Identifying what hp 330 engine i have
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Joined: Apr 2015
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Identifying what hp 330 engine i have
How can I tell what HP 330 engine I have in my 67 cutlass supreme. #381917 1 Oil filler tube (looks like a V could be W very hard to read. behind the distributor 337 letters look like CFD on the head - 1 (drivers side) T (5?)9195 (pass side) it has an after market intake and carb. that's about all I can see for numbers. it was just rebuilt and repainted before I bought the car. Thanks in advance for the help.
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
If the engine has been rebuilt then what HP it was issued as is irrelevant.
290 or 310 HP were the ratings I think... but again, if the pistons are different, the cam is different, the heads have been rebuilt/ altered... it's all different.
To address your enquiry, Look for the engine application code stamped into [not a raised casting ID] the front of the RH head, like
W100123L or similar
The prefix and letter suffix is all you really need. Run that past section 0 of the Chassis Service Manual. I remember L is for Low compression export engines.
The numbers next to the dist'r are the casting date, not relevant.
The 6-digit number and larger number near the oil fill tube indicate it's a 330, no surprise nor any additional information.
Should have a big #4 on the corner of the head- nice to know, but irrelevant to the HP level before or now. More or less.
The 330 is quite a fine small block.
photos?
ps
"A #4 head would indicate large valves. " = bullsnort
The 1967 factory service manual says nothing about any small blocks having any valve larger than another. They all used #4 castings in 1967. The Ram Rod or W31 voodoo did not start until 1968, with #5 castings... and there is no way to spot a RamRod/W31 larger valve unit from a run of the mill #5 or #6 casting w/o measuring valves, AFAIK.
290 or 310 HP were the ratings I think... but again, if the pistons are different, the cam is different, the heads have been rebuilt/ altered... it's all different.
To address your enquiry, Look for the engine application code stamped into [not a raised casting ID] the front of the RH head, like
W100123L or similar
The prefix and letter suffix is all you really need. Run that past section 0 of the Chassis Service Manual. I remember L is for Low compression export engines.
The numbers next to the dist'r are the casting date, not relevant.
The 6-digit number and larger number near the oil fill tube indicate it's a 330, no surprise nor any additional information.
Should have a big #4 on the corner of the head- nice to know, but irrelevant to the HP level before or now. More or less.
The 330 is quite a fine small block.
photos?
ps
"A #4 head would indicate large valves. " = bullsnort
The 1967 factory service manual says nothing about any small blocks having any valve larger than another. They all used #4 castings in 1967. The Ram Rod or W31 voodoo did not start until 1968, with #5 castings... and there is no way to spot a RamRod/W31 larger valve unit from a run of the mill #5 or #6 casting w/o measuring valves, AFAIK.
Last edited by Octania; Apr 21, 2015 at 09:51 AM.
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,539
From: Northern VA
So the answer is, the factory rating is irrelevant, as the motor has been rebuilt (with who knows what pistons or cam) and has aftermarket intake and carb.
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