New to 442s. We have a very nice '70 that we will be selling, but need to confirm if the original engine is in the car. Hope someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

 

Check the block VIN pad to see if it matches the last six digits of the vehicle VIN. Also make sure it is actually a 455 with E heads.
Yours should start with 30 for Olds, 1970 model year.


Head_ID.jpg

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P5060220.jpg

 

Thanks, do you know what each individual number means? I don't think it's just the VIN on there is it?

 

First number is Oldsmobile division = 3
Second number is year of manufacture = 0 for 1970
Third letter is assembly plant (I don't remember all of them right off)
Four - nine = vehicle's assembly sequence number and should match the numbers on the body VIN plate

edit: I found this info for assembly plant codes

1 Oshawa, Canada
C Southgate, CA
D Atlanta, GA
E Linden, NJ
G Framingham, MA
M Lansing, MI
X Kansas City, KS
Z Fremont, CA

 

here

 

Here's an even simpler explanation. The stamped number on the block (and transmission case) is called a VIN derivative because it contains only nine of the 13 characters in the original VIN of the car. If this is the original block, the first character of the VIN derivative stamp will match the first of the VIN, and the last eight of the VIN derivative stamp will match the last eight of the VIN.

 

Tagging in to save this. Great thread.