Photos of Casting Number Locations, Engines
June 13th, 2009, 02:14 PM
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Photos of Casting Number Locations, Engines
There have been several people new to the world of Oldsmobiles asking how to key out their block. More experienced guys have described where to look, but I thought of the statement a picture is worth a thousand words. So... here are a few pictures of engine block casting numbers and vin numbers plus larger views of how to find them. You'll have to ignore the paint color on a couple of them. I would NOT paint my engines chebby orange or Ferd blue but I have purchased a couple that were already painted and I've not got around to repainting them
So don't pay any attention to the colors
P1010399.jpg
1977 350 engine casting number. Note the large "3B" at the end
P1010400-1.jpg
vin number stamped on a 1977 350 block
P1010403.jpg
The location of a motor block casting number, this one a 1967 425
P1010404-1.jpg
Here's a closeup of the 1967 425 casting number. Note the large "D" at the end
P1010401-1.jpg
Here's the vin pad on the 1967 425. There is no vin stamped in it as this didn't begin until 1968, but this is an idea where it's located on the 1968 and newer.
P1010417-1.jpg
Overview of the location for casting numbers on a 1968 350
P1010418-1.jpg
This is a 1968 350 engine casting number. Note the large 2 after the other numbers.
P1010412.jpg
Here's the vin location on a 1971 350 engine
P1010406-1.jpg
This is a 1965 330, it has a larger 1 in front of the other numbers not one at the end.
P1010415-1.jpg
The 1967 330 had a large number 3 at the end.
DSCN2822.jpg
Here's an example of the 1965 400 B block, only used in the 1965 442's
DSCN2825.jpg
1966-67 400 E Block
PA221840.jpg
1968-72 455 F block
DSCN2823.jpg
1973(?) -76 455 Fa block
So don't pay any attention to the colorsP1010399.jpg
1977 350 engine casting number. Note the large "3B" at the end
P1010400-1.jpg
vin number stamped on a 1977 350 block
P1010403.jpg
The location of a motor block casting number, this one a 1967 425
P1010404-1.jpg
Here's a closeup of the 1967 425 casting number. Note the large "D" at the end
P1010401-1.jpg
Here's the vin pad on the 1967 425. There is no vin stamped in it as this didn't begin until 1968, but this is an idea where it's located on the 1968 and newer.
P1010417-1.jpg
Overview of the location for casting numbers on a 1968 350
P1010418-1.jpg
This is a 1968 350 engine casting number. Note the large 2 after the other numbers.
P1010412.jpg
Here's the vin location on a 1971 350 engine
P1010406-1.jpg
This is a 1965 330, it has a larger 1 in front of the other numbers not one at the end.
P1010415-1.jpg
The 1967 330 had a large number 3 at the end.
DSCN2822.jpg
Here's an example of the 1965 400 B block, only used in the 1965 442's
DSCN2825.jpg
1966-67 400 E Block
PA221840.jpg
1968-72 455 F block
DSCN2823.jpg
1973(?) -76 455 Fa block
Last edited by 2blu442; June 13th, 2009 at 02:17 PM.
January 18th, 2010, 02:36 PM
#2
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Engine Number on a 1965 330CID jetstar 88
There have been several people new to the world of Oldsmobiles asking how to key out their block. More experienced guys have described where to look, but I thought of the statement a picture is worth a thousand words. So... here are a few pictures of engine block casting numbers and vin numbers plus larger views of how to find them. You'll have to ignore the paint color on a couple of them. I would NOT paint my engines chebby orange or Ferd blue but I have purchased a couple that were already painted and I've not got around to repainting them So don't pay any attention to the colors
Great work! I've been trying to find the engine number (not the casting) on my 1965 330CID motor. Any ideas?
Thanks, Ddbord
__________________________________________________ _____________
1977 350 engine casting number. Note the large "3B" at the end
vin number stamped on a 1977 350 block
The location of a motor block casting number, this one a 1967 425
Here's a closeup of the 1967 425 casting number. Note the large "D" at the end
Here's the vin pad on the 1967 425. There is no vin stamped in it as this didn't begin until 1968, but this is an idea where it's located on the 1968 and newer.
Overview of the location for casting numbers on a 1968 350
This is a 1968 350 engine casting number. Note the large 2 after the other numbers.
Here's the vin location on a 1971 350 engine
This is a 1965 330, it has a larger 1 in front of the other numbers not one at the end.
The 1967 330 had a large number 3 at the end.
So don't pay any attention to the colorsGreat work! I've been trying to find the engine number (not the casting) on my 1965 330CID motor. Any ideas?
Thanks, Ddbord
__________________________________________________ _____________
1977 350 engine casting number. Note the large "3B" at the end
vin number stamped on a 1977 350 block
The location of a motor block casting number, this one a 1967 425
Here's a closeup of the 1967 425 casting number. Note the large "D" at the end
Here's the vin pad on the 1967 425. There is no vin stamped in it as this didn't begin until 1968, but this is an idea where it's located on the 1968 and newer.
Overview of the location for casting numbers on a 1968 350
This is a 1968 350 engine casting number. Note the large 2 after the other numbers.
Here's the vin location on a 1971 350 engine
This is a 1965 330, it has a larger 1 in front of the other numbers not one at the end.
The 1967 330 had a large number 3 at the end.
January 18th, 2010, 04:04 PM
#3
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Ddbord, welcome to the site! the 1965-67 engines (maybe 1964 too?) have the application number stamped into the front of the passengerside head. This will be different from the vin number or anything on the trim tag, but if you know the letter codes before or after the number you can key out what the motor originally came in. Here's some examples.
P1010073-3.jpg
1966 Cutlass 330 but I can't read the letter stamped before the numbers
P1010075-3.jpg
P1010077-2.jpg
1967 Olds 98 425, note the large R before the numbers
P1010076-2.jpg
P1010078-2.jpg
1965 442 400 engine, note the letter V before the numbers
So these early cars are a little more difficult to say numbers matching as there's no vin number on them. What you can do is look at the casting dates for different parts of the motor and the production date of the car to see if they're reasonabley close together.
P1010073-3.jpg
1966 Cutlass 330 but I can't read the letter stamped before the numbers
P1010075-3.jpg
P1010077-2.jpg
1967 Olds 98 425, note the large R before the numbers
P1010076-2.jpg
P1010078-2.jpg
1965 442 400 engine, note the letter V before the numbers
So these early cars are a little more difficult to say numbers matching as there's no vin number on them. What you can do is look at the casting dates for different parts of the motor and the production date of the car to see if they're reasonabley close together.
January 19th, 2010, 10:29 AM
#5
Will NEVER Grow Up!
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Landrum, SC in "The Blue Ridge Foothills"
Posts: 593
Ddbord, welcome to the site! the 1965-67 engines (maybe 1964 too?) have the application number stamped into the front of the passengerside head. This will be different from the vin number or anything on the trim tag, but if you know the letter codes before or after the number you can key out what the motor originally came in. Here's some examples.
Thanks for the info! I'll try and find the number on the front of the passenger-side head. Where do I find the letter codes?
Ddbord
1966 Cutlass 330 but I can't read the letter stamped before the numbers
1967 Olds 98 425, note the large R before the numbers
1965 442 400 engine, note the letter V before the numbers
So these early cars are a little more difficult to say numbers matching as there's no vin number on them. What you can do is look at the casting dates for different parts of the motor and the production date of the car to see if they're reasonabley close together.
Thanks for the info! I'll try and find the number on the front of the passenger-side head. Where do I find the letter codes?
Ddbord
1966 Cutlass 330 but I can't read the letter stamped before the numbers
1967 Olds 98 425, note the large R before the numbers
1965 442 400 engine, note the letter V before the numbers
So these early cars are a little more difficult to say numbers matching as there's no vin number on them. What you can do is look at the casting dates for different parts of the motor and the production date of the car to see if they're reasonabley close together.
January 19th, 2010, 11:02 AM
#7
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January 19th, 2010, 01:55 PM
#9
Will NEVER Grow Up!
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Location: Landrum, SC in "The Blue Ridge Foothills"
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Protect-O-Plate
There was no Protect-O-Plate and I don't know anything about a build sheet!
Where would they have put the build sheet?
I found the numbers on the passenger-side head end. They look like
164 029.
Thanks for your help!
January 19th, 2010, 06:21 PM
#10
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Doug, the letter I mentioned is stamped with the numbers. The 425 stamp is easy to see, it's R255893 I believe the letter "R" will key out the application it was originally put in.
Kurt, thank you for mentioning the Protect-O-Plate, I'd forgotten about that!
The build sheets were left in the car during the assembly. They were to tell the assembly line workers what to put in the cars as they went down the line. You have to remove parts of the interior to find them, so if your car is original and in good shape you may not want to do that
You can do a search on this site for "build sheet" and find threads that discuss it in depth.
Buying a 1965 model from the original owner is a pretty cool thing. Not many of those are left. Congrats on getting the car! If you have more questions about other topics it may be best to create a new thread with a title of your topic. More people who can share their knowledge can find your threads then. John
Kurt, thank you for mentioning the Protect-O-Plate, I'd forgotten about that!
The build sheets were left in the car during the assembly. They were to tell the assembly line workers what to put in the cars as they went down the line. You have to remove parts of the interior to find them, so if your car is original and in good shape you may not want to do that
You can do a search on this site for "build sheet" and find threads that discuss it in depth. Buying a 1965 model from the original owner is a pretty cool thing. Not many of those are left. Congrats on getting the car! If you have more questions about other topics it may be best to create a new thread with a title of your topic. More people who can share their knowledge can find your threads then. John
January 20th, 2010, 03:38 PM
#11
Will NEVER Grow Up!
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Landrum, SC in "The Blue Ridge Foothills"
Posts: 593
Build Sheet
Doug, the letter I mentioned is stamped with the numbers. The 425 stamp is easy to see, it's R255893 I believe the letter "R" will key out the application it was originally put in.
Kurt, thank you for mentioning the Protect-O-Plate, I'd forgotten about that!
The build sheets were left in the car during the assembly. They were to tell the assembly line workers what to put in the cars as they went down the line. You have to remove parts of the interior to find them, so if your car is original and in good shape you may not want to do that You can do a search on this site for "build sheet" and find threads that discuss it in depth.
Buying a 1965 model from the original owner is a pretty cool thing. Not many of those are left. Congrats on getting the car! If you have more questions about other topics it may be best to create a new thread with a title of your topic. More people who can share their knowledge can find your threads then. John
Kurt, thank you for mentioning the Protect-O-Plate, I'd forgotten about that!
The build sheets were left in the car during the assembly. They were to tell the assembly line workers what to put in the cars as they went down the line. You have to remove parts of the interior to find them, so if your car is original and in good shape you may not want to do that
You can do a search on this site for "build sheet" and find threads that discuss it in depth. Buying a 1965 model from the original owner is a pretty cool thing. Not many of those are left. Congrats on getting the car! If you have more questions about other topics it may be best to create a new thread with a title of your topic. More people who can share their knowledge can find your threads then. John
Thanks for your advice! I'm new to this forum, although I joined it in September. Just getting into checking out the car!
The man I bought it from drove it from Buffalo, NY to Rutherfordton (pronounced "Rufton") North Carolina, about 20 miles from my home!
Said he went 80 all the way! Must have taken him 10 minutes to get it up to 80 because the carb pump and the vacuum advance did not work!
They work now and the machine really goes!
--Ddbord
October 11th, 2010, 12:10 PM
#12
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Location: moses lake wa
Posts: 173
1969 oldsmoble
hi could you tell me whit year motor i have my numbers are 395558 big number 2 but i have number 6 heads i have been told it a 1970 becouse of the heads i pulled the motor apart the heads still have the metal gaset 
May 8th, 2013, 07:01 PM
#15
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
Example:
8100123 for a 1968 engine
9100123 for a 1969 engine
0101442 for a 1970 engine [I would pay for a tube stamped thusly, for a curiosity!]
etc.
May 9th, 2013, 04:49 AM
#16
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,255
As Chris correctly points out, for 1968-up motors the Engine Unit Number is on the oil fill tube. The VIN derivative is stamped on the driver's side of the block. The first digit of the engine unit number is the model year (of the oil fill tube, at least), the second digit of the VIN derivative is the model year (of the block). No other pieces of the motor have a specific year stamp (though some parts, like the heads, may have year-specific casting numbers).
May 9th, 2013, 02:40 PM
#17
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Location: West Michigan
Posts: 1,587
True for most major castings, but many engine parts do have date codes which include the year: Carb, distributor, alternator, air cleaner housing, OAI adapter, oil filter adapter, etc. Heck, even the aluminum intake manifolds' date code included the year.
(I know that you already knew this, Joe, just wanted to clarify for others.)
(I know that you already knew this, Joe, just wanted to clarify for others.)
September 9th, 2014, 11:32 AM
#18
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Location: France
Posts: 207
Hi guys! 
First of all, thanks for this great and helpful thread!!
As stated here: https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...questions.html, I'm a new French member to this forum and I'm interested in a 1969 Cutlass Supreme 350 Holiday coupe!!
I just got an answer from the seller! I asked him the engine casting number (for the moment, did not have the time to go to see the car! Will see it next week, opn wednesday!!).
He sent me this number: 9196564
First digit means it's a 1969 engine?
And last 6 digits is production number?
I guess it's missing the 2 letters Code that should be just above?
Thanks a lot for your help!!
Chris
First of all, thanks for this great and helpful thread!!
As stated here: https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...questions.html, I'm a new French member to this forum and I'm interested in a 1969 Cutlass Supreme 350 Holiday coupe!!
I just got an answer from the seller! I asked him the engine casting number (for the moment, did not have the time to go to see the car! Will see it next week, opn wednesday!!).
He sent me this number: 9196564
First digit means it's a 1969 engine?
And last 6 digits is production number?
I guess it's missing the 2 letters Code that should be just above?
Thanks a lot for your help!!
Chris
Last edited by Christophe2m6; September 9th, 2014 at 12:53 PM.
September 9th, 2014, 09:13 PM
#19
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 13,680
Hi guys!
First of all, thanks for this great and helpful thread!!
As stated here: https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...questions.html, I'm a new French member to this forum and I'm interested in a 1969 Cutlass Supreme 350 Holiday coupe!!
I just got an answer from the seller! I asked him the engine casting number (for the moment, did not have the time to go to see the car! Will see it next week, opn wednesday!!).
He sent me this number: 9196564
First digit means it's a 1969 engine?
And last 6 digits is production number?
I guess it's missing the 2 letters Code that should be just above?
Thanks a lot for your help!!
Chris
First of all, thanks for this great and helpful thread!!
As stated here: https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...questions.html, I'm a new French member to this forum and I'm interested in a 1969 Cutlass Supreme 350 Holiday coupe!!
I just got an answer from the seller! I asked him the engine casting number (for the moment, did not have the time to go to see the car! Will see it next week, opn wednesday!!).
He sent me this number: 9196564
First digit means it's a 1969 engine?
And last 6 digits is production number?
I guess it's missing the 2 letters Code that should be just above?
Thanks a lot for your help!!
Chris
September 10th, 2014, 12:55 PM
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: France
Posts: 207
Yes, the number he sent me is the one in the oil tube!
Sent him a mail back to ask him to take a look between the water pump and intake manifold!
Will get back to you as soon as I'll get an answer!
Can't wait to see the car!!
November 13th, 2017, 11:39 AM
#22
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,255
November 13th, 2017, 12:11 PM
#23
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November 13th, 2017, 12:18 PM
#24
Old(s) Fart
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Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,255
Of course, the Oldsmobile factory didn't stamp those, the boat manufacturer did. Marine engines, like service replacement engines, were blank when shipped. As a result, there is no standard coding, the way there is for the VIN derivative.
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