Hello,
I have a aluminum V-8 that I was told is a Buick engine. I have been doing some checking and decided it is actually an Olds due to the way the valve covers sit and the number of headbolts, 18 per side. I am trying to identify it by the numbers stamped in the block and not had any luck. Is there a place I can look the #'s up to properly ID the engine? The block is stamped HI 50562 on the right front where the head bolts on. The head is stamped S039688. I have been looking on google until my eyeballs ached. That is how I wound up here.
Also it has a strange 2bbl manifold on it. There is a ridge cast into the manifold all the way around where the carb bolts on that is roughly 11" in diameter and machined flat on the top. It looks like there was some kind of cover over the whole carb. It has a casting # of 578170
Any help identifying these parts would be appreciated. I have enjoyed reading the forums since I discovered the site the other night. Thanks for being here and for any info you can share with me or point me in the right direction. Mark in Colorado

 

I don't know much about the 215 except it was used in '61, '62 and '63. We have a few guys quite knowledgeable in the history department and hopefully you will get your answer soon. Welcome to our site.

 

Here is the guru of guru of the aluminum olds motor::

http://www.aluminumv8.com/tech/tech.htm

 

Thanks for the reply's I will check that site out tonight after dinner, It looks promising, Thanks again!!

 

almost forgot, I pulled one of the heads today, the casting # on the head is 577746

 

It is a 1961 engine. The air cleaner went all around the intake and totally cover the 2 bl carb. Only the '61 2bl engine was done that way. It was only in '61, I believe '62 & '63 had the normal type air cleaner for the 2bl and the 4bl. engine.

Gene

 

Thank you for that info 64rocket. I wonder if that intake would have any value to anyone? I was considering putting a regular 2bbl or 4bbl intake on it just for cosmetic reasons. So maybe if this intake was original to this engine it is most likely a 61 engine. I have not had any luck finding anything out from the numbers stamped in the block yet.

 

I doubt that you will. They all used the same casting. The differences were in the machining.

The air cleaner in question, was '61 Olds only.

Norm

 

So far I have learned from the above mentioned website that my heads with the casting # ending in 746 are low compression 2bbl heads, maybe I don't want to try a 4 bbl manifold on it then?

 

Unless fuel mileage is a priority, there is no reason not to use a 4 barrel.

Norm

 

Pontiac used the Buick version.

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/GM...tification.htm, addresses the ID stampings.

Norm

 

Not to be going back and forth with you, but pontiac did use the olds version from just about everything I've looked into, and I've done a good bit of that

 

See the thread 215 v8- do and dont's- 63 F85 Cutlass left some great info and links---