I'm in the process of buying a 63 F-85 and I'm getting conflicting engine sizes. How do I identify if it is a 330 or a 215?

 

The 215 is an all aluminum V8 with the distributor in the front. The 330 is iron V8 with the distributor in the back. If it is an original V8 in the car it will be an aluminum 215. the 330 did not come out till 64.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Unless someone has gone through a lot of effort to swap the engine and trans (not likely but not impossible), it's an all aluminum 215, which was the only engine factory installed in the 1961-63 F-85. The 330 was not released until the 1964 model year. The 215 is actually a Buick-designed engine, which is why the distributor is in the front (though Olds used unique block, heads, pistons, valvetrain, and valve cover). If it's an automatic, the trans is a RotoHydramatic-5, with is also unique to the 61-63 F-85 and won't bolt to a 330.