Hand Porting Cylinder Heads on an Olds 455 Big Block with Legendary Joe Mondello- Horsepower S13, E6

HorsePower teams up with Joe Mondello, "Dr. Oldsmobile", to build the show's first 455. It's a legend among muscle car era performance engines.
PARTS USED IN THIS EPISODE:
ADDCO Manufacturing,Inc.: Addco Performance Anti-Sway Bar Kits.
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
ARP: Head bolts, Rod bolts, SB Chevy accessory kit, Main studs, Harmonic balancer bolt.
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Comp Cams: COMP Cams Hi-Tech Roller Race Timing Sets
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Comp Cams: Xtreme Energy Cam and Lifter Kits, Pro Magnum Hydraulic Lifters
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Comp Cams: Xtreme Energy Hydraulic Flat Tappet Camshaft, Hydraulic-Street / Strip, needs 9:1 comp. 2800+ stall, headers, gears, rough idle. Pro Magnum Hydraulic Lifters; Olds (V8 260-455) Pontiac (V8 326-455). Both have been infused with Pro Plasma Nitriding Treatment.
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Edelbrock: 77cc Performer RPM aluminum cylinder heads.
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Federal-Mogul Corporation: Freeze plug kit, oil pump, pickup, oil pump driveshaft.
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Federal-Mogul Corporation: Piston. Oldsmobile 455, Forged Dish -.142cc, 4.155 in. Bore, .030.
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Federal-Mogul Corporation: Piston ring set 5/64", 5/64", 3/16", .030
More Info: pntv.us/pb_pt_...
Certified Auto Recycling: Used 455 Oldsmobile Complete
HorsepowerSales.net: Valley Girdle Pro, Ford Small Block.
Interdynamics Inc.: Motor Oil Super Seal, Coolant Super Seal, ATF Super Seal, Power Steering Super Seal.
Kimberly-Clark Professional: WYPALL* Red Shop Towels.
MAHLE Aftermarket: Connecting rod bearings, Main bearings, Cam bearings
Mondello Tech Center: Machining of block surfaces, align hone crank mains, hone cylinder bores, resize rods, balance rotating assembly, polish crank journals, port cylinder heads, valve angle grind, deburr block casting, install and measure bearing tolerances, install oil restrictors and oil galley plugs, modify timing set, file piston rings and degree camshaft.
O'Reilly Auto Parts: Oil Pump Driveshaft
O'Reilly Auto Parts: White acrylic enamel paint and reducer
O'Reilly Auto Parts
High Volume Oil Pump
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Valve Stem Seals
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Water Neck

[@PowerNationTV]

We'll continue to post these episodes here on KZbin. If you can't wait for the rest of the build, visit our site to binge-watch: www.powernationtv.com/shows/horsepower

[@CallofDoobie585]

We sadly miss Joe Mondello.. REST IN PEACE

[@big-edaniel5522]

PowerNation thank you so much for the video Rest In Peace dr olds

[@JayJay-de8vq]

I guess you would want to degree cam at 4 cylinders maybe 4 corners to show its all rite on the mark. If it does differ between cylinders and its not the cam it self thats ground wrong now you need to go and have it machined again to correct it? Mite be better off just doing 1 cylinder and not knowing what the rest have to say lol

[@hugieflhr03]

PowerNation we miss Joe and hopefully you can highlight his sons business! These engines are amazing torque monsters.

[@vwagon5566]

@@hugieflhr03 How right you are sir, how right you are.

[@johnderekmitchell1510]

To say this man was a Legend is an understatement. One of the last of the OG Innovators.

[@armandodiaz67]

My first car and build was a 70 442. That was over 30yrs ago. I regret getting rid of that car every day. This takes me back.

[@eman99a]

Joe helped me out when I designed a valve train for a 3208 CAT running alcohol and about 80 lbs of boost. What a genuinely helpful person.

[@kendalldelair6821]

Dude that's awesome!

[@kennethstevenson976]

I remember watching the Mondello and Matsubara car run at Irwindale in the late sixties. It was an exciting and mechanically bulletproof car. I was teaching at Bonita High School at the time. We could hear the cars run during the school day when the Winternationals were on at the L.A. County Fair Grounds. I really enjoyed the night drags at Irwindale. The short wheelbase gassers were exciting to watch. I remember one gasser got a little out of shape about 50 yards off the starting line and rode the right hand rail for 40 feet sending a shower of sparks into the night air. He never let off of the throttle, straightened it out, and won the race. That was a testimony to the skill it took to drive one of these cars. To this day of all the the cars I watched, I can still come up with the Mondello and Matsubara name.

[@O3h529]

Joe was a man those of you who didn't know would love to have, known. An, as a matter of a fact , kind of guy. One that knew what he was talking about and had the proof to back it up. He told me, he started with go carts when he was a kid and finding power just became a passion. Not many people know his name is on the Hot Rod Hall of fame 3 times. He wrote a book about the Oldmobile engine and sold it to Oldsmobile. And few know he was an engine builder of such caliber it set him off as one of the most humblest men who have ever lived. He was kind and strict in his teachings at the same time. He could extract power from places most guys would never look for. And he invented the wet flow bench. It was a real pleasure to know this man and I wonder sometimes if he were alive today, just where the hp/ci. level would be for some of these newer N/A, engines. Things he did like degreeing a camshaft off of 3 lobes and cryogenically treating every component he could because of the strength it gains and other stuff which would take days to write and even more to explain. He knew no stranger. And if you had a question about how it worked or how to make it work better, he would show you. He would take you into the clean room, where you could eat off the floor and tens of thousands of $$$$ of parts were. Or let you stand in the shop when they twisted a NASCAR engine 10,000 rpm., while goose bumps ran up your arms. I learned alot from him. Pages and pages of notes. Stuff that I still do not have the money to build in the quest for the power which seemed to come so easy for him. He was a great man. His name used to mean something. And to those of us who had the pleasure of knowing him, still does.

[@Mistyfgdf]

"Gonna have a Funeral and Retirement party on the same day... Man thats a man in the trade alright, Quality over everything, True passion

[@derekhall6687]

I love this oldman. I used to see his cars running at the tracks in NEW JERSEY when we both were younger.

[@kymwheare2462]

Absolutely Awesome !!! I've done a lot of Self Porting on my Cylinder Heads thanks to Mondello...:-)

[@Adamz678]

That's so awesome. You gotta love a hero who shares his powers with everyone.

[@lakestatebullies7391]

Joe I can remember listening to you on horsepower tv when I was in high school.

[@captjim007]

Back in 66 Mondello ported a set of medium riser heads for a solid roller 427 Ford. Ran 127mph at 11.70's in a Mercury Cyclone full bodied car at 3450lbs.

[@jeffjarquin5600]

Rip my good friend. Lots of memories from Norwalk.

[@m3rdpwr]

I got to talk to Joe Mondello and Dave Smith from Dave Smith Oldsmobile/DSE when building my motor back in the early 90s. A couple of great guys.

[@20alphabet]

Joe was great, and always interested in your project. His son... not so much. Guess it skips a generation.

[@jondoes7836]

Built a 455 olds for my 70 Cutlass years ago. That engine was a torque monster. With a stock converter and a THM 400 transmission; I could never get traction - just a lot of tire smoke. Fun car to drive. 😊

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

A family friend had a jet boat when I was growing up in the 70's with a blown Olds 455. It was the fastest boat on the reservoir. The boat was only a 21 footer with this huge engine sitting on the ass end. Every winter he would pull it and rework it. I spent many a winter night with a die grinder and 500 grit paper and a cylinder head in front of me. He told me the same thing. Air is king, not fuel.

[@evdawg7757]

Im in an olds motor group on Facebook and I see alot of boats 😎

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

@@evdawg7757 Back in the 70's and 80's it was King! Now it's the LS engine series and crate motors.

[@snakevale198444]

Funeral and retirement day the same day!! Love this guy!!

[@remichristiansen4900]

Came for the porting, got very little useable info.

[@robertmacpeek424]

Need to check out SAM Tech. They have a whole cylinder head & induction course, and no it's not some week long class(more like 9-10 months long 😉)

[@JarredRandom]

All this channel is is a circlejerk of ads

[@ianide2480]

There were some puns that aren't even "dad joke" worthy and some ads...

[@oldsrktracer]

@@robertmacpeek424 There is a cylinder head porting thread on classicoldmosbile.com. called the home porting thread. It has many many details to not only olds heads but..... porting in general.

[@hepburn118]

That's because this was nothing more than an infomercial.

[@mmmarv]

Retirement party and funeral on the same day! What a great idea from a great man. Thanks!

[@robertmacpeek424]

Way to Go PN!! Featuring an Oldsmobile!!😂 Don't hesitate to do a Poncho feature either 😁

[@TheFormula350]

Get some behind the scenes look at butler

[@robertmacpeek424]

@@TheFormula350 Now we're talkin'!

[@modeverything1]

If only this stuff wasn't around 10 years old already! Lol

[@txnetcop]

Imagine a class with a LEGEND! FANTASTIC! I owned a '70 Olds W33 for a few years and completely went through the engine using a pamphlet I got from Joe! It was a beast! It looks like I am going to be tearing down my Comet engine that looks like a great idea on the block oiling!

[@renripari5514]

JOE ! WHAT A JEM , A REAL DIAMOND LIKE POETRY IN MOTION . KIND REGARDS.

[@junior1138]

Fairly recently, there was a TV show about the Olympic athletes. It spoke of the things they do to improve performance imperceptibly. Bedsheets from home. Water from home. The brands of snacks they have. This is relatively new to this kind of sport. Individually, the work done on these engines make small differences. Cumulatively, they make the difference between taking first place and losing. Fantastic work.

[@stacydornan9765]

Old Joe is one awesome dude,not many around like him anymore these days

[@thedirtybomb19]

Mondello is a genius! Wouldve never known about the .040 rear oil galley plug. Replaced my engine rebuild with this.

[@Mike-qo4kp]

Mondello is a man from a generation we are losing too fast...

[@atxatxatxatx]

This is why I respect my elders.

[@skeleguns10oooooo10]

Elderly have great stories to tell.

[@yosoydpfknr2855]

He's just an amazing person . I wish i could learn from him

[@samwittstruck.6685]

Sad to say he passed a few years ago.

[@johnwayne7476]

Oldsmobile is Quality , luxury and Performance. Also very durable &reliable transportation. I learned to drive in a Cutlass Cruiser “sport” station wagon. Olds silver with olds rally weeks . Air shocks plush gray Leather not vinal , premium interior. It drove smooth and easy. Couldn’t hear it run at red lights. Idk how fast that car could go , I always backed out before it stopped giving. I drove it VERY fast a few times back when I thought I was never gonna die . I would not drive that fast again. I run in the fast lane on DC belt loop without breaking a sweat. Still,Never that fast again. 🚀fast

[@joshuamaas5380]

What a legend I could have watched this guy make videos all day

[@buckshotsmadtowncustoms1355]

I was fortunate enough to get to meet Joe Mondello at a meeting of the old Central California Drag Racer's Assn meeting back in the '70s. Not only a master engine builder, but a very nice guy!

[@20alphabet]

Indeed, a nice guy.

[@phineasrumson3116]

This man is a living legend! I followed his career for about 5 decades!

[@thenewBH]

Hes been dead since 2011. These are old reruns.

[@randyrowe3097]

True icon. Those 455 Rockets were pretty tough but plagued by that oil issue. Mr. Mondello is an enginemaster that done things that Olds refused to do. They were smart enough but, not interested in building motors like Dr. Oldsmobile. It reminds me of GM refusing to fix the problems of the NorthStar after so many years in production. Although the 455 was not so plagued unless pushed hard or higher miles. Back than 100k was a lot.

[@nidstang373]

That flapper stick is very common among machinists for deburring.

[@gothicpagan.666]

Nidstang yep been used over here in England since at least WW2 I'm told.

[@terrancebarrett727]

Retirement and funeral.. Haha well hell! If you truly TRULY love what you do then why stop!?

[@ashqelon7267]

Several friends in my life, passed doing what they LOVED! Drag racing & HIGH HP full throttle lifestyle, like the Beautiful Lady last month. She went out loving her PASSION! Love our life in what you ARE until the END! Is there a better statement than That??? LIVE what you LOVE!

[@rbotton6272]

Joe Mondello Rules the Olds Rocket v8 realm baby!!

[@Bricklinsv1970]

I didn't know the 455 had oiling problems. Still love the Olds 455 though! Great tips and thank you!

[@vettesrule3170]

Yep, found that out the hard way when I spun a bearing in my '70 442 back in '82. No internet back then so everything was live and learn or what you read in Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, or Car Craft.

[@modeverything1]

Yes, you will want to keep the rpms below 5500 on the stock olds stuff

[@evdawg7757]

I've had the chance to do a rebuild and slight upgrade recently on a 350 olds. Learned a ton! Not very revv happy, hand full of torque tho. Have to do a Chevy adjustable rocker swap first hand in my opinion.

[@gosaha9512]

I had the privilege of working at Mondello's in California. Although Joe himself had long since passed, a friend of his, Lynn, took over the shop business and I learned a ton from him. The stock cylinder heads had a dog leg in them that blocked the flow of oil from draining back into the oil pan. The oil restrictors that Joe punched into the block, a larger oil pan, and a change of cylinder heads is the cure for the oil starvation. Often times all the oil would end up in the top end of the motor, especially with the stock 5 qt pans

[@nicholasvonrhine541]

Love these old engines.

[@frankthecrank]

For those wanting true "heads by Mondello" and other expert machine work, look no further than Joe's son, Bernard Mondello. Bernard was taught by his dad and is a true expert. I have had machine work done by him for my 455 and bought parts from him as well. His shop, Bernard Mondello Racing Enterprises, is located in Corona California.

[@james4wd236]

I did some digging and found that Joe Mondello passed away back in 2011 during a surgery. :(

[@markrich3271]

Thats sad. Im happy that he pass his knowledge on.

[@79tazman]

Yeah that's too bad but he passed his knowledge on to others so hope they do the same

[@jenseninterceptors]

That's crappy :( He seemed like a good guy and definitely knew his shit

[@CrazyWoody1989]

His shop is still open as far as I know. The sign for it is still up anyway

[@jenseninterceptors]

@@CrazyWoody1989 The fastest and meanest car i ever drove was a 1977 Trans am that someone put a built olds 455 into, that thing was crazy, they used to use the olds 455 in jet boats because they could stand up to constant full throttle

[@Aceman597]

Wow . Sounds like fun.

[@brianwright4104]

OMG I come up with that steel rod and emery paper trick years back to it has better clearance and give than flapper discs

[@David-yh5po]

What a great guy

[@MrLrry1266]

Add to the cam degree method 10 deg B4-10 deg after total, that's the sweet spots for error if there. Absolutely do what Joe recommends about the oil return design I learned all these things on my own over the years, even ran lines back to oil pan from heads to assure full flow and return. On porting I didn't have aftermarket heads I used W30 heads. I raised the floors and the roof of the ports to straighten out the flow. Had to be carefull gets thin up top on the port. Then the biggest HP creator on these big olds engines is fabricating your own sheet metal manifolds. Must eliminate all that low profile runner design the engineers used to get the hood closed. All this sounds like a lot of work, it is! but you will be rewarded with a sound high performance torque monster.

[@skylinefever]

If you want a decent Olds 455 core, the GMC FWD RV used them from 1973 to 1975 or 1976. By 1977 they all got the Olds 403 and 1978 was the last year of the GMC FWD RV. One thing that fascinated me was that Olds engines got exhaust air pumps than other GM engines. In addition, some versions of the Olds 307 had carbs in 1989 when every other GM V8 had EFI. The engines were naturally lower in smog, so I figured other GM engines would be built more like Olds models in order to pass harder smog tests. 15:00 I have heard that the old school Pontiacs needed this kind of device, except for the Super Duty.

[@joseguadalupecadenamunoz6340]

Que bárbaro muchachos trabajan y se divierten armando está chulada de motores en el maravilloso mundo de la mecánica saludos desde México 💪😎🍺

[@robroyce6845]

Dr Olds:Joe Mondello

[@1320wolf]

What a cool dude

[@kinglouis6974]

Omg I used to use that flappier slick as he put it , age 17 I cut a screw driver in two and slit it , I did it because I couldn’t afford the proper tools on my 125 bike 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍🏼

[@edh2166]

when you love what you do you never work a day in your life

[@cqution]

Living legend good on ya doctor O

[@peterrivney552]

I figured Joe would show us how and where to do the cutting out and a few tricks ...

[@SonOfDrTito]

I have a 69 cad coupe 472ci, those heads had huge a amount of casting run off , that needed to be removed , cleaned , and smoothed out. That thing was heavy.

[@camgnilpe9300]

WTF WTF WTF casting runoff? hope it will be alright sodt.

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

MORE OF THIS!!!

[@kittukittu3665]

Gr8 ji and accuracy , With great experience 👌 🌺👍😊

[@preludedudesi5208]

Let a rip tater chip. I remember watching these guys on TV with my dad back in the day. Good stuff

[@321-Gone]

Joe Elmore's the announcers face at 2:14. I couldn't have kept my composure. Joe is bit full of himself.

[@psygn0sis]

2:06 You're terrible at timestamps.

[@321-Gone]

@@psygn0sis I stand corrected.

[@nathanbennett9025]

Im sure them engine builders approve of that stop leak. Lmaoo

[@titanicwhiz]

i Bet they stepped on that spider!

[@paulg444]

hard to imagine those pins that hold in the braces at 14:50 are sufficient to stop block twist.

[@erichfischer5738]

That roll pin most likely has a breaking strength of 8000 LBS and made of Rockwell C42. It will hold up!!

[@allegory7638]

"A bigger leak might take a second application" LOL

[@jjamanda]

What a gentleman super video

[@gepenxjunior9852]

Seneng banget nie liat pralatan lengkap😍😍

[@RTSPEEDWORX]

This is the best I watch 😍😍😍

[@2024s_truth-speaker]

All I can think of is that paint in the lifter valley eventually coming off/flaking or chipping off and stopping the oil pump strainer up.. want it smooth I'd lightly grind it to get the dimples out instead of painting..

[@bee127bumblebee7]

приятно когда спец работает на хорошем оборудованиии

[@a-75n5lee4]

I'm the proud owner of a free Olds 403 in a 79 Firebird I'd love to do some work to

[@davenelson1571]

Amish Mike is the Picasso of engine valley painters

[@revolutionday1]

>X-D

[@armanifaysal2783]

Good job !!!! Very helpe ful! Thanks

[@desg6357]

That's bad ass

[@elic.2443]

If you love what you do....you'll never work a day in your life! He's a true example of that

[@2024s_truth-speaker]

God I'd love to go to his school/class!! Damn!

[@xishootstuffx]

My first car was a 1968 Cutlass. I put a 455 in it of course.

[@camgnilpe9300]

yeah what ever you say ishootstuff

[@xishootstuffx]

@@camgnilpe9300 Yeah, you got me. I made it up. I also didn't really put a V10 in an F150 or turbo a Lexus and convert it to a manual transmission. The brain tumor stuff is all lies too. Feels better getting that off my chest!

[@OneEye.]

Funny I remember this from the 90s.

[@mkIIIsupras]

Man I gotta quit putting all my efforts towards my three supras and give my 68' cutlass convertible a new lease on life.

[@higoodbye3495]

mkIIIsupras subtle flex 😂

[@dewfall56]

Back in the early 90's I remember calling his shop a few times to order parts and actually got him on the phone. I barely knew what I was doing at the time with an engine build. And as you can tell from this interview, he spoke his mind, and he made me feel like a moron. I guess I wasn't asking the right questions, or he didn't have the time or patience to talk to some kid. But I've found that's pretty universal. Nearly everyone involved in high-performance and racing is an ass. Maybe the customer complaints and demands make them that way. Or it could also be part of the intimidation that competitors try to lay on each other. I ended up giving up on the Olds project and had a local, reputable engine builder build a stroker Chevy motor for me that scared me with the amount of power.

[@nasedo3129]

I've found that same attitude in just about every auto repair worker. Being an asshole is part of the deal I guess : /

[@brentonk461]

Good, BUT Never think you know everything.

[@billyb7561]

Only true idiots believe they know everything. For most us the more we learn the more we realize how little we actually know.

[@RPJs-Cuisine]

I salute u!!!! Thank u for the info!

[@michaelteeple8704]

The W 30 was a pretty strong motor for an old oldsmobile. It kinda takes some balls to run one seriously at the strip.

[@79tazman]

Joe is funny he going to have his retirement party and his funeral on the same day. You know he loves what he does when someone say's that but building engines is fun and relaxing to so I can see what he means .

[@Hooha1986]

I'm definitely not an engine builder but do people really paint the lifter valley just to smooth it out? That seems insane because theres no way that paint will stay put being constantly washed in hot oil. I have never seen that before.

[@donm9951]

if you do final honing with toqure plate you must use tourqe plate when you fit ring end gap

[@tonyhern2647]

We use wypalls at work there tough as hell and clean great. But there super exspensive.

[@eddieruby2893]

FYI "Magnaflux" is a brand. Its magnetic particle inspection (MPI) ASNT www.asnt.org/

[@slopoke22]

I bet ole Joe is good. But I went it Samracing and learned from Judson in Houston 10 years ago. It's changed drastically

[@thebeastfromthesoutheast7765]

Paint on the inside of the motor? Wont the oil and excess fuel melt the paint and clog up stuff?

[@akallio9000]

This is the cream of KZbin, trending be damned!

[@MrPONCHO467]

Too bad they didn't continue with the training classes

[@billyb7561]

I'm pretty sure it would be hard for joe to train anyone these days. you know with the whole being dead thing. RIP Joe.

[@layyouin6860]

Gotta get that grinder control HAHAHAHA!!!! BOY, AINT THAT THE TRUTH!?!?!?

[@Pazuzu6]

That pupper!

[@ronsmith7739]

Sadly, Joe Mondello passed at age 75 in 2011. RIP.

[@Gregg0112]

He tried to cram it all in too

[@nicholaschriss1706]

It was all going well until the super seal advertisement :(

[@bryancenterfitt7127]

As a tech...that actually made me a bit irritated to see them passing off known bad practice as great information! Especially to the younger generation of Tech's and DIYers.. I've seen what stop leak can do to an engine, on many occasions and then it starts one hell of a mess when you explain to your customer WHY their engine failed AFTER using stuff like this...

[@kajithatotherguy4408]

I'll use the UV part of it, that's pretty handy. then I'll fix it properly.

[@glenmiskulin3483]

I wish i saw this in 2005 i have a 1969 Cutlass S

[@chrisj197438]

Looks like he took all his skill and knowledge to the grave in April of 2011

[@flinch622]

4 cylinders... that's a reasonable quality check. I don't think it is wrong to say degreeing your cam may be the most important part of your build. Do ramps start at 0.004" or 0.006? If you never checked that, how are you going to spot problems later? I also like checking 0.015" duration numbers - they can help sort out best combustion chanber size, and I note there are still a good number of grinds out there that reference them, despite the flow bench guys ignoring everything under 0.050". The 455 is a motor I wouldn't mind seeing more of, but that's me.

[@ryanehlis426]

So the 455 requires some tlc to be a good street rod.

[@bert5003]

love how even power nation who is supposed to be a reputable source of information is ignorant enough to refer to it as the 455 "big block" when its just the same size block as the smaller displacement engines bored and stroked a bit more. now if it were a chevy 454 that would be a big block, but the 455 olds and pontiac arent by definition a big block as there was no small block...they were all the same size externally....

[@mjg50550]

The olds 455 is a big block tall deck what u said is true only for pontiac engines

[@daretolive9357]

In the drag boat the olds 455 were the first to die ...we had to give up on them. After we pinned the bearings the saddles would crack from crank flex. They had great hp potential but the blocks and cranks could not stand the load we required. But they did make a great anchor for the yacht.

[@Stevesbe]

I can hear the rod knocking already