My ‘67 442 is all matching #’s. I know & have checked the casting # under the engine near Fly Wheel & is 390925E. Here’s the prob, I got a guy offered a can’t refuse $# so hoping there’s another duplicate casting number on top of the engine so he doesn’t have to crawl under to see?

 

The 6 digit number followed by an E is on the top front of the engine, between the water pump and intake. That will show its the correct engine for the car, but not prove its the original engine. It wasn't until 1968 that the vin was actually stamped in the block. Unless you have the protec-o-plate, which has the number stamped into the front of the head the best you can do is check the casting dates on the engine parts with the build date on the trim tag. And... even with the protect-o-plate you can only prove that one head was what came on the car.

 

Thx

 

Here's some pictures of the numbers on various Oldsmobile engines.

Photos of Casting Number Locations, Engines - ClassicOldsmobile.com

 

Just to clarify, there are no numbers that "match" on a 1967 Oldsmobile. While frequently misused, the term "numbers matching" means that the VIN derivative stamps on the block and trans case MATCH the VIN of the car, which means that they are the original, factory-installed parts. There are tens of thousands of blocks, etc with correct casting numbers, but there is only one matching VIN derivative for each car. Oldsmobile didn't start stamping the VIN derivative on the block and trans until the 1968 model year. The casting numbers on the parts may be CORRECT, they may even have date codes within the acceptable range prior to the build date of the car, but this does not make the car "numbers matching. Note that for 1967-older, the engine and trans have unit numbers, and if the owner has the Protect-O-Plate, that will tie those unit numbers to the VIN. Of course, the engine unit number was on one cylinder head, so all this proves is that the one head is original. By this definition, my 67 Delta is "numbers matching", despite the fact that it has a later 455 block in it. The one head with the unit number is the only original part of the engine on the car.

 

2blu442’s pics from Classic Olds help but, I see on the pics of the casting #’s from Classic Olds that the ‘67 425 has a casting # in front top of engine just behind the water pump but the pic of the ‘66-‘67 400 #390925E like mine only shows it in the rear of the engine in front of the fly wheel. Questions; Is that the only place for the casting # on the ‘66- ‘67 400? Or like the ‘67 425 is it on front top behind the water pump too?

 

The casting number is in the same place on ever 1964-1990 Olds V8 block (excepting the 394, of course).

 

Thx Joe! 👍

 

Sorry for the confusion. The E block in my photo is a bare block sitting under the workbench. It has a flywheel setting on top of it. As Joe said, the number is between the water pump and intake manifold.

 

😁👍

 

It's also worth pointing out that there are CAST numbers, and STAMPED numbers. A casting on an engine or a head is one of many. The E block code means it is an E 400, one of thousands. The stamping on the right front head pad is a specific number like Joe said for just that engine, but you have to have the protectoplate for it to be linked.

Tell him it's the original engine, show him the production code and explains vin matching was 68 and later only, with some exceptions like Corvettes, only. But, "matching numbers" pre-68 is a term that car guys that think they know things, but don't, use. Don't be like them.

 

Just out of curiosity, originally did a Protectoplate come with all olds’s in ‘’67?

 

Yes. It was intended for owner and vehicle ID for warranty work. Most were lost decades ago.

 

I had a ‘67 Tempest Lemans new, I’m sure I had it in for warranty stuff & don’t remember a Protectoplate? Probly was in the glovebox & never checked & dealer just knew where it was. I loved the body & interior but I hated the 326 engine! Got rid of it & bought a ‘70 Formula 400 Ram Air for $3450 when it came out! For both I worked a couple of summers before @ uncles bakery & made enough to buy 1st & trade plus cash for the Formula! I shoulda got the GTO package to start but was $400 more😬😂, more than I had. Bought Lemans for $2800 GTO would’ve been $3275 😳! Bet it was pretty close to the same for a Cutlass Sierra & 442 Holiday coupes😁! Hard to imagine those prices today!