Numbers matching info

[62f85deluxecutlassconv]

I am trying to do research on my car. I have always heard about numbers matching cars. I have a 1962 olds F85 with the 215 engine. When we got it there were two engines. I am unsure which is the original engine if either. I found a website that explains the engine serial numbers and what they mean, but I thought I saw somewhere that Olds did not match the chassis, and egnine numbers on this model till 1963. Can any one help with with this question.

[gibbo69olds]

post the numbers you have, VIN and the two engine numbers. I have a couple manuals at home that I could use to translate what you have if that would be of any help to you.

[62f85deluxecutlassconv]

I have already been through many books, and have been through the numbers.

Well here goes

vin is 621C01886

engine in car has HI6370 on block, and S10622G G2793 on the front of the right cylinder head, the last part apears to be a stamping from someone who rebuilt the engine.

The other engine has HI5802, and S104515G is on the head.

Something I find interesting is that in all the books and information I have found online, the S and G on the cylinder head are supposed to be together if its the hi compresion 4bbl head. This has been another concern of mine. The engine ran strong when I drove it 20 years ago, but since the spark plug stripped out of the right cylinder head is also the one that has the serial number on it. I want to rebuild whichever is the original head if posible.

Here is a list I have compiled about my car from books and such so far.

My car
1962 OLDSMOBILE F-85 DELUXE CUTLASS CONVERTIBLE
SERIAL NUMBER 62 1 C 01886 = 1962 MODEL YEAR, F-85 DELUXE, 885TH VEHICLE FROM PLANT FOR MODEL YEAR
09C = BUILT IN SEPTEMBER, THIRD WEEK
STYLE 62-3167 = 1962 - F-85 DELUXE CUTLASS CONVERTIBLE
BODY BC 40 = SOUTH GATE, CALIFORNIA - 40TH CAR OF THIS STYLE FOR 1962 (9,898 WERE MADE)
TRIM 995 - TOP 1 PAINT LL = GARNET RED BODY AND WHEELS, WHITE TOP
ACCESSORIES F & J8
F = BACK UP LAMPS $10.71
J8 = FRONT COMPARTMENT CONSOLE $48.42
+ ORIGINAL RETAIL PRICE $2971.00
TOTAL $3030.13
ENGINE SPECS
SERIAL NUMBER HI - 6370
HEADS S106226G 2793
SPARE ENGINE HI - 5802
HEADS S104515G
BORE 3.5"
STROKE 2.8"
C/R 10.25:1
HP 185 @ 4800
TORQUE 230 @ 3200

[62f85deluxecutlassconv]

Here is one link I found about the engines

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/GM...tification.htm

[Starfire61]

Without the original Protecto-plate there's probably no way of knowing which engine is original to the car.

Based on the info you've provided, both engines are identical. The true engine number is actually the one stamped on the head.... seems illogical, but they did the same thing on the 394s of that era, too. Based on the numbers, both of the engines are 185-hp 4bbl motors.

The numbers stamped on the block are production numbers that somehow designate the year & type of car too, but this information is very elusive. The folks at D & D fabrications can break these down. (http://www.aluminumv8.com/) I have two spare 215 blocks, & with these numbers they were able to tell me that one came from a 1961 2bbl car & the other from a 1963 4bbl car.

Regardless, the HI prefix indicates that both of your engines are from a like-year car with identical carburetion. Either one should be correct for your car.

I've always liked those first Cutlass convertibles- they look like fun little cars. Most of the ones you see now are either trashed or modified. Can you post a few pics?

[62f85deluxecutlassconv]

Sorry, no digital pics. Last time I had it out of the garage they were not out yet. I have been to that site too, and tried to call, but its always busy.

As for the protecto-plate, when did they start using this?

[Barneyo]

62F85.... I have one of the same from Lansing Mi, VIN 62 1 M 34893.
Sold Pittsburg Pa Jun 12, 1962. Only got it Oct 2 and just have not
looked at the body tag yet. Too much fun driving it around (when
the Baltimore weather has been good enuf) since I got it back from
the shop Dec 22.

Mine is Lt brown - fawn I think its called - with matching interior. 78140
(check my profile pic) Been painted once so Im not sure if orig color but
I dont find any anomalies in the door posts, edges of the hood etc...

Have you had any difficulty finding parts for it??

[joe_padavano]

Oldsmobile did not start stamping a VIN derivative on the block and trans until the 1968 model year. Prior to that, there is no absolute proof that the car is "numbers matching" since there are no numbers to match. There IS anecdotal information, such as engine numbers and build dates that can show the parts in question are possibly the original part, but without the VIN derivative stamp there is no absolute proof.

[Starfire61]

I'm not sure of the range of years in which Olds used the Protecto plate. I have one each for my '61 Starfire & '61 Ninety Eight, & still have one from my dad's '62 Dynamic 88.

I've never seen a plate for an old Cutlass or F-85 of this vintage, but I assume it would be similar to those used on the full-sized cars. The plate displayed the name of the original owner, the VIN, the body number, & the engine number. I know of no other way with these cars to determine if the engine's original.

[Barneyo]

I do have a Protecto plate with my Olds literature in the glove box.
It has the orig owners name and other info. Right now the car is under
cover against the snow and ice, I cant access it. Will post asap.

[Oldsfan]

The S and the G are not supposed to be together. The S is the prefix and the G is the suffix. Oldsmobile numbered all of their like that during this era.

Like Joe said, they didn't match engine numbers to VINs in '62. Those numbers between the S and the G is just the production sequence number of the engine, I think starting at 01001. You have a very early production car, I would say you should use the lowest engine sequence number, if you want be as close to correct as possible.

The truth is, no one will ever know, except for you. I am rebuilding a '62 Starfire engine and while I am using a '62 Starfire head, it is not the head that is original to the engine.

Like someone else mentioned, the only way to know what engine number should appear on the head is to have the Protect-o-plate, which I don't. Protect-o-plates were first available in '60, I think. Prior to that, this type of information was hand written or typed by the dealer in the service policy booklet or owner's manual.

Paul

[Barneyo]

The weather was good enuf today to pull the tarp and get my protecto
plate out of the glove box.

1st plate
Mr R A Nxxxx 06 080 |?|< maybe olds symbol ??
310 Holiday Dr 06 11 62
Pittsburg 37 PA 621M34893

2nd plate
5169963G 621M34893
05562-14805 LA5683
3167 R5V 994 784293V

Accompanys this car:
62 F85 Cutlass deluxe conv. Lt brown/tan, Fawn interior, tan top.
PB AM radio, two spd WW w/washer... Auto trans, pwr steering,
185hp 215V8. Havent yet checked the rear axle ratio (nor the
underhood body tag).

Are there any other tags with pertinent info?


Does this clear up any questions as to what sort of ID should be
found for a 62 F85???

[Oldsfan]

This thread has prompted me to do something I've been wanting to do you years - add two pages to my website. I worked on it yesterday. Here is the F-85 Rockette engine page - taken directly from the service manual:

http://home.comcast.net/~oldsfan/MyS...tteengine.html

Hopefully that'll help clear things up for you.

Paul

[Barneyo]

AhhhHa, I see that my 5 169963 G should be an S 169963 G.
Sure looked like a 5 to me ;-)

TKS

I also tried to read the body tag on the firewqall but whoever painted
it along with the firewall .... Its gonna take some doing for me to figure
out the characters with my old eyes.