Muscle Car Guru's Need advice

[kevman]

Got a local guy selling one for $3000, is this a good price ? also I have no idea what to look for as far as problems. It looks like its in decent shape from the pictures, but not sure. Also is there a way to tell what the HP on the 455 is, if I remember correctly there were several versions of the 455 available this year.

 

[Vic]

Really not a good place to ask. Not a slight against the forum here, it's just that there are way too many variables involved. If you don't know what to look for, then you really should find an expert. It could be a numbers-matching grandma-mobile fresh out of (god bless her soul) her garage to a tortured beast on its 6th engine and its 3rd frame-up rebuild.

 

[Summitdrinker]

455 were very rare in 68 only about 500 made, hurst only I think
worth big bucks if original
most likely different engine dropped in it

 

[cardiac]

I do have to agree with Vic. There are too many variables to be able to figure it out.

What is the body like? An unmolested 455 Cutlass with a solid frame, no major rust, and the original motor/trans combo would be worth way more than $3,000. Even if it needs a complete interior and paint, it's worth twice that. Wrong motor, rusty body and frame, etc., and it's not worth $3,000.

Bob

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Depends what your plans are for it too. If you want a collectors car type of thing, you'll want to do alot more checking, if you want to just have some muscle as a ride, it might not be bad.

 

[mooseracing]

Get the engine numbers off the block and the vin, and also the body tag near the cowl.

Match all those numbers up then let us know if its a real numbers matching 455 cutlass. If not I would pass unless its good shape and good runner

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: mooseracing
Get the engine numbers off the block and the vin, and also the body tag near the cowl.

Match all those numbers up then let us know if its a real numbers matching 455 cutlass. If not I would pass unless its good shape and good runner

..ton of info in that vin number. the shop manual will break it down to actual equipment. the closer it is to factory original the more it's worth.

 

[Toastedlightly]

I could help ya out if it were a G-body (my friends had at least 5 of these that we worked on), but I cna't help you with that year. Olds engines are torque monsters though.

 

[kevman]

i decided to pass on it, I don't really have enough expertise to determine if it is worthwhile. It looks like it was a drop in 455, don't really mind as it would only be a cruiser no shows or anything like that for me. Thanks for the input folks.

 

[Vetterin]

Originally posted by: Summitdrinker
455 were very rare in 68 only about 500 made, Hurst only I think
worth big bucks if original
most likely different engine dropped in it

I agree! FYI there were only 515 built and they all had the 455ci, 390hp, 500ft/lbs torque motor. They were called Hurst/Olds and to this day are the fastest Olds ever built. An original in ANY condition would still cost a ton of money. FWIW, my first new car was a 1970 442 W30 which had the same motor but only 370hp. While it is still a most desirable collectible car it pales in comparison to the 68 Hurst.

 

[Pacfanweb]

As others have said, if it's an original 455, it can only be a Hurst/Olds, and it'd be worth a mint. I'd buy it even if it was a basket case, if for no other reason than to have the VIN to transfer to a donor body.

 

[JDMnAR1]

I know where you can get your hands on a 1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight complete with the factory original 455 in it. Granted, it isn't as sporty as the Cutlass... 🙂

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Vetterin

Originally posted by: Summitdrinker
455 were very rare in 68 only about 500 made, Hurst only I think
worth big bucks if original
most likely different engine dropped in it

I agree! FYI there were only 515 built and they all had the 455ci, 390hp, 500ft/lbs torque motor. They were called Hurst/Olds and to this day are the fastest Olds ever built. An original in ANY condition would still cost a ton of money. FWIW, my first new car was a 1970 442 W30 which had the same motor but only 370hp. While it is still a most desirable collectible car it pales in comparison to the 68 Hurst.

Factory ratings didn't mean a whole lot back then. From what I was told a few years ago by a big Oldsmobile guru, any healthy pre-1972 455 should make over 400 HP at the crank.

 

[Summitdrinker]

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1
I know where you can get your hands on a 1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight complete with the factory original 455 in it. Granted, it isn't as sporty as the Cutlass... 🙂

would make a nice cruiser, would be nice to have, but it's no muscle car, stock it would be rather ssslloooowwwwwww

 

[cardiac]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Vetterin

Originally posted by: Summitdrinker
455 were very rare in 68 only about 500 made, Hurst only I think
worth big bucks if original
most likely different engine dropped in it

I agree! FYI there were only 515 built and they all had the 455ci, 390hp, 500ft/lbs torque motor. They were called Hurst/Olds and to this day are the fastest Olds ever built. An original in ANY condition would still cost a ton of money. FWIW, my first new car was a 1970 442 W30 which had the same motor but only 370hp. While it is still a most desirable collectible car it pales in comparison to the 68 Hurst.

Factory ratings didn't mean a whole lot back then. From what I was told a few years ago by a big Oldsmobile guru, any healthy pre-1972 455 should make over 400 HP at the crank.

How true. We talked about this in another thread earlier. Many manufacturers under-rated the HP and torque for racing purposes back then.

Back in the mid-70's a neighbor had a '71 442 with the W31 455 in it. With Hedman headers, and aftermarket MSD ignition, and re-jetting the carb, he pulled a best of around 510hp on the dyno..... (My '66 Chevelle SS396 still kicked his ass...he couldn't drive worth a crap)

Bob