The Oldsmobile Connection

[88 Coupe]

Hello everyone,

This is the thread hijack that started Here.



Can't see much detail behind the oil filler, but the hoses and the mechanical sending unit are visible.

Bought the set here.

texasred wrote: ......... It matched your head ports with no modification? ..........
Mods were done by the previous owner. I only wanted the manifold and he would not split up the set. I already had heads, but I bought the set to get the manifold. When I did the mockup, I found out why they were a set.

Intake ports on the heads were raised about .400", and I assumed the manifold was matched to it. Now I'm thinking the head ports were raised to match the manifold. I'll know, for sure, when I mock up my DX.

The exhaust ports were also raised about .750".



Bought this one (it's NOS) a couple of years later at the same swap meet but, from a different vendor.

He told me it was 350 Olds NASCAR. He specializes in intake manifolds, so I took his word for it.

That, and a closer examination of the first, led me to believe it was a NASCAR SBO, widened to fit BBO, and the 4150 flange/plenum changed to 4500. All true, except it's Batten not a NASCAR.

Found out last night, the battens came with or without Stat housings.

Quote: ........... How did you plumb the water flow from the heads to the water pump? .........
Coolant flows from the bottom hose into the pump. From the pump, into the block, out of the heads to the stat and the top hose.

I drilled and tapped for .625" heater hose nipples, ran both hoses, from the heads, into a "T", out thru the stock top hose, and plugged the bypass in the pump with a freeze plug. Planned on building a stat housing but, never got around to it.

I'll look for a better view than above.

Regards, Norm

[texasred]

It doesn't look like there'd be much material to shave off that intake, so you're probably right about the heads being "reshaped".

And that is certainly the way I would have plumbed it. And why bother with a 'stat if it's a strip-only car? True enough.

Certainly creative engineering by all those involved. 8)

I'm interested in hearing about your DX buildup. You're fitting a BBO intake to it???

C.J.

[88 Coupe]

Hi texasred, all,

Quote: ........ why bother with a 'stat if it's a strip-only car? ........
It's not a racer. In winter the grey coupe warmed up to 140 in about 10 freeway miles. Went as high as as 185 on a hot summer day. I prefer a stat to get it up quick and keep it at 180, or so.

All mine are "drive anywhere" street cars. Red coupe is the exception because the spool and trans brake are still in it. Those are the last two of the previous owners mistakes I haven't corrected yet.

Quote: I'm interested in hearing about your DX buildup.........
The DX seed was planted when I bought the NOS Batten.

I have the block, and the 425 crank.

4.125" x 3.994" will make it 427 inches. 2.5" mains will keep bearing speeds down. Rods will be aluminum. Still need to figure out the longest rod I can get into it. Length of the rods will determine the piston specs. Ross will build 14cc dished pistons, for a static 10.25 CR.

Thinking of using a slightly larger version of the Isky cam thats in my 437" BBO. If so, my 900 CFM Dominator will be on top.

Quote: .......... You're fitting a BBO intake to it?
I plan on using the NOS Batten on the SBO DX, and leave the one that was widened to fit BBO, on a BBO with the matching C heads.

Regards, Norm

[88 Coupe]

Hi all,

88 Coupe wrote: Yesterday, I had NASCAR Manifolds and had never seen a Batten. Today, I find I have Battens, and have never seen a NASCAR.
Seems I was mistaken when I thought I was incorrect. Batten and 350 NASCAR heads/manifolds are the same.

Regards, Norm

[texasred]

88 Coupe wrote: Seems I was mistaken when I thought I was incorrect. Batten and 350 NASCAR heads/manifolds are the same. Well, THAT clears things up!? :shock:

But I thought Batten heads were BBO heads.

Oh, MY head hurts! I'm sooooo confused! :help:

C.J.

[88 Coupe]

Hi texasred, all,

Quote: ....... I thought Batten heads were BBO heads. ........
I thought so too.

Quote: ....... I'm sooooo confused! :help:
So Am I.

ROP wasn't much help. Miller verified it was a Batten. That means his webmaster didn't f**k up and run the wrong pic this time. I didn't learn anyting else I didn't already know.

Mag says there were batten heads already out there.
The only BBO info in the mag is on the DRCE.

Found this BBO intake while I was looking for more.

Back in the early '90s, Edelbrock told me it my intake will fit their heads on my DX with minor modification. Didn't make sense until now.

Regards, Norm

[88 Coupe]

Hi all,

FWIW: This is a copy of the mag I've been reading.

Regards, Norm

[texasred]

I've got that issue in my "well organized" magazine file (one of the bathrooms, bedside, garage shelves, or one of 6 closets). I'll dig it out and see if I can make heads or....heads of it. :lol:

C.J.

[andrewk]

I too am slightly confused... What exactly is your question Norm? Im not clear if it is what intake you have or if battens are bbo heads? both?

[texasred]

Well, according to 442.com :roll: the Batten cylinder heads (available in aluminum or cast iron) were designed for small blocks but can bolt straight on to big blocks. They (of course) require different intakes and (at one time) the only big block intake option was to widen a small block Victor.

So...the answers are yes, maybe, and (d)all of the above. Now...what were the questions? :lol:

C.J.

[88 Coupe]

Hi andrewk, texasred, all,

Quote: ......... What exactly is your question Norm? ..........
My question was: Why were my NASCAR manifolds being ID'ed as Battens?

I asked on ROP. Olds Performance Products verified it was a batten, so I knew his webmaster didn't post a wrong image again.

I thought my intakes dated back ten years earlier, and were used on Olds heads. I assumed from that, my vender was mistaken and I had Battens.

Then found from this magazine,



which can be purchased here, at CJ Battens ebay site, that:

88 Coupe wrote: Seems I was mistaken when I thought I was incorrect. Batten and 350 NASCAR heads/manifolds are the same.
Everything else has been a continuation of the discussion on c_creations thread.

Quote: ......... were designed for small blocks but can bolt straight on to big blocks ..........
BB and SB heads are interchangeable and BB heads have been used in high HP, high RPM SBs because of their ability to move much more air. SB heads have not been used on BB for the same reason.

Kind of like the difference between GM 3800 Series I and II heads. :laughing:

It follows, that the Battens would have been made for the lesser needs of the SB with plenty of meat left to make more flow, as needed.

Quote: .......... Well, according to 442.com ..........
It never entered my mind to look there for performance oriented material.

Quote: ......... They (of course) require different intakes and (at one time) the only big block intake option was to widen a small block Victor.........
Looks to me like the different intakes were only needed to match the higher flow of the heads, not because the existing manifolds didn't interchange. I'll know when I mock the NOS intake and Edelbrock heads to my DX.

Quote: So...the answers are yes, maybe, and (d)all of the above. Now...what were the questions? :Laughing:
I agree. :D

Regards, Norm

[texasred]

88 Coupe wrote: texasred wrote: .......... Well, according to 442.com ..........
It never entered my mind to look there for performance oriented material. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! :lol:

Actually, I Googled around for Batten heads, BBO, etc and ended up there.

I don't usually search 442.bomb for anything, but desperate times call for desperate measures. :shock: :lol:

Wouldn't the width of the manifold (head to head) be wider on the BBO?

C.J.

[88 Coupe]

Hi texasred, all,

Quote: ........ Wouldn't the width of the manifold (head to head) be wider on the BBO?
Yes. Heads interchange from BB to SB, manifolds don't.

88 Coupe wrote: ......... Looks to me like the different intakes were only needed to match the higher flow of the heads, not because the existing manifolds didn't interchange ........
I should have been more clear. I was speculating that a Torker, etc, might be used on a BB with unported Batten heads, and the Batten manifold might not be needed until the flow was increased.

I have two NASCAR/Batten intakes, one NOS SB, and one SB widened to fit C heads on a BBO. Has that added to the confusion?

Regards, Norm

[texasred]

88 Coupe wrote: I have two NASCAR/Batten intakes, one NOS SB, and one SB widened to fit C heads on a BBO. Has that added to the confusion? :blink: Lemme think about that one... :blowup:

C.J.