i have a olds 455 i kno the casting number on front is 396021F 68-72 so i was wondering on how to narrow it down to get the exact year??? there is a 68 stamped in the back of the motor behind the flywheel is that the year or??? thanks any info will be greatly appreciated

 

There is a tab just under left / driver side head you will need to clean Off should tell you the year and the place it was installed


Example 31m525750

3 =Oldsmobile
1= 1971
M=Landing

If needed refer to http://www.442.com/oldsfaq

This is where I found it

 

Don't believe everything you read in the FAQ. The "F" block was used from 1968 through at least 1974. There was overlap between the "F" and "Fa" blocks in the early 1970s, mainly because the Fa doesn't have the threaded hole for the clutch equalizer bar, so F blocks were used in the few manual trans installations in those years.

 

run the numbers on the heads and intake also. that might help. could be a toronado 455 68 thru 70 pushed some good numbers in the HP/TQ department. i have a 69 455 form a toro in my 1973 cutlass and it pulls the car very well for a pure stock engine.. minus the 750 dp and hooker headers.. shes bone stock ( till next summer ) i've been buying parts cam , intake , valve springs etc etc.. should go damn good when i'm done,

 

if the engine is out, look on the back of the block by where the flywheel bolts down. it should say 68 F or 69 F, in my experience, engines i have pulled out of 68's say 68 back there, and 69 say 69 back there

 

And every block cast AFTER 1968-69 ALSO has a 68 F or 69 F on it...

Again, ONLY the VIN derivative stamp proves the year of the block.

 

there is a 68 stamped in the back of the motor behind the flywheel
===================
*sigh*
that surface is fwd of the flywheel, not behind it. It's the CAR's orientation to use, as it does not change, not the OBSERVER'S.
That's not "stamped" into the engine, it's a cast-in raised convex feature.... but niggling details aside...


if the engine is out, look on the back of the block by where the flywheel bolts down. it should say 68 F or 69 F, in my experience, engines i have pulled out of 68's say 68 back there, and 69 say 69 back there
=======================
No, all blocks have "something" there.... but its meaning is unknown... it can be surmised that it is NOT directly related to the model year of the engine nor the calendar year the block was cast.


Again, ONLY the VIN derivative stamp proves the year of the block.
========================
That is indeed the best proof of model year issue for a 1968+ block.
The casting date adjacent to the distributor hole is also a good rough indicator:
1
360
would mean 1967 [1st calendar year of 455 block production]
and day 360 = about December 26th, give or take a leap year day I guess.

Go over the ID location learning sites, and find as much as you can along the lines of:
the block VIN stamp [first 3 at least],
the number stamped into the oil fill tube [first one at least],
head casting ID,
intake casting ID,
carb number,
distributor number,
water pump casting ID,
exhaust manifold casting ID.

that info will tell a lot about the

 

Danng! didnt know that, learn something new everyday! thanks! haha

Hey, since were talking about 455 stuff, can someone tell me what kind of crankshaft is in my other 455, has nothing on it but a part number that looks like 400493. No N or anything cast into it. This crank any good? Better or worse than my N crank?

 

Forged, Yes, Better

 

Joe...I am confused. Please explain the FA block in my 65 442. Rest assured it has the 4 speed stud boss since it was an original 4 speed engine & still is. Also please expain all the 1973 V code cars with their original Fa blocks. Yet your statement above states that there are no 4 speed Fa blocks. What am I missing?

 

My experience is contraty. I have pulled numerous 1972 455s that were stamped 68 F.

 

Actually, I apologize for the misinformation. There have been documented Fa blocks with the Z-bar hole drilled and tapped from the factory. Sorry.

 

hi I have a 455 olds #s 396021 f then under left head #s 381279212 can anyone tell me the year thanks

 

If the third character is a 1 then it's a 68 455 from the Oshawa, Canada plant.


I didn't know they produced big cars in Oshawa


Edit: Actually it looks like 1 is St Therese, Canada

 

Mike,

Always go with your first choice on multiple choice questions. Assy plant #1 was Oshawa, CA. Olds did not use St. Therese in the 1968 model year.

Of course, this brings up a much bigger question, namely that there were NO 455s installed at Oshawa in the 1968 model year. The only Oldsmobiles built there were A-body cars, and the only 455 A-body cars built in the 1968 model year was the Hurst/Olds, which only came from Lansing.

That only leaves two options. Either the block is a restamp, or the O.P. has misread the VIN derivative.

 

I found it here:


http://www.oldsmobility.com/old/vin.htm


I thought I had remembered it as 1 but that made me question it

 

Oh, well, if it's on the INTERNET then...

Check figure O-4 in your 1968 CSM.

 

Hey everyone I'm rebuilding a olds 455 F block with the same numbers as listed above. I'm new to this so where do I check for the compatible manual threads on the block, because I plan to drop this engine in my 73 Cutlass S optioned 442 clutch car.