Need help decoding engine

Old May 2, 2014 | 10:25 AM
  #1  
68s350's Avatar
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Need help decoding engine

Hey Guys,

Need a little help.

I'm looking to purchase a 1970 455 from a tornado gt. The codes below.

403 686 on head with an E up toward the front.

The pad on the block under the head says 6OM612455

396021F by waterpump

Guy says its the W34 option 400hp. Anyone?
Old May 2, 2014 | 05:45 PM
  #2  
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Ok here is my take.

396021F- standard casting number for 68-70 455
403686- Standard 68-70 455 head. If original, should have big valves
6OM612455- this has me stumped. Working backwards on the numbers

612455- sequence number-part of the original car serial number
M- Lansing built
0- 1970
6- this is where the confusion is. Olds division is 3. I would double check.
Old May 2, 2014 | 06:38 PM
  #3  
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Hey mr olds,


So there is nothing special here that says it is the n400 HP version that they put in the toronado gt? I have vin from car that the motor came out of and pics of the car and cutout bumper from the gt. see attachments.


Vin#394870M612455

http://automotivemileposts.com/toron...ado1970gt.html
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
vin.jpg (35.8 KB, 24 views)
File Type: jpg
engine tag.jpg (61.2 KB, 23 views)
File Type: jpg
toronado gt.jpg (95.2 KB, 29 views)
File Type: jpg
cutout gt bumper.jpg (125.2 KB, 22 views)
File Type: jpg
gt badges.jpg (17.1 KB, 21 views)

Last edited by 68s350; May 2, 2014 at 06:55 PM.
Old May 2, 2014 | 07:37 PM
  #4  
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Looks like you have the original engine. They were actually rated at 2 horsepowers IIRC, 390hp and 400hp. 400 had ram air under the bumper similar to the 68 A body setup. Why is he just selling the engine? Car itself is rather rare.
Old May 3, 2014 | 10:00 AM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by 68s350
The pad on the block under the head says 6OM612455
Look again. That number will actually be 30M612455. 3 = Oldsmobile division, 0 = 1970 model year, M = Lansing assembly plant, and 612455 = the last six digits of the car's VIN. As you've seen, this IS the orginal numbers-matching engine for the car it came out of. If that car was a W-34, this is that engine.

Guy says its the W34 option 400hp. Anyone?
There's no way to tell that from the outside of the engine. You'll need to tear it down and measure a cam lobe to verify. Again, if the car it came from is a W-34, this is the numbers-matching engine (or, at least the original block).
Old May 3, 2014 | 10:46 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by mrolds88
Looks like you have the original engine. They were actually rated at 2 horsepowers IIRC, 390hp and 400hp. 400 had ram air under the bumper similar to the 68 A body setup. .........Car itself is rather rare.
No, the 400 hp was the W34 engine. They made 5341 W34s in 1970. They did *not* have a ram air intake, read this:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...0-toro-gt.html

Originally Posted by joe_padavano
There's no way to tell that from the outside of the engine. You'll need to tear it down and measure a cam lobe to verify. Again, if the car it came from is a W-34, this is the numbers-matching engine (or, at least the original block).
There is a round about way of telling without disassembly if the original trans and engine are together. Like the W30s and W31s, it has a unique trans. If it has an OM trans and the engine and trans have matching VINs, the engine is indeed a W34.
Old May 5, 2014 | 06:00 AM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
Look again. That number will actually be 30M612455. 3 = Oldsmobile division, 0 = 1970 model year, M = Lansing assembly plant, and 612455 = the last six digits of the car's VIN. As you've seen, this IS the orginal numbers-matching engine for the car it came out of. If that car was a W-34, this is that engine.



There's no way to tell that from the outside of the engine. You'll need to tear it down and measure a cam lobe to verify. Again, if the car it came from is a W-34, this is the numbers-matching engine (or, at least the original block).
The # is indeed a 3. I'll see if I can get the guy to look at the tranny cosde. Will keep you posted and thank you for your input.
Old May 5, 2014 | 04:29 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by wmachine
No, the 400 hp was the W34 engine. They made 5341 W34s in 1970. They did *not* have a ram air intake,
Ok it was my mistake. They had ram air in 68 only. I knew somewhere they had it, just got the wrong year. LOL
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