bignoodle

Hi all I have been looking for a clean cutlass for awhile and I thing I found one. I will be going to check it out and hopefully buy it this weekend. The guy I'm in contact with is the son of the original owner he Say's but anyway he is not a "car guy". My question is that he sent me some pics of the engine and it is painted blue (looks original to me?) and the guy says it is a 350 so I'm a little confused is it a 455 it also has a tach. Thank you John

Lady72nRob71

Welcome to the site!
455s were originally blue in 72, like yours there. Of course the real way to tell is to get the casting number over the water pump. The engine could have been swapped out, or repainted, or whatever.

If you do get it, prevent future trouble by eliminating the yellow crimp connector on the positive battery wire. It should be soldered and heat-shrinked. Non-factory crimp connections in the engine bay fail very often.

The factory tach could have been had with the 350 or the 455.

lshlsh2

Another quick way to tell is to measure the intake manifold 12inches-350 14 inches-455.

Take a magnet and check bottom of fenders and the back rear quarters just to be sure. you can also crawl on the ground and check frame and floor pans.
hope you get it
Larry

Blk71SX

that blue looks like more corporate blue rather than metallic blue.

joe_padavano

Well, the fact that there is blue paint on the rubber valve cover gaskets and the PCV valve tells me that this motor has seen a "spray can" rebuild. Worse, the air cleaner looks like the ones used on the 307s. Check the casting number on the small ledge above the water pump, next to the oil fill tube.

Allan R

Might be a good idea to ask whether the distributor has been changed out to HEI. That would explain the different air can. A stock Olds air cleaner will not fit. It needs a little modification on the backside to clear the dist. cap. I found this out on mine by trial and error.

Olds 350 engines were Gold, not blue. Look just behind the water pump for the casting number the guys are talking about. I checked my car (its a 72 Cutlass S with a 350, and the casting number is 395558 2 If your car has the same casting number, you'll know what it is. If it's something different, post the number. Someone here will know what it is.

BTW, I just noticed, the rad support is a 4 core which is typically HD. This could be a 455 or a highly optioned supreme. Do you have any info about what equipment the car is carrying?

scott_442

Not to confuse the issue but I'm fairly certain that I've seen factory 350 cars with blue valve covers and block. I also think they were all 1972 models. In fact, I owned one many years ago. Granted, the majority are gold but there must be some difference in the blue 350 blocks. Can anybody confirm this?

Allan R

Factory cars? ok, but from what factory. Definitely not Factory Olds 350's. And definitely not in 72. Are you sure you're not thinking of the 403? or the 455? they were blue and available in the 70's. Sometimes guys trying to make a quick buck misrepresent an Olds 350 with blue paint and claim its a 455. They also take off the cars timing sticker with the engine details so they don't get caught in their own game.

Granted, ALL 1972 Olds 350s were factory produced gold. period. What's the difference between gold and blue? Someone with paint to spare. period.

bignoodle

I really appreciate everyone's input here. I sent an email over to the guy to have him give me those numbers ( hopefully he can figure it out). I will post what I get. Again thanks John

scott_442

Allan - There is a real good chance that I'm mistaken...it just seems that over the years I've occasionally seen what appeared to be original, non-restored 350 blocks that were blue with blue valve covers...probably just somebody trying to be creative...or my memory fading with age .

dan2286

I could have sworn 77-79 350's were blue from the factory.

Allan R

Hey Scott, no worries. Hope it didn't come across the wrong way. I think we're all in the same boat, not getting any younger. I just am 100% sure that the 72 350's were Gold. I'd bet your life on it

Dan, we were originally talking about 72 Olds 350s. However, you raise a good point. I didn't own a 77 or 79, I did own a 78. In 78 the powerplant for the Cutlass was a Chevy 305, not Olds. I don't know about the 350's in the B Bodies. The very well could have produced blue 350's in 77- 81, I would have to look that up. I know that when the 307 went into production for the 98 and Cutlass lines, the engine blocks were black. In fact all of the divisions installed black engines. Depending on which plant they were installed, there were some valve covers that were blue on the black engines. I have heard of this but not seen it.

bignoodle

Well he sent me a picture it really didn't help much. I really hope one of guy's can use computer magic or something to read it. LOL I'm so non computer savvy. Well I can tell one think tho it was rattle caned.... Well the car is still nice I hope it works out. Here's the Vin 3j57k2z108505 if that helps Thanks again

Lady72nRob71

Yes, it was recently rattle canned for sure, note the bypass hose. The K in the vin indicates the car came with a 350 4bbl (std Supreme engine). The casting number is there, but I cannot read it. My good guess it is still a 350, but we won't know for sure, yet.

Car looks very nice regardless. Paint looks swell.


I once saw the below blue 350 in a 1971 Supreme 'vert. The color was way off, and the casting was for a 350. Most likely a bad repaint.
BTW, this car had "Runs great" on the windscreen. After how much work though??? Car was a complete rust bucket.

Second pic is the casting number we need.

bignoodle

OK thanks I guess I was just hoping the guy was not knowledgeable and I was maybe getting 455 without either of us really knowing...... Honestly I'm still very happy with the car if it turns out to be as nice as the picture and him and I have talked about on the phone. Well I will let you guy's know and I will definitely stay part of the this site. Thanks again John

joe_padavano

Well, when I zoom in using Firefox, I can read the last number as an 8. That would be consistent with the 350 block casting number of 395558. Better than a 307, anyway.

Also, as I look at the air cleaner again, it is not a 307 air cleaner because the end of the snorkel is flared - 307s have a straight end that accepts the plastic elbow for the fresh air hose. It's not a 72 air cleaner either, however.

Lady72nRob71

I can see the 8 also - never thought to blow it up. Looks like ...558, so i bet it is the 350.

Any 350 is better than that!

71rocket

Hope the deal works out.

hamm36

I don't know if any one pointed out that is a four core radiator top support.

Allan R

Yup, same thing noted in permalink 6. I also was curious about what kind of options this car had to warrant a 4 core. Still waiting to find out.

hamm36

I see, sometimes I do not read the fine print. And I am trying to run up my posting numbers. I passed on buying one the other day for 199.

bignoodle

Well it didn't work out this weekend had a family emergency. But I will be heading down next weekend. Trust me I cant wait to see it and hopefully finish the purchase. And then I (we) can figure everything out with it. Thanks everyone and I will be back to pick your brain once again. Thanks John

redoldsman

I don't think I saw anybody mention looking at the number on the lower left side of the cylinder head by the spark plug. If it is a correct 1972 350 it should be 7a. It is a nice looking car.