Looking for a 1970 442 engine or block with code M as part of serial number. Car was built in Lansing MI.

Chris in St.Louis
314-495-1700

 

I Have a HI compression stock 350 it will need a rebuild Casting numbers 395558 1968-1975 serial number 39M314753 it has a nodular crank and # 6 Heads. I can send you pictures if you are interested.

 

He needs a 455.

 

i have a replacement 455 block with no vin derivative at all. I'm in Colorado. Nick
720-275-3124

 

When was it built?

 

julian date code is 335

 

I meant the car,but OK,your block was cast the 335th day.Now you just need to figure out what year it was cast.

 

The only way you can figure out the year is if it had a vin derivative stamped on the block. It doesn't, so there is no way to tell what year it is. It could be 68-72.

 

The 455 block must be from a 442 that has 30M stamped on the block (located by #1 cylinder). I have original 442 and have to replace the block. If you have a W30 block even better. Will pay a little more for this block

Chris 314-495-1700

 

Seems to me like a 88/98 block would also serve the purpose. You might have to drill and tap the other block drain boss that the A-bodies used, but that's a pretty minor detail to fix.

If you can expand your search, then I have one still in the 1970 D88.... and a '70 Toro core somewhere... but I so do not have the time or gas to go scout exact dates. Haven't been out there in months.

 

Keeping car as much original as I can

 

There are no special W30 blocks.
You can still determine the year of the block without a VIN.

 

The 70 olds 442 have a 1, 2, 3, or a 4 after the M or letter and the tornoda or delta have a 5 after them. This is how u can tell if You have a 442

 

What??

Umm....no. The VIN derivative on the block is 3 (oldsmobile) 0 (year) m (assembly plant) then the last 6 of the VIN of the car. All Toro engines start with a 5 because all Toro VINs start with a 5.

 

When was your 70 442 built? What are the letters/numbers on the cowl tag,just below the trim code?

Yes,I know you are looking for a 70 455 block,from a Lansing-built car,so the VIN on it would start with 30M,but there is no specific W30 block. It could be a 455 from a Vista,SX,or regular 442.
I just figured if you are going to go through the trouble,you might as well get one in the correct date sequence to the build date of the car,which can range from 10 days to 45 days before the car was built.

 

Since Lansing built all Olds bodies/models (F85/Delta 88/Ninety-Eight/Toronado) for 1970 & the 455 was available in all of them - a 30M1xxxxx, 30M2xxxxx, 30M3xxxxx, 30M4xxxxx VIN stamped 455 could be from anything but a Toronado.
Toronado was the only car built with specific VIN sequence, a Toronado engine would be 30M6xxxxx for 1970.

Unless you have the full VIN# from a parted/rusty car, the matching transmission, or engine mount details as noted above - there is no way to determine whether it's from a 98 or a SX etc.

 

How can you determine the year without a VIN derivative?

FYI - 335 =
Fri. Dec. 1 1967 * Mon. Dec. 1, 1969 * Tue. Dec. 1, 1970 * Wed. Dec. 1, 1971 * Thurs. Nov. 30, 1972 * etc.
or
Sat. Nov. 30, 1968? * Sat. Dec. 1, 1973?

? not sure the UAW was working Saturdays in November??

 

How can you determine the year of a block without the vin derivative? Not trying to be a wiseguy I just don't know.

From my understanding, if you blew up your motor while the car was under warranty, then you got a replacement block from Oldsmobile with no vin derivative on it, since it didn't belong to a specific car. it was then up to the dealership installing this block to stamp your vin on it. Many didnt do so, many marked them differently. I think that these replacement blocks are the most correct way to go if the original block is either gone or not usable. you could get a 455 block from any other 1970 car built in Michigan, but it still has the vin from another car on it. It may be from the correct year and manufacturing plant, but it won't be as correct as a replacement block, because it was born to another vehical. Hence, a replacement block was born to replace a block. Also, adate code can vary on a replacement block, because the replacement block were obviously not cast on or according to a specific or certain date in relevance to when a cars motor built at a certain time went bad.

 

Good luck im your search and if you need a replacement block I have one. $1000 plus shipping.
If the price seems kind of high, I agree, but if i find the right 442, w30, or HO with the original motor gone I would wish I hadn't sold this one. 1000 is a small price to pay for a factory replacement block for a car worth 30-80k

 

A service replacement block usually hadf a series of numbers stamped where the VIN would be,but I have never seen or heard of one where they stamped the VIN on the new block.One thing you can do is look at the font style of the "F" on the block.That will narrow-down the years.You can look down the sides of the cylinders,to see how much they step in.The later smogger blocks usually have a larger step,thus thinner cylinder.Then there is the large number just in front of the distributor,and also the same number under the oil filter boss.There is no concrete eveidence that ties it to the year,but there is no concrete eveidence that does not,so I am sticking with that theory that it is related to the year.

 

I have a 343 j date and a 311 j date ... both M2 vins. The 343 came from a 70 98 and the 311 came from a 70 lan built 442 rag top. Both blocks are for sale.

 

Can you share more of the VIN sequences?

1970 model year:

311 block = Friday 11/7/69 (how close to 30M210xxx?)
343 block = Tuesday 12/9/69 (how close to 30M250xxx?)

30M207xxx cowl tag 11D (11D would be Saturday 11/22/69 *326* to Friday 11/28/69 *332* & would include Thanksgiving), I'll look to see if I have the block casting date.

What is the original poster's body build week?

 

The 343 is sold. I will get more of the vin off the 311 pad.

 

I thought I had a 70 toro engine but the vin is 30X1xxxxx . do you know what I have .

 

The big mold number (single digit) near the julian casting date is highly indicative of engine year...yes I know it is not definitive, but it works for every engine I've owned or surveyed, more than a few. If I remember correctly, '70 should be a "3".

Steve