The original plan was to run the 3ow7 in stock form until another motor was ready. After determining that the computer was dead and the feedback Q-Jet would only deliver 7mpg without some reworking/replacing, the plan changed to make it more efficient using what was on-hand.
The 455 I bought came with a points distributor and no ceramic resistor. It would run but for only a few seconds at a time. I bought a Pertronix HEI unit for the 455 but decided to put it in the 3ow7 to replace the computer controlled distributor. At least it would have a spark curve now.
With half the mess out to put the intake manifold on now seemed like a good time to put the distributor in and verify the timing mark on the balancer. Some ham-fisted knuckle-dragger managed to destroy the timing pointer on the 3ow7. Do you KNOW how hard those are to find? After talking to everyone I know that might know and researching every regular parts source I finally found a place that carries them. I bought 2. I put a new timing indicator on the 3ow7 and put a timing tape on the balancer too. It's funny, funny weird not funny ha ha, that Jeg's offers a timing tape for Oldsmobiles with a 6" balancer but the balancer on the 3ow7 is 5.5" and the balancer on the 455 is 6.5". I used the same part number on each, at least I have a reference mark to go by and know exactly where tdc is in either case regardless of how far off the individual degree marks may be.
The 455 I bought came with a points distributor and no ceramic resistor. It would run but for only a few seconds at a time. I bought a Pertronix HEI unit for the 455 but decided to put it in the 3ow7 to replace the computer controlled distributor. At least it would have a spark curve now.
With half the mess out to put the intake manifold on now seemed like a good time to put the distributor in and verify the timing mark on the balancer. Some ham-fisted knuckle-dragger managed to destroy the timing pointer on the 3ow7. Do you KNOW how hard those are to find? After talking to everyone I know that might know and researching every regular parts source I finally found a place that carries them. I bought 2. I put a new timing indicator on the 3ow7 and put a timing tape on the balancer too. It's funny, funny weird not funny ha ha, that Jeg's offers a timing tape for Oldsmobiles with a 6" balancer but the balancer on the 3ow7 is 5.5" and the balancer on the 455 is 6.5". I used the same part number on each, at least I have a reference mark to go by and know exactly where tdc is in either case regardless of how far off the individual degree marks may be.
Comment