Hi Luke,
Don't like your chances of finding much in Australia for Olds stuff. Personally I have only done 3 Olds engines in my days of engine reconditioning, 2x403's & 1x455. The 403's, 1 in a 79 (I think too long ago) cutlass and the other in a 79 T/A, the 455 was for a customer and I think may have been a 442. The 403's were not real impressive as far as I was concerned, but that 455 left a great impression on me. The thing absolutely flew and the torque of it was amazing. I remember back then finding parts here in Australia was near impossible and most of it ended up being ex US. Finding parts probably the best way is through Summit, Jegs and so forth. If you are interested in buying in from somewhere like Summit let me know and I'll pm you on how to save tons on shipping, just saved myself at least $150 on shipping my headers, reducers and intermediate pipe set from summit. Wished I learned of it earlier as I would of saved myself heaps. Also tell your mate not to stuff about with that 350 and go the 455, they do pop up over here from time to time, if not, source one over in the US and bring back in a container, I think usatoaus.com charge around the $450 mark to bring an engine over. Over15 years later, the memory and sound of that engine will stay with me forever, just unbelievable amount of torque from a basically standard engine and as I said to the Mrs if I buy another American car it will be a 70/71 442 and must have a 455 in it.
