1966 Cutlass - 330 - high comp or no

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 11:36 AM
  #1  
Vyktr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
1966 Cutlass - 330 - high comp or no

Good Morning folks. First post here on this for me. I found numbers matching 66 Holiday Coupe, all original and in good survivor shape. I have been cleaning and repairing all the minor issues to get it on the road. I have not 100% sure it is a high-compression 330, but it looks like it. I have only gotten this far cleaning, but from what I can see, it is a 330 High Compression, it has the Jetaway behind it, and the Quadrajet has been replaced.

Does anyone know for sure if this is the High-Compression motor?



CA car built in Fremont. Mostly surface "patina"



Right Head Stamping

Right Head read #3

Block
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 11:46 AM
  #2  
Sugar Bear's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,110
Borescope a cylinder and post a pic of the piston. It's the piston not the head on that engine for HC vs. LC

Nice find, good luck with it!
​​
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 12:24 PM
  #3  
Vyktr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
I will do the motor and heads a match with the vin But it gives me the opportunity to use my bore scope
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 12:31 PM
  #4  
Sugar Bear's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,110
Try to get a picture showing the amount dish and the notches or "V" at the outer edge of the piston.
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 02:56 PM
  #5  
joe_padavano's Avatar
Old(s) Fart
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,803
From: Northern VA
ASSUMING the heads are original to that motor, the "G" suffix on the engine unit number indicates a high compression motor. As noted, only the size of the piston dish will tell for sure.


Old Dec 11, 2022 | 03:00 PM
  #6  
Vyktr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
BoreScope Pics

Here is one of the 8


cly 4

The notch looks V shaped to me I would say.

Last edited by Vyktr; Dec 11, 2022 at 03:03 PM. Reason: add text
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 03:17 PM
  #7  
Sugar Bear's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,110
The notch looks like a V, if yes it's HC. Looks like mild detonation on the piston tops??? run premium fuel and check the timing.

A nice find...enjoy!!!
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 03:27 PM
  #8  
Vyktr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
Thanks, man I just got it and am cleaning up the mechanicals. I will run good gas in it. The car has been sitting for quite a while

since I have to change the water pump. I am going to do the timing chain and such at the same time. I pulled it all apart on the front of the motor right after taking the bore scope pictures. I was going to do the cam, but it appears that the cam is interesting to source. So it's getting timing chain, intake, and some headers.

Thanks again.
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 03:37 PM
  #9  
Sugar Bear's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,110
When doing the timing chain line up #1 TDC on the
​​​COMPRESSION stroke, remove the front cover and take a picture. Reassemble the new gears and chain and take another picture. All necessary? No, save some second guessing and head scratching later? Yep.

Good luck!!!
Old Dec 11, 2022 | 08:49 PM
  #10  
edzolz's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,009
From: Red Oak, Texas
One of the best things you can do is get rid of that Holly carb and get a good rebuilt Q-jet and learn to tune it properly.
Old Dec 12, 2022 | 08:42 AM
  #11  
Vyktr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
We all have our opinions; quite frankly, mine is not good on the Q-Jet. I have no issues tuning it; that particular carb was on it when I got it. It will stay carburated until I fab up a manifold for sequential multiport fuel injection at one point. But thank you again for your thoughts. I was having issues with how to make 100% sure I had the High-Compression 330. I did not find the post about the U and V notches being the only way to be 100% sure.

This one will be mostly stock unlike my 71

Old Dec 12, 2022 | 09:39 AM
  #12  
joe_padavano's Avatar
Old(s) Fart
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,803
From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by Vyktr
I did not find the post about the U and V notches being the only way to be 100% sure.
The Chassis Service Manual clearly shows the different pistons. The depth of the dish is far more obvious than the notch.



Old Dec 12, 2022 | 08:14 PM
  #13  
Cutlass Fan's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 568
From: Saskatchewan
Originally Posted by edzolz
One of the best things you can do is get rid of that Holly carb and get a good rebuilt Q-jet and learn to tune it properly.
I may be mistaken but didn't the 66 come with a Rochester 4gc carb, I thought 67 was the first use of the Qjet on the 330.
Old Dec 13, 2022 | 02:51 AM
  #14  
66SportCoupe's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,416
From: St. Michael, MN
The 330 got the Qjet for the first time in 1966.
Old Dec 13, 2022 | 05:28 AM
  #15  
Oldsmaniac's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,320
From: NJ
PS full tube headers will be difficult to find. I believe shorties are available.
Old Dec 13, 2022 | 09:08 AM
  #16  
lunaboy's Avatar
The Rocket Astronomer
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,500
From: South Texas
The low comprsson 330 is a good engine because it runs well on todays pump gas; you can even use a two to four barrel carb adapter if desired or change the intake..
Seems like more 330 low compression engines from 64 -67 are still running and survived since the leaded fuels came along.

I like your 66 factory two tone paint. My 442 is the same color, with the black painted top not your white.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
66gutlass
Small Blocks
7
Jul 27, 2022 05:42 PM
PepOlds
General Discussion
14
May 1, 2022 08:23 AM
TheDudeAbides
General Discussion
14
Oct 7, 2021 08:58 AM
Hideawaycreek
Small Blocks
1
Sep 12, 2021 06:26 PM
smcurro
Small Blocks
7
Mar 5, 2009 09:40 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:34 AM.