Hi All
I picked up a couple parts cars and am crawling over them trying to figure out what's there. One is a 1955 Olds 98 4 door, but it has #18 heads which key out to the 1959 394. The engine number is 574865 but all my efforts doing internet searches I'm not verifying if this block is a 1959 394. Anyone out there who can confirm what it is? John

 

Here's a couple photos.

 

574865 is the engine number stamped on the cylinder head, or the casting number on the block?

 

That number is in the block, back by the firewall. The area that looks almost like an extension of the motor into a bell housing.

 

Looks like 59-64 371/394 valve covers to me. 57-58 had 2 bolts in the middle of the valve covers. My mind is blank about 49-56 valve covers. I think the 57 used #14 heads, 58 used #16. The casting number should be in the back and will be a raised cast number, not stamped. Charlie Jones will probably have the answer.

 

 

 

Yes it does have the downdraft hose coming out the back.