Any information on vin#3f87h2r171253 im trying
To find any info possible on the kind of motor and model I have
Any info will b greatly appreciated.

 

Any idea what year/model within a few years?

Roger.

 

Oh im sorry. 1972 cutlass

 

Year:1972
Division:Oldsmobile
Series:Cutlass Hardtop
Body:Coupe (2 door)
Engine:350 (5.7) V8 2BBL
Plant:Arlington, Texas
Serial Number:171253

 

So how do you tell 350 V8 "H"

 

5th character is engine
H = 350 2 bbl single exhaust
J = 350 2 bbl dual exhaust
K = 350 4 bbl single exhaust
M = 350 4 bbl dual exhaust
T = 455 4 bbl single exhaust (Full size)
U = 455 4 bbl dual exhaust auto trans
V = 455 4 bbl dual exhaust manual trans
W = 455 4 bbl Toronado
X = 455 4 bbl (W30)

 

So the motor is not a 350 rocket?

 

They're all 350 Rockets, regardless of the carb/exhaust. There's nothing specific that would make it a "Rocket". That was just a marketing name for them. Same with a 455 Rocket.

Terry

 

X2 Hence the Oldsmobile "Rocket"

 

I have a vinyl top would it be beyter to replace it or leave it the same?

 

This comes up a lot on discussions. Vinyl tops are a matter of personal preference and maintenance.

Back in 72 GM didn't really expect ownership of cars to last that long and as a result there wasn't a great deal of quality controls to ensure water tightness. The Cutlass suffers from water leaks on the rear window lower corner areas.

If your car has original vinyl on it, it's not going to be weather tight. Also on cars that came from the factory with vinyl, the top roof joints weren't carefully finished.

IMO, I think vinyl roofs look quite nice. Chances are you're going to spend the same money fixing and painting the roof as you would fixing and putting new vinyl on. If it was my car, I'd keep the vinyl. Trim parts for the reveal are also being reproduced if you need new stuff. And, you already have the tabs the vinyl trim clips need welded to the outer skin of the car.

 

Not true.
Any OLDSMOBILE engine can be referred to as a "Rocket"

Arguably, even a girly motor like a 260 or 307.

If it's not a SBC or SOB [Some Other Brand], then it's made by the fellers with a rocket logo, and that makes if a ROCKET motor. Since oh about 1949 when the overhead valve design kicked everyone else's butt on the race track, and the Rocket thing started.

 

Not all Oldsmobiles came from the factory with Oldsmobile engines. So if an Oldsmobile was produced with a Chev or Buick engine is not really an Oldsmobile and should have been rebadged as Oldsmochev, Chevmobile, Oldsick, or Bumobile?

I guess you could say those cars weren't rocket powered, but does it make them non Oldsmobile? Without seeing under the hood? Most of us Olds guys would know which models were affected by production issues and generally allow the Olds styling to be the deciding factor??