FWD Big Block - 1966 Olds Toronado

[Bluecab]

I had posts in a few other places here in introductions and in multimedia.
Thought I would start a build blog here 907459074690747
The car was a very original rusty mess, the engine was apart, the windows had leaked and rusted the window channels and the interior was soaking wet and full of mice.
I towed it home to MA from NJ and started by tearing out the interior and stinking carpet. I think that was March 2011. this build has no real time pressure, I promised myself that at the beginning; I want it to be fun and not turn into a job.
90748 The motor went off to the machine shop.. More later

[Jetfixr320]

You should make this AWD!

Keep the pics coming.

[Bluecab]

The block was bored .030 over, the forged crank was cut .010/.010 and I converted the valve train to hydraulic roller followers with a Lunati custom cam.
The first shot is of the doggones from a 307 that were used to retain the roller followers.
The top end is Comp roller rockers with guide plates. Pistons are Egge 10.5:1.
The second shot shows the engine painted up. Note the "depressed" intake manifold that Olds developed to fit the engine under the hood.
I still need to put a carb together and pick up a few random parts before we run the beast in on the stand.



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[Bluecab]

The floor was kinda rusty, not TOO many holes. I used the area to practice MIG welding. That was discouraging until somebody told me that welding thin rusty metal is really sort of difficult. I did end up using some fiberglass on the areas with pinholes. Once I get the bottom side done I'll put some sound deadening down

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[Red350DropTop]

Beautiful body style. Keep up the hard work!

[carguykeith]

Cool project! What did you do for rods and any head work? My block and forged crank came from a Toro also, the only things I have left from the original motor...

[Bluecab]

The original rods were reconditioned and reused. I think they got magna fluxed along the way. The heads are C heads and I left them alone. I'm mostly looking for low end torque vs. hi-rev horsepower. I'd go for some of the newer aluminum heads if I was trying to make more power, but then there's the intake manifold and exhaust manifolds (stock) I walk up to the edge of that slippery slope and look over often, but I want to get the rest of the car done and see how I like driving it before I spend all the money.
That Regal must go like hell! What's it weigh?

[Bluecab]

Finally got some clean primer on the floor pan and trunk. I might have found the last mouse nest this week up in the cowl drop.
Those of you with "barn finds" should know what hantavirus is and how to avoid it. Mice can be killers, not just a nuisance
Happy to be able to work in there without coming out looking like pig pen.


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[carguykeith]

The original rods were reconditioned and reused. I think they got magna fluxed along the way. The heads are C heads and I left them alone. I'm mostly looking for low end torque vs. hi-rev horsepower. I'd go for some of the newer aluminum heads if I was trying to make more power, but then there's the intake manifold and exhaust manifolds (stock) I walk up to the edge of that slippery slope and look over often, but I want to get the rest of the car done and see how I like driving it before I spend all the money.
That Regal must go like hell! What's it weigh?

Oops I thought I had subscribed to this build but didn't so missed your response.

Yeah it's definitely a slippery slope and with FWD it might get pretty entertaining trying to get a lot of power to the ground anyways… I remember the intake, it's crazy how the carb mounting pad is actually lower than the intake ports on the head! If you're keeping the stock manifolds, you can weld up a cap for the crossover and run true duals which can help those manifolds breath.

I never got the chance to weigh my rig but I'd like to think it's not much over 3k lbs, under hood and under dash are totally gutted along with fiberglass bumpers / hood and aluminum heads should have helped. I'd like to think it's an 11 second ride but only got in the 12s the 2 shakedown funds I got out of her before moving overseas...

[Bluecab]

Yeah, one of the big issues with the toros is wheel & tire selection to get the power down. The original wheels are 5x5 bcd 6" wide. Not a huge aftermarket, but I think I can find some 18" x 8 wheels that will let me run at least a 255.
I picked up a Wheelrite tool and did a bunch of measurements, but I have the front suspension all apart for new bushings and a disk brake conversion.
There is also a lot of inner lip on the wheel wells: how can I trim this and still attach the inner fender liners without welding them together?
If I do some trimming there I might be able to get a 9" wheel in...

[Bluecab]

Maybe the slowest build of all..

https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=102859&stc=1

I finally put together a matched pair of front spindles, blasted and POR15'd 'em
Got a full set of poly bushings for the upper and lower A - arms.

https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=102860&stc=1https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=102861&stc=1

Here are the lower A-arms being seam welded and having the bushing shells tacked down.
Next they will get ground, blasted and painted.

[Bluecab]

Finally sent the upper and lower A arms to be blasted and then welded in the outer shells so I could use the poly bushing kit I had

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/2a0l4t4-1.jpg

Arms and bushings laid out for a photo op

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/f1jybs-1.jpg

I thought This is as far as I would take it, but then I had a hard look at the heater box and firewall,

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/28hg38w-1.jpg

so, more came off

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/25k0xsn-1.jpg

One more coat on the firewall and a coat or two on the frame and I'll be ready to start hanging the front suspension.

I also got the th425 back from the shop

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/27yzxu0-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/4ghug1-1.jpg

the chain is under here;

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/01/11brihz-1.jpg

Happy New Year all!

[The_Jed]

Wow! I never thought I would find myself wanting a FWD car but, I definitely want that!
Excellent work!!!

[Bluecab]

Trying to pick wheels.. Cast a vote! Who knows if any of these will really work, hi offset and all. Going to have to get the front fenders back on and measure again.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/35a3sxk-1.jpg

[Bluecab]

So far behind on this....
Bought the wheels in #1 above..
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/05/5ywzf4-1.jpg
18 x 8 's and shod them with these:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/05/2wdrcj5-1.jpg
I have lots of time into tons of details that seem to mundane to list here.
The current huge milestone will be getting the engine to the dyno room in the next few weeks to run the engine in and verify that the valve train mods work.
( remember this is a hydraulic roller lifter conversion of a '66 Olds 425)
I'm waiting for the stub pipes off the manifolds to hook up to the dyno.
Hoping for 400hp.

[Bluecab]

Forgot to throw up a photo of the most recent engine.
This is with a Mallory HEI and a different water pump than the previous photos.
The nasty alternator is just being used as a tensioner.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/05/1zp2qom-1.jpg

[dragonfly jones]

very cool project. I like pic #1

[ArtosDracon]

I's always wondered if there was room under these to put a different front center section in it with a regular TH400 and a drivers side drop transfer case to get power out to the rear as well...

Looking at the firewall, that's going to take some serious re-working, as well as a lot of frame re-work, but it looks like there is plenty of room up there for a different pumpkin. Trailblazer SS diff with LS swap maybe, since they are drivers side drop...

Thanks for all the pictures!

[Bluecab]

Seems like it would be better to drop the body on a 4wd frame if that was the goal. If you did it right it might be a great car.

[Bluecab]

Finally got an exhaust system partly delivered, It's 304 stainless upsized to 2 1/2". Still have to weld up the gas tank and put it in place before I can hang the exhaust
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/30kq0ed-1.jpg

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Unique indeed!

[Mansa_Moose]

Trying to pick wheels.. Cast a vote! Who knows if any of these will really work, hi offset and all. Going to have to get the front fenders back on and measure again.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/35a3sxk-1.jpg

What is the program you used to get the Toronado and put the rims to it?