exhaust manifold

[Bushbunny62]

Howdy Guys,
I'm looking for a 1961 Oldsmobile L/H (drivers side) exhaust manifold for a 394 engine.I'm also looking for the generator bracket and the two studs that hold it down for the same engine.

Thanks
Bush

[Olds64]

Bush, are you looking for the driver's side dual exhaust manifold? If so this is a rare piece and you will have to look for quite awhile to find one. If you just want a standard manifold for the driver's side there might be a member on our site that has a spare. 2blu442 has quite a few parts. Send him a PrivateMessage and ask if he has anything you could use.

[Olds64]

I didn't know it was different for 61-62 and 63-64. That is good to know. At least Bush should be able to find one easier.

[Bushbunny62]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the speedy replies to my search. I'll give you alittle info as to what I'm doing. The car is a 58 oldsmobile with a 371 engine and the guy that it was bought off of was doing the restore.He sold it before it was done with only the frame finished.The engine he bought off a guy that rebuilt it for a race car of some sort.The engine has 394 heads on it I gather because they have larger ports.So yes I'm looking for just a regular drivers side exhaust manifold. I will try an attach a picture of what it looks like.!BdgIwEQBmk~$(KGrHqMH-C8ErfzEe+2ZBK5L0Fto-w~~_12.jpg

[Olds64]

Be sure the manifold will work properly since it is a later model engine in an earlier model car. I don't know if this will cause any problems, hopefully CW knows.

[Bushbunny62]

It's not a later model engine...the engine is a 58 371 but the heads are off a 394, just not sure of the year of the heads yet.only numbers I seen on the heads are N9203200 and 20.

Bush

[Olds64]

Oh...

[59-59-59]

The #20 cylinder head you have there is a 1961 non Starfire head. Was this combo you have running at one point? Because I find it hard to believe you can put a later 394 head on a '57 - '58 371. I thought the drain back holes for the oil did not line up? Are you positive its not a '59 - '64 371??

[lunaboy]

If anyone interested; since we are discusing this. fyi i have a 63 starfire dual exhaust l/h manifold. fits 63 64 as olds64 says. 394 plus shipping. For 394.oo i will ship it free.

[Bushbunny62]

hey guys,

I'm curious about the engine now. the only numbers I could find on it are these P9183573

thanks
Bush

[59-59-59]

Originally Posted by Bushbunny62

I'm curious about the engine now. the only numbers I could find on it are these P9183573

If you got this number off the left cylinder head between the #3 and #5 spark plug holes, double check the letter 'P' isnt a letter 'F'. Also stick your head in back of the block on top where the transmission meets the engine block. If you see a 4 1/8 in raised numerals, you got a 394. Oh, and an easier way to somewhat determine the year...Does it have a downdraft tube coming from the back of the block or coming out of the valve cover hole on the passenger side?

[Bushbunny62]

The engine has the breather hole at the back of the block so that makes it a 371 but unsure of the year.The numbers I got came off the block by the water pump.Anyone know what year the block is or how to find that out?
Thanks
Bush

[59-59-59]

Having a breather hole in the back of the block dosent necessiarily make it a 371...it could be anything up to and including a 1960 block. that would include a 394

[Bushbunny62]

Hey Guys,
Here is an update from what I've figured out about this engine.It is a 59 -64 394 CI and not a 371 with 394 heads. Just wish I knew what year it is exactly.

Bush

[chequenman]

Originally Posted by Bushbunny62

Hey Guys,
Here is an update from what I've figured out about this engine.It is a 59 -64 394 CI and not a 371 with 394 heads. Just wish I knew what year it is exactly

The rear of the engine near the distributor there's raised numbers and a Clock Face. The single digit number designates the year of the motor. I at first thought what you were doing couldn't be done because I knew the 1960's era of 394 Heads don't fit '57 '58, 371 Blocks. When you are ready to install this 394 where a 371 is supposed to fit, you will find that the exhaust manifolds are opposite in the way that they bolt to each different engine and on the right side Manifold will rest solidly on the Frame of the car. Get ready to do some shimming and I hope you don't have Air 'cause you will have a shroud around your Fan and your fan will hit the shroud when raising the Engine......

[J-(Chicago)]

Try this guy.
He posted this ad up this week.

WANT OTHER STUFF FOR YOUR OLD 394 OLDS...?
HEY - YOU'VE JUST HIT PAY DIRT, PAL!
'CAUSE I'VE GOT BOAT-LOADS OF OLD OLDS BITS STASHED UNDER MY BED, JUST WAITING ON YA!
SO GRAB YOUR PHONE AND RING MY BELL!
I'M JOHNNY ROSEN IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
AND HERE'S MY NUMBER:



(602) 569-1010.

[mrolds88]

Also just to let you know, the 63 and 64 394's had aluminum timing covers the 62 and earlier had cast iron just like the 371's. Good luck!!!

[Bushbunny62]

howdy guys,
I seen that clock face on the back of the block by the distribitor and not sure which way to look at it. The clock face doesn't have numbers it just has dots. So if i stand at the front of the engine and lean over and look at the clock the pointer points at about 3, and if standing at the back of the engine the pointer points at 9 oclock...there is also a second dot outside the other dots that make the circle. Theres also a C F D in raised lettering also back there. So hope that helps someone figure out what year this engine is.

Bush

[chequenman]

Originally Posted by J-(Chicago)

Try this guy.
He posted this ad up this week.

WANT OTHER STUFF FOR YOUR OLD 394 OLDS...?
HEY - YOU'VE JUST HIT PAY DIRT, PAL!
'CAUSE I'VE GOT BOAT-LOADS OF OLD OLDS BITS STASHED UNDER MY BED, JUST WAITING ON YA!
SO GRAB YOUR PHONE AND RING MY BELL!
I'M JOHNNY ROSEN IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
AND HERE'S MY NUMBER:



(602) 569-1010.

He's been around for awhile but be "pre warned" about what you buy from Mr. Quick Draw..... PM Oldskeeper he also knows good ol' Johnny and his Starfire Emporium !!!

[chequenman]

Originally Posted by Bushbunny62

howdy guys,
I seen that clock face on the back of the block by the distributor and not sure which way to look at it. The clock face doesn't have numbers it just has dots. So if i stand at the front of the engine and lean over and look at the clock the pointer points at about 3, and if standing at the back of the engine the pointer points at 9 o'clock...there is also a second dot outside the other dots that make the circle. There's also a C F D in raised lettering also back there. So hope that helps someone figure out what year this engine is.

Bush

I made mention only regarding the Clock Face as to the location where it will tell you what year the Engine is, so there will be a SINGLE digit raised number in that vicinity, and that will be the year of the motor.

[Oldskeeper]

On a 394 engine the clock tells you what month the engine was cast and the model year is cast in large numbers so looking at it from behind you can read 63 and the arrow points to september .This engine is an early model year engine for 63.
On the front of the block where the timing cover (cast Aluminum) housing bolts on you may also see an X or a double X stamped,this tells you that the block was oversized or the crank is -.010 under.
Now as far as hundred dollar Johnney goes,I have been dealing with him since the late 80s,I have even purchased a car from him.
He is a very interesting person having said that if you are looking for a hard to get part and can't find it chances are he will have one.But as Chequenman says be forwarned you are dealing with a special kind of person and listen CAREFULLY to every word he says to discribe the part and DO NOT take anything for granted.
The part in question will be discribed as if you were sitting in a Sheaksphere play with elequence and grandure and you will form an image in your mind of said part.Once you have sent him the money you will get the part and if it doesn't seem right it will be exactly as described but not what your minds eye saw,he does NOT refund cash you can only get another part and it will be the next best part on the shelf.
All of my dealings have gone well and I got what I paid for cause I never took his discription for anything other than what it was.Other people have made mention of his quality,here is how I see it-first come first served as in if your cheque is recieved third or tenth the first person gets the best and the second person gets the next best as it is now the best piece and so on down the line.
Good luck with your project
Steve

[chequenman]

[quote=Oldskeeper;135214]On a 394 engine the clock tells you what month the engine was cast and the model year is cast in large numbers so looking at it from behind you can read 63 and the arrow points to september .This engine is an early model year engine for 63.

On my 394's they have a single digit number only, cast near the Clock Face, identifing the year....

[Bushbunny62]

hey guys,
thanks for all the help, got it figured out now...the clock thing is pointing at October and theres a one close by...so the engine in a 1961 394 built in october...

Bush

[chequenman]

Originally Posted by Bushbunny62

hey guys,
thanks for all the help, got it figured out now...the clock thing is pointing at October and theres a one close by...so the engine in a 1961 394 built in october...

Bush

Right ON!!! Remember about shimming the engine...

[Bushbunny62]

engineID1.jpghey guys.
Here is a picture of the numbers on the bell housing

[Bushbunny62]

hey guys,
Can anyone figure out the year of this engine from the picture I posted of the numbers on the bell housing? Disregard the engine color it is wrong.

Bush

[copper128]

I have lots of '62 394 parts including a pair of regular (single) exhaust manifolds. Not sure if the 61 & 62 are the same, but I'll compare it to your pic above.

Edit: OK I checked it and it looks similar, but has casting #579279LH. I also have the RH manifold and a complete Kepitch dual exhaust conversion all the way back to the tailpipes. Never used, but covered in surface light surface rust from about 25 years of storage. The system was built for a '62, but I think it may work for a '61 also.

[copper128]

Originally Posted by Bushbunny62

hey guys,
Can anyone figure out the year of this engine from the picture I posted of the numbers on the bell housing? Disregard the engine color it is wrong.
Bush

Block was cast on the 63rd day of 1961, or March 4th. So it would have been installed in a '61 model year car.

[copper128]

Originally Posted by Bushbunny62

So yes I'm looking for just a regular drivers side exhaust manifold. I will try an attach a picture of what it looks like.Attachment 10493

That pic is a '63-64 manifold.
I see it's copied from eBay. Did you just post it for an idea of what you wanted? The manifolds I have are the correct ones for '61-62. I'll post a pic later today.

[Bushbunny62]

Yes , the pic I got was off ebay and was just to show what I am looking for.I'm looking forward to seeing those pics of the manifolds.Anyone know of a oil filter adapter that comes off the block and makes a 90* turn instead of the 45* I already have?

Thanks Bush

[copper128]

Got the pics. These manifolds are in great shape, but really dirty from 25 years of shed storage.