Hi! I'm new to the forum and have a question about engine identification. You can see the picture I posted with the numbers. My grandfather passed away and we will be selling this engine and I would like to know the details of it. He told us it is a 442. It was never used in a car. He got it new (we live in Lansing MI and years ago knew a lot of people that worked for Olds - both line guys and executives. Anyway, he somehow managed to obtain the engine brand new) and only used it recently in the last few years to run a very large vacuum for a vacuum forming device in his shop. Just kind of wondering how ld it is and if it's worth much. thanks for your time.
-Joe

 

We'll need more than that to be able to tell you anything, Joe.



That's a '65 to '68 A-body big block exhaust manifold, but we haven't seen the rest of the engine.

Let's see some pictures of the motor.
If this is a pre-'68 motor, there should be a number stamped into the front of the right-hand head, which will tell you what kind of motor it is (well, what kind of motor the head was originally bolted to, anyway).



It's just inboard of the alternator in this picture.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

 

You posted a picture of an exhaust manifold. That wont help us identify the engine beyond it being a BBO.

 

Post a picture of the numbers on the front of the engine, on the shelf above and behind the water pump. That will be the block casting number.
Then post a picture of the letters cast into the heads, near the #1 spark plug. This info, in addition to the stamping in the front of the head as posted above, will ID the engine.

 

Hi Joe
Since the exhaust manifolds can be swapped between many engines of that period, we need more information. The manifold you showed us was used on 442 engines. Here's some photos of the numbers the guys are describing. Let us know what you find.

PA221840.jpg

PA221837.jpg

P5210838.jpg

P5210826-1.jpg

 

I see. OK, I have more pictures at home on the computer. I will post some more later this afternoon. thanks.

 

Well, here are the only pictures I have right now. I know none of these are the exact ones you guys asked for, but mybe there are other identifying marks or characteristics that can at least help identify the engine. I will be back in Lansing this weekend (I live in Detroit area), and I'll take more pics then.

 

Here are the last 3:

 

I'd say it's either a '68 or '69 model year 400cid block, based on the "6026G" casting I can see on the front part of the block in one of the pics. The bronze color looks correct for the 400 block. Looks like "C" heads and the intake manifold casting number is correct for '68 & '69. The passenger side "Y" exhaust manifold is correct for '68 and '69. With the driver side exhaust manifold date of "179", it could be either a late production '68 engine or an early production '69 engine.


Randy C.

 

Any idea of the value of such an engine? Not sure if we will auction off my grandpas stuff, or sell it like a garage sale.

 

Damn, you've got a good eye.



Value will depend on such things as whether it runs and what condtion it is in.

It looks like it's spent a lot of time outdoors, so a lot of things could have gone on over the years.

What's with the big length of pipe going into the intake where the carb should be?
Was he using the engine itself as a vacuum pump? Was he running it on propane?

Next time you're there, take a picture of the number in the place indicated on your photo below:




If the engine is original, based on what we can see, it is a 1968 or 1969 4-4-2 engine (the only non-4-4-2 400 in those years was the 1968 290 HP station wagon motor and it had a 2bbl).
The specs for the 400 were the same in both years, so it is rated at 440 ft/lbs of torque and either 325 HP (automatic transmission), 350 HP (manual transmission), or 360 HP (W30).

- Eric

 

This is a 1968-1969 Olds 400 cid big block that includes the correct valve covers & exhaust manifolds for a 442 or similar. You will be doing very well to get $850 for everything pictured assuming the engine spins over freely.

 

OK, I know this thread is 5 months old, but I was able to get back and get some of the pictures that would help ID the engine. I know that rcorrigan5 said it was a '68 or '69 400cid, so I don't know if the following pics will add anything to that. The block casting number is 396026G. However, I could not see any stamping on the front of the head just under the alternator. Were there ever any engines that weren't stamped? Like I'm thinking if the VIN number was stamped, maybe my grandfather obtained the engine before it was ever assigned a vehicle? I don't know. Also, FTR, this engine was powered by propane, and it was started with a big, electric motor hooked up to the rear of the engine. He told us it was never used in a car, and was stored in the shop it's entire life, although to be honest - the shop is somewhat damp. So while "stored inside" might sound nice, the dampness I'm sure contributed to the rust shown in the pics. Here are the latest pics:

 

And lastly, we found another engine sitting under one of the shelves. It is a GM 4 cylinder. Any info and/or idea of the value would be greatly appreciated. thanks!! Here are pics of that one