stonecad

I picked up this core engine yesterday. It is a G block - engine stamp appears to be 38m344066. C heads, although it has the 2 barrel turnpike cruiser intake on it. This came out of a wrecking yard and was sitting in a '65 Starfire car. The intake dates to a 68 as well. My question and perhaps its unanswerable - I read on 442.com that there were 2 barrel 442 in 1968.


Is there anything I can use to try and identify the originating vehicle model?


Thanks


StoneCAD

allyolds68

There was certainly a 2 bbl 400 available in 68 but if I remember correctly there was only one 2 bbl intake in 68 and it could have been from a 400 vista cruiser or any other 455 as well.


edit: (In addition to the 442 Turnpike Cruiser option)

stonecad

Thanks for the info.

stonecad

Are notched valve covers an indication of anything?

allyolds68

All Big Blocks got notched valve covers in 68. The fact that they're on backwards tells me someone has messed with the engine


Are the valve covers painted red?

dnmfranco

Yes L -65 available in the Vista as well as 442 turnpike cruiser .
28158 two barrel w/o a/c
28159 " " w a/c

stonecad

There is some red color there yes.


edit: I believe the engine was painted red over an original bronze color. It came out of a 65 starfire and I believe those had red 425 BBO engines - In the pic I posted I see red and bronze colors... I am picking the engine up this weekend. The wrecker needed time to pull the engine. I will get some better pictures when I get the engine on a stand.

stonecad

Pulled some codes off the engine today


Engine ID 38m343066
Block ID (rear below flywheel) 68 over F3 in 1" letters
PS Exhaust 384784 RH D2
Carb 7040156 over 3009HD1
Oil Tube Stamped - 8437121
Waterpump 400269


Odd markings on Heads, and Crank CCC - see attached picture of end of crank shaft.


Markings on heads are on the flat faces similar to where pre 68 Engine Id's were.


Any help on what I've got to work with here is much appreciated.


Thanks


StoneCAD

dnmfranco

id number 68 olds block

the carb I believe is a 70

water pump is 68 for a/c

rcorrigan5

The carb is definitely a model year 1970 unit with a build date of 3009 (300th day of 1969).

The oil fill tube definitely shows it came from a model year 1968 engine (first number starts with "8").

The water pump is definitely an original for a '68 400ci engine.

Not sure about the passenger side exhaust manifold.

Randy C.

stonecad

Thanks for the info.

hurst68olds

IIRC my uncle's 442 "turnpike cruiser" has a different casting number on the driver's side "X" manifold (other than the typical 389269 LH).


What manifolds are on this engine? Single exhaust or dual? Did '68 station wagons with 400 2bbls have dual exhaust?


EDIT: 384784 RH D2 - is a '65-'67 full size (425) manifold

stonecad

This makes sense since the motor was in a 65 starfire. Prevous owner probably left his exhaust alone. The drives side exhaust manifold is missing.

joe_padavano

Just so we're clear, in 1968 the 2bbl G-block 400 was available in both the Turnpike Cruiser 442 and in the Vista Cruiser. There's no way to tell from the VIN derivative which one it came from (nor, frankly, does it matter). And only A-body BBOs got notched valve covers. Those in full size cars did not.

stonecad

That is good to know. Is there any truth to the origin of the F3 raised lettering on the rear under the flywheel? I read somewhere that it had to do with nickle content but the same article said the 68 engines should only have a letter and not a number...

oldsmobiledave

If you pull off one of the C heads I would be curious to know if the intake valves are 2.00" or 2.072" versions.

allyolds68

Dave,


I researched this in the 68 assembly manual one time and came to the conclusion that all 2bbl motors were low compression regardless of whether they were for a Turnpike Cruiser application or not so they would have had small valves. Not to say that the heads couldn't have been changed somewhere along the way...

dnmfranco

Dave, the turnpike I owned a few years ago had 2 inch only and was non a/c Dean

dnmfranco

Yes when had heads off I believe the piston ratios were 9 or 9.5

stonecad

I'm going to be tearing it down over the weekend and am quite interested in that as well. I'll post pics of the interior components as well....


StoneCAD

oldsmobiledave

I believe that a 1968 TC 400 will have 2.00" intake valves but you never know until you look. Real simple to measure once the head is off.


thanks

MDchanic

Yes, according to the 1968 SPECS Guide, there was only one 2bbl 400 available, with 290HP / 425 ft/lbs.

- Eric

joe_padavano

Yet another urban myth that will not die. There is no connection between the block markings and any variation in nickel content.