Hello All. Looking for a little help deciphering the numbers on an engine block. 396021F near the front, 279 by the distributor and 68 F3 near the flywheel. Thanks for your help.

 

396021 F is the generic 455 casting number. 3 279 is the casting date. The "F" number on the back is a casting mold reference (contrary to urban myth, it does NOT indicate anything about nickel content). The VIN derivative stamp will tell you the exact model year of the block. Bottom line is that this is a perfectly fine 455 core.

 

Thanks for the info. It came with the heads and intake. It was basically complete.

 

I am told this engine came out of a 1970 88. Does that make sense?

 

The casting numbers are consistent with that, but cannot prove it. This block was used for model years 1968-72.

 

like joe said

The VIN derivative stamp will tell you the exact model year of the block.

 

I'll look for the vin stamp. Thanks for the help.

 

Here is my vin stamp.

 

im no expert but ill give it a shot

30m155994

3=Olds
0=1970
M=Lansing plant
155994=the last 6 digits of the vehicle VIN number.

I think those last digits can be associated w a b or c bodies but i dont know the sequencing

 

how was the casting date by the distributor hole used/decoded?
was there a block casting foundry at the Lansing plant?

3/27/9 (Thursday March 27, 1969) ??
279th day of year? 279th day of '68 (Saturday October 5, 1968) ??? or 279th day of '69 (Monday October 6, 1969) ????

30M155994's body should've been built 10B (October - second week) 1969

Toronado used a different assigned VIN sequence number (0M600001~0M626000), but all others used the same range (0M100001~0M416000) at Lansing for 1970

 

Since it is a '70 it should have "E" heads on it. If it did come from an 88 it should have the small valve heads

 

The VIN derivative shows that this block came from an A-body, not a full size. In the 1970 model year, the Lansing plant divided the VIN sequence numbers among the car lines. 100001-400000 were assigned to A-body cars, 400001-700000 to B/C-body cars, and 700001-up to Toros. The 155994 sequence number shows this block is from a Lansing-built A-body. That could have been a 442, a Vista, or a Supreme SX.

 

Guys, thanks for all the information.

 

not true for Lansing 1970 (& Toronados are 0M600001+)

here's October '69 from a Lansing VIN list I started putting together last week

 

Forgive my ignorance. I see the columns on the left side make up the VIN. What are the columns on the right side?

 

sorry about that, I didn't include the column header

VIN on the left * model/body * Fisher cowl tag info (interior - paint - build week - body number)

 

Thanks!

 

was there a stock intake with the 455? 2bbl or 4bbl? casting dates on heads & intake?

 

I have the stock intake and heads. I believe I have the stock 2bbl carb. I will look for numbers tonight.

 

This page is from the factory parts book. Note the starting serial number for Toronado in the lower RH corner of the page.

 

that format was used in 1971

are there a number of similar charts in the parts book that you could post?

Linden also did NOT use 0E400001+ for full-size in '70

 

Hard to argue with that VIN tag. In any case, the 1971 chart is different, so this isn't just a mislabel. Note that the engines in the 71 cart are not the same as in the 70 chart.

 

short a few engines as expected - but somewhere there is a mistake as far as the starting VIN sequence numbers (Linden full-size for '71 correct at 1E100001+)

 

• intake: 398625
• Heads. Large E. CFD 403 686 253. Might be 408

 

I’m looking at a 64 442 which is advertised as having a 455/365hp. The vin derivative number is 33x110443. If I have done my homework I believe this is a 1973 block from the KC plant? I’m trying to verify that this block is actually a 455. What other casting numbers should I be looking for?

 

Correct, the "3" in the second position is 1973 model year and the "X" is Fairfax, KS assembly plant. In the 1973 model year, Fairfax only made full size cars. The block casting number will tell you the displacement. A 1973 455 will have casting number 398021 and either an F or an FA after that.




The heads are identified by a letter near the number 1 or 8 spark plug and by a casting number over the center two exhaust ports. A 1973 motor from Fairfax would have come with J heads. None of this indicates a "365 HP" motor.

 

Joe, thanks for quick and helpful info. I’m trying to also get some documentation on what they did to the engine to make the claimed 365hp. I believe the max stock hp was 250? Waiting to hear back on if heads are stock to block or aftermarket? Anything I should be concerned about with the “J” heads?

 

Be aware of what they aren't telling you. "J" heads are low performance "Smog heads". And you might have a 455. BUT, what pistons do you have ? A 1973 engine was low compression about 8.5 to 1.
If you see "J" heads on the engine and its a '73 455, you can be assured they transplanted it and its a low performance engine from a "B" body (big car). The burden of proof is on the seller. Good luck.
......Just my two cents worth.
I'll post a couple ID charts for you to save on your computer. Print them out, study them and take them with you.

 

Thanks for info and appreciate the advice. Sent an email back to seller asking for proof of the claimed rebuild.

 

Trying to identify this block's stamping.

According to OLDsterRalph's chart it's a second run 455.

According to the VIN stamp it's a 1973 block built in Arlington TX. My question is what is the first 3 for? According to the parts book it's supposed to be a letter for the usage code:

 

3 = Oldsmobile Division
3 = 1973 model year
R = Arlington, TX assembly plant
126836 = sequence number from the VIN of the car it was installed in

Keep in mind that the VIN derivative is comprised of nine of the thirteen characters in the car's VIN

 

It doesn't have the usage code because it's not a VIN, it's a derivative.

Thank you Joe.