What year is my engine?!?

[UCF72Cutlass]

I have a 72 Cutlass with a 350 but the owner told me he believes it came out of a hurst oldsmobile. By the vin it should be a V8 350 with 2 bbl but its a 350 with 4bbl quadrajet Looks like oldsmobile didnt put 350s in till later in the 70s for hursts. How do i find out exactly what engine I have and i just ordered a 72 assembly manual. Will i run in to problems and differences when using the manual on my car?

Thanks

[Redog]

There is a VIN plate on the left front side of the motor. It's around the number 1 spark plug.

The first number on this plate will be the last number of the year.

If it's a 395558 block it would be from 8=1968 to 6=1976

You shouldn't have any problems as long as it's around the same year

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by UCF72Cutlass

I have a 72 Cutlass with a 350 but the owner told me he believes it came out of a hurst oldsmobile. By the vin it should be a V8 350 with 2 bbl but its a 350 with 4bbl quadrajet Looks like oldsmobile didnt put 350s in till later in the 70s for hursts. How do i find out exactly what engine I have and i just ordered a 72 assembly manual. Will i run in to problems and differences when using the manual on my car?

Thanks

Yeah, and every 327 Chevy is from a fuelie Vette...

Anyway, as noted above, the VIN derivative stamp on the front LH side of the motor will tell you the year. This is a nine character stamp. The second character is the year. 8 = 1968, 2 = 1972, etc. The assembly manual contains almost no data on the engine and your later 350 won't matter. Get a Chassis Service Manual for all the torque specs and rebuild info. For the most part, all 68-76 350s are the same as far as clearances and torques are concerned. The 77-up motors used windowed main webs with larger head bolts, so there will be some differences for those.

[UCF72Cutlass]

When i buy parts what should i be buying for?

[UCF72Cutlass]

i looked on my motor and could not find the 9 digit number.

[Jokers69]

this isn't the tell all, but whats the big number, big single digit not long number, on the head

[UCF72Cutlass]

all i really find is right behind the water pump i have 395558 with a big 2 at the end. Its engine is pretty much all painted red not sure if that helps or not.

Thanks for the help everyone

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by UCF72Cutlass

all i really find is right behind the water pump i have 395558 with a big 2 at the end. Its engine is pretty much all painted red not sure if that helps or not.

Thanks for the help everyone

The number behind the water pump is the casting number. The VIN derivative is below the no. 1 spark plug on the side of the block and is usually partly covered by the power steering pump bracket and a lot of grunge.

[UCF72Cutlass]

i must be blind i cant see it

[1972 X code 442]

Hurst/Olds cars didn't come with 350 V-8's (W25) until 1974 MY. In MY 1975 a 350 V-8 (W25) was again offered and of course in MY 1979 it was the only engine.

Without knowing the engine unit number (on the oil fill tube) it's hard to tell, especially since the engine code i.d. sticker (also on the oil filler tube) usually comes off after a few years due to engine heat.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by UCF72Cutlass

i must be blind i cant see it

See attached

[Redog]

You def have an Olds 350 from 68 to 76.

My bad, the first number in the engine VIN will be a 3, the 2nd number will be the last number of the year, The 3rd is a plant code. Mine is an "D" but I have no idea what plant that is

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by Redog

You def have an Olds 350 from 68 to 76.

My bad, the first number in the engine VIN will be a 3, the 2nd number will be the last number of the year, The 3rd is a plant code. Mine is an "D" but I have no idea what plant that is

D = Doraville, GA

[Redog]

^^^ Cool thanks

[UCF72Cutlass]

thanks for the pictures redog they really helped. Well this is what i came up with its pretty dirty and of course the 2nd number is the hardest to read but im pretty sure its 34R16378 or maybe 34B16378? Any info anyone?

[Redog]

3= Oldsmobile motor
4= 1974
B= Baltimore
R= ??
16378= last 6 in the VIN the car the motor came out of, BTW you're missing a number

[UCF72Cutlass]

Opps. Ok so it looks like 34B163758. Im still not too sure if its a B or R but if there is no plant begining with R then i guess its a B. When i buy parts for my engine i should now look under a 1974 350 4bbl right? How can i tell what kind of car this engine came out of?

[joe_padavano]

R = Arlington, TX. No Oldsmobiles were built in Baltimore in 1974. By the way, H/Os were built in Lansing, even in 1974, so tell the seller he's full of horse puckey.

[UCF72Cutlass]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

R = Arlington, TX. No Oldsmobiles were built in Baltimore in 1974. By the way, H/Os were built in Lansing, even in 1974, so tell the seller he's full of horse puckey.

Thanks. I figured that it wasnt and dont care much for the guy who sold me it anyways. My only real concern is when i buy parts i want to know what engine i should be telling them i have.

[Brett4777]

while you guys a filling engine id blanks can anyone tell me what size my engine is and what year it is plus what my chassis number means
http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/...4SAYJDD215B05L

apparently my car came into Australia in the 60s

[Jim's rare 80]

Originally Posted by UCF72Cutlass

all i really find is right behind the water pump i have 395558 with a big 2 at the end. Its engine is pretty much all painted red not sure if that helps or not.

Thanks for the help everyone

That number is a 68-72 block. Look for the head id # obove the center exhaust manifold on both sides.,
Let us know.

[Jim's rare 80]

http://www.oldspower.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11919
Forgot to put this in.
Check the link at the bottom of this page.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by Jim's rare 80

That number is a 68-72 block. Look for the head id # obove the center exhaust manifold on both sides.,
Let us know.

That casting number was used for 68-76. Don't believe everything you read in the FAQ.