Missed this post too...

An Olds big block is roughly 1-2" wider and 1" taller than a small block...hardly in need of the "monster garage" crowd...it also doesn't weigh a ton more than a small block (Hotchkis Suspension recommends small block springs if you have aluminum heads)...not a ton.  You're confusing the big block Chevy...which is a hell of a lot bigger and heavier than the small block.

Motor mounts are exactly the same for big and small blocks...only difference on early cars were the frame mounts which would sit the engine an inch higher for small blocks.  The deck height is the difference between the Olds big and small blocks...so no need to worry about the steering linkage either.  No oil pan clearance issues either...as the big and small block oil pans are exactly the same (so long as its not a Toronado pan).  As mentioned earlier...its 1-2" wider...no need for any AC or brake booster modifications...  

i just bought a 1985 cutlass that originally had the 3.8 v6 and the previous owner swapped in an eldebrock performer olds 455 supposedly from a 69 toronado. it runs  well and there's really no problems and i'm just going over it and cleaning it up and replacing some parts just because its been sitting for a couple years. i just want to know how do i make this 455 emissions legal? because its an '85 it still needs to go through emissions in Connecticut, and when the swap was done all the old v6 smog and emissions stuff was taken out. is there any way i can make it pass emissions without major overhaul or *** thanks in advance  

It is my understanding that all 77 pace cars were 403 engine's. I have a 1977 indy pace car I am currently parting out for another project. My block # is 557265 4b I will let you know what I find when I open it. I also have another 403 In a project that I built in the 80's, this also has the same #, and is from a 1977 Trans Am with tow package. Same, when I pull that motor I will let you know what I find. To many years have pasted since I have had that motor open to remember if it was solid, and I wasnt looking at the time, since back then no one had metioned solid or windowed web. Dont remember seeing anything unusual in it, but I knew at the time it was supose to be windowed. All I did at the time was throw in some new inserts, as the motor ran very strong already, I had just been abusing it with 5500 rpm raps, and want the motor to be in good shape for a cross county run. Now reading thru the years I note that the cam should have fallen off at 4000 rpm. This motor pushed a 83 delta down the road with great power thru the whole range. Well I'll let you all know what I find