rhett838

I just bought a 69 Cutlass S Convertible...It was a deal I just couldn't pass up. It runs very well. Yeah it needs new paint, a new top, but everything else is solid, body, engine etc, and it runs like a dream! It's the car I always wanted, and after much convincing (begging) My Wife let me get it...she's a good wife!

I 'm looking forward to picking everyone's brain about the awesome these machines. The only thing I really know about them is that I always wanted one.

My question is this: The guy I bought it from said he doesn't know if it's the original engine, but he knows it's an olds engine. Where are the #'s on the engine that tell me what year, where it it was made, and all of the other details located? I know it's GM Engine, but how do I know it's an Olds engine?

Thanks, I look forward to conversing with all of you in the future.

A VERY new Cutlass owner,

Rhett

Jamesbo

Welcome aboard. This is really wierd. In the last few days EVERY Newbie has been a 69 owner. Soon my ole buddy Ciitcapp is going to chime in and welcome you. He's about to go nuts with we 69 owners.

There are two set of numbers to look for. One on the self right above the water pump and the vin is on a pad below #1 spark plug. It should start with a 3. Post em and we'll help ya figure it out.

2blu442

Welcome to the site, and congrats on your new toy! There's a few places to look to identify and Oldsmobile engine. First if you stand in front of the car and look down between the water pump and intake manifold there should be a long number with either a larger number, single digit or a larger single letter. That will help identify the engine size or at least what the block came from the factory as. Then for the vin number to see if it's the original engine for the car it's a little harder to get at. There will be a pad on the block with numbers and letters stamped into it, located on the drivers side front just under the head. I believe there's a photo of that posted on another thread, you may try the search option to find it. Typically you'll have to clean the grease off of it and if your alternator is on the drivers side (AC cars) you might have trouble seeing it. Give that a try and post what you find. While your looking for a vin number look for the head casting number. In 1968 and 1969 the 350 should have a large number 5 cast just below and to the left of the forward most spark plug on the drivers side. If that's something else post what you find for us. If you have any problems take some photos and post them, you said it's a GM engine but it sounds like your not sure it's Oldsmobile. John

2blu442

Ah, Jamesbo it looks like you beat me as I had to answer the phone in the middle of the novel I was writing

Jamesbo

I think

"They call me Ishmael...................."is a catchy first line for your next tome.

citcapp

Another 69!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its an invasion of the Olds snatchers their changing all oldsmobiles to 69's AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW protect your Olds its in danger,beware, this group is led by a sneaky guy known as the "Jamsbo" watch out, watch out.................

ZipTie

Welcome aboard rhett. Though I'm not one of the new 69 owners, I hope we can still be friends. =)


CB

rhett838

Thanks for the help...I'll look for it when it gets out of the shop (leaky tranny)

I'm afraid the vin is behind the alternator like you said, or the power steering pump. I don't have the tools right now to move all of that around.

There is a big # stamped on top of the engine in front of the air filter, but there are no letters in it. I don't know if that's a random #, or if it actually tells you something about the engine.

I'm just lost when it comes to intricate things like this. I'm a Newbie x 12!

Is there any incentive to joining the Olds Car Club of America, or is that just for the Hard Core Olds owners?

Jamesbo

Yes Join nice magazine with interesting articles and adds from good suppliers plus classified adds.

Ok we got the air cleaner located. Thats good. Now stick your head down [with the engine off] and look over the top of the radiator. You should see a plastic fan shroud. Look down behind the fan belt [pulley] and just above it on the block there will be a flat spot just above the the fan pulley. That the first [and eaisest number to spot.]

2blu442

Since this question has been asked a few times I went out in the driveway with my trusty digital camera. I took photos of the block casting numbers and the vin number pad from several different engines and posted them at:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...html#post86281

I think this should help.

Oldsguy

A picture definitely helps explain and show the location. Good work. Rhett, welcome to CO and hope you can identify your engine soon.

csstrux

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I still havent gotten through that pig of a book and I started it like six years ago Catchy my azz!!

rhett838

Blu, your pics were a great help! I've found pics of #'s before, but since they were so close up, they could've been on the side of some guys artificial hip for all I know. You left a lot of space around the #'s, giving me good reference points when I find the #'s on my engine.

I can't wait to look for them! But I'll have to b/c I won't get my car back until Tue. I'll take some pics then, and then hopefully you guys can help me figure out if it indeed is an olds engine, year, size, and all that good stuff.

2blu442

Glad to help! We're looking forward to seeing pics of your car when your able to post them. John

svnt442

To verify if the engine is original to the car the last 6 of the stamped numbers behind the alternator need to match the last 6 of the VIN.

rhett838

Okay here's a Numbers question...The last 6 digits in my VIN and the 6 digits on the cowl tag don't match...should they?

VIN: 336679M(175209)

Cowl Tag:
ST 69 33667 Lan 176983 (doesn't match) BDY
Trim 944 65A Pnt
10B

One other quick note, the car is currently Saffron (UGH!!) but the guy I bought it from said the original color is Aztec Gold (75) which is kind of like a dark brown, which I've seen in places on the car under this current paint. But according to the Cowl Tag, it says 65, which is topaz, a mix between the brown and saffron...Double yuck!!! But the 944 means dark gold interior...which it is.

I'm Confused!!! I don't care if the numbers match, but in some places they do, and some they don't.

Anyone?

I'll finally get on later and give my engine #'s and see if you can help me decipher those too.

Thanks!

Jamesbo

3=olds
3667=Cutlass drop top
M=Lansing [as well as the L]
10 B=October second week
944=gold interior
65A=Topaz paint w/ white top

rhett838

Thanks JamesBo, but are the last 6 of the vin and the 6 digit number of the cowl tag supposed to match?

By the way here's my engine casting number...395558 (BIG) 2
...What does this # mean?

I can't see the # under the #1 spark plug. I need to clean it off and put a camera down there.

Thanks again.

rhett838

Ha!!! Looking again at 2blu442's pics (there's a link above)...One of his pics has the same engine casting number I have in my 69 - 395558 (BIG) 2...so I have a 68 engine in a 69...hmmm . That can't be right can it?

joe_padavano

It would be an amazing coincidence if they DID match. The cowl tag number is a sequential BODY build number assigned by Fisher Body. The VIN is the sequential CAR build number assigned by Olds at the assembly plant. The body build number is assigned before a VIN is assigned, so the numbers do not match.

Are you sure the original color is Aztec Gold? Could the topaz have been painted over early in the car's life?

rhett838

I honestly don't know the original Color, but according to the tag it should be topaz. However, where the saffron is chipping, under the hood and inside the door, I see that dark drown, which I think is the aztec gold.

I can live with the aztec, but topaz???!!! I just may have it painted blue with white stripes like I originally wanted instead of going with it's original color. But I like orginal things, but I like my preferences also.

Jamesbo

I thought Topaz was a yellow color

rhett838

http://www.tcpglobal.com/aclchip.asp...obile-pg01.jpg

Here's a link to the paint colors...Currently it looks a lot like the saffron (but I don't know if that's what that really is). I see the dark Aztec in places, and no topaz. But it looks like that topaz is a lighter brown (chocolate milk)...The more I complain about it, the more it's starting to grow on me.

Do you know anything about what I said above:

Ha!!! Looking again at 2blu442's pics (there's a link above)...One of his pics has the same engine casting number I have in my 69 - 395558 (BIG) 2...so I have a 68 engine in a 69...hmmm . That can't be right can it?

Jamesbo

That's the cast number for a 68-70 350

The ID with vin will be located on a stamped pad just below the head on the drivers side front of blocks below number one spark plug. It's usually covered up with a bracket or something and is a PITA to read becuase it's usually got 30 years of grime one it.

joe_padavano

Actually for most 68-76 350 blocks.

Jamesbo

My mistake Joe.

I thought the "2" limited it to earlier years.

Thanks fer clearing it up.

rhett838

FINALLY!!! After a month and a half I have all of the numbers...

I know what the VIN Means 336679M175209...Thanks Jamesbo!!!

I know what the Cowl Tag means...Thanks Joe Padvano!!!
ST 69 33667 Lan 176983 BDY
Trim 944 65A Pnt
10B

The engine casting number 395558 (BIG) 2 with a Big 5 underneath the #1 Spark Plug.

And after using some carb cleaner and a toothbrush, I unveiled the engine vin #
39M175209...what does this mean?

If you look at my original post I said the guy I bought it from didn't know if the engine was original, but did know it was an olds engine. It looks like it's an olds engine,AND it's original...I think I really lucked out!

Jamesbo

Sorry it took so long but I think your good to go with matching engine

Oldsguy

by the way, that's one cute puppy in your avatar Rhett.