more time, watch the 502 or bigger go in there, not much changes, mostly motor mounts.

[mud duck]

I found that BDS has three to choose from, all between $3000 and $4000. Couldn't find one on CP Perfrmance web site, but they still might have something in their inventory.
Still might like to go the extra mile and replace it with a Chevy. Or look into a boat with a Chevy already in it.

[Hallett of a Dream]

Hey mud,
My last 455 was getting 5200rpm with 62mph on the dash speedo. I have not gps'd it yet, but I hope the new motor that gets installed tomorrow does the same. I have a JC bowl with an A impeller.

[rstover1]

Originally posted by mud duck:
Thanks for the info.
Decisions, decisons.
I believe to swap out this 455 with a BBC would require several changes to the Berk hook up, and motor mounts. Maybe it is time to look for a different boat. Currently I am only getting 50 mph maximum out of this setup.
(Olds 455, 750 Holley, Berk JE, ride plate, place diverter)
50 mph just isn't enough anymore.
I've got a fast hull tx 19 for sale I can e-mail pics it already has a 454 and dominator pump!!!!!!! runs great
[This message has been edited by rstover1 (edited September 27, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by rstover1 (edited September 27, 2001).]

[SPECTRABRENT]

Mad Duck,
What kind of boat do you have? It is very costly to switch from 454 to 455 Olds. I have a 1974 Spectra 20 with a 454 & Berk. I want $3750.00 for the boat. If you are interested my email is Brentloan@aol.com.

[Burntaco]

I just picked up a 502/502 crate motor and its an awesome motor. ON the dyno at Westech it made 530hp/590ft/lbs of torque right out of the crate! After changing the factory holley 850 carb to a race Demon 850, ditching the factory hei for an MSD 6AL setup and swapping out the cam for a Comp Cams camshaft and roller rockers, the motor made 600hp and 621 ft/lbs of torque. Bonus* it made all that torque at just 3400 rpm! And when Steve turned the water temp down on the dyno,to similuate a boat test we picked up another 40 horsepower. Im totally happy with the 502 crate motor.

[Chestah Cheetah]

Burntaco, do you mind if I ask how much? Just for the crate motor, not including the added goods.
[This message has been edited by Chestah Cheetah (edited September 28, 2001).]

[Oldsquirt]

Burntaco, who did the dyno runs and would it be possible to get the rpm points for those results? Maybe a complete dyno sheet? Which of the mags do you work for?
Chestah, the 502/502 ranges from about $5400 for a long block KIT to about $6700 for the deluxe version ASSEMBLED. Check with your local GM performance parts dealer. They may be able to cut you a better deal.

[Chestah Cheetah]

Why don't more people go this route? $6700 assembled/complete just drop in and go. Gobs of HP and Torque. Wouldn't this be better/cheaper than getting say a 496 in a new boat? What do you guys think? Advantages? Any disadvantages?

[fryzll]

Hey Chestah, Im with you bud. I think the crate motors are the way to go. Im a Ford guy and I could go out and buy a crate SVO 514ci for about $6500 bucks. It makes around 600 h/p and about 500 pounds of torque. Im not sure what the boat mfg. charge to upgrade to the H.O. option but im sure its more $$$ for less H/P.
Chris

[mud duck]

I found (believe it or not) several Olds 455 crate engines available. I may just up grade my current 1975 455 to a new crate 455 in the same boat. Only it is unfortunate that it is still running great, no noise, starts great, never have had any problems for the last few years, it is just too damn slow.
I've also read a few places (other than this board) that Olds 455 are not good candidates for superchargers. I found a few available, but I think it would end up being only for looks. You can get 500 to 550 hp out of an Olds 455 without a blower, fairly easily, and almost as much torque.
Does anyone know much about the Berkeley JE pump? Is it a good unit to accept 500 hp? Can it push a '75 Taylor 65 or 75 mph?
Am I headed in the right direction with my upgrade? I've learned a lot reading various posts on this board about hull design, weight, hook, wetted surface, ride plates, etc. I am just worried my hull or pump set up is not worth the effort or expense.

[rstover1]

Here is a link to a guy that I found when I was wanting to pick up the performace on my old 76 taylor ss je pump. www.hi-techperformance.com (http://www.hi-techperformance.com) look under other performace parts I ended up selling the ss to get my current boat and never tried but duane the owner was very helpfull when I e-mailed him
[This message has been edited by rstover1 (edited September 28, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by rstover1 (edited September 28, 2001).]

[mud duck]

Thanks much for the connection. I will follow up with them soon.

[SuckMyWake]

My '76 Taylor SJ has a 360HP 455 Olds with a Berk JE pump/one piece bowl with diverter/B impeller. It runs 60.1 MPH GPS at 5100 RPM's. The JE and JG have interchangeable bowls. The JE will handle the power just fine (500 HP), just make sure you change to a stronger impeller (not aluminum).
The differences are:
JE is a set back pump (the hand hole is outside the boat)
The JE weighs 40 lbs less than a JG.
THe JE came stock with a one piece bowl.
If you put a JG bowl on the JE pump, you can then use a wedge or other bolt on goodies like a droop snoot, etc.
-Todd

[mud duck]

Hey SuckMyWake, thanks for the info. I believe I am currently running a B impeller. Why am I only getting 4,000 rpm out of the engine. 60.1 mph looks good from where I am running now. My 50 mph is what my dash speedo reads, not gps.
(Got to love the name, The Great Out Doors was a fantastic movie. "You've got it in neutral".)

[Burntaco]

the complete package with starter, holley 850, water pump and edelbrock performer intake was 6800 bucks I think.

[Burntaco]

oldsquirt,
I work for Truckin' and Mini Truckin' magazines. If I can get it scanned, I'll post the dyno sheets tomorrow. Here are a couple of quick numbers:
Stock 502/502 crate motor
Max Torque
569.6 @ 4100rpm
Max Horsepower
534.0 @ 5500rpm

[Hustler]

Hey burntaco do know brian aaahh I forget his last name when I was into that scene I had 72 2 wheel drive blazer I think he still works for trukin.
Hustler

[Burntaco]

Hustler,
Yeah I know Brian McCormick. He works for Streetrucks Magazine now.

[Unchained]

I know a guy named Ron Schultz from Detroit who is the Olds engine guru. His boat "Homework" has won the RR class and points leader too many times to count. His boat is a Wreit 18' v bottom. I seen him run 92 mph with a 455 olds, single carb, no nitrous, no blower. He was beating V drives and jet boats with blowers. I don't have his number anymore but his company was Schultz Machine co. in Detroit area. He is also a jet pump expert and makes a unique loader that you can bend the leading edge up or down to grab more or less water.

[SCOTT]

I agree with hotrod! Olds got a weak suck bottom end. The main saddels are real weak,the rod jernals are big in diameter and make for high bearing speed.what I did in my brothers motor was I slotted the main jernals in the block up the radius about .500 on a side and drilled 2 extra oil holes in the bearing.This not onley gives more oil to the mains but also gives more oil to the rods.also cross drill the crank.Then I made a crank scraper to keep the oil in the pan instead of windage'n around.scrapers are also good for 25 free H.P.You can make them oldsmobiles run boys but they will never be a chevy!
O yeah also I machined the main caps flat and machined up some 1 in. square straps to bolt over the mains and used arp main studs.
[This message has been edited by SCOTT (edited October 04, 2001).]