Decoding Olds 350 block. - pad reads EX73E244

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March 4th, 2018, 11:23 PM

68CutlassEX73E244

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Decoding Olds 350 block. - pad reads EX73E244

My 350 block with EX73X244 on the stamped pad
has raised digits in the casting that decodes as a '68
my understanding is that it was a crate motor for
James Garner's Baja Olds from the late 60's
since he and many of those connected with his
his campaign are gone, I'm reaching out to try
try and decode this motor. Thanks!

March 5th, 2018, 06:12 AM

olds 307 and 403

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Location: Melville, Saskatchewan

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If that can be proved that would be cool. I assume there will be some special parts inside, if it is a replacement motor for that series.

March 5th, 2018, 06:30 AM

joe_padavano

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Location: Northern VA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 68CutlassEX73E244

As far as I know, the engines in the Grabber Olds off road racer were experimental aluminum blocks. In any case, the casting number won't tell you the year - all 1968-1976 350 blocks have the same casting number - 395558. If it is a production motor, the oil fill tube will have an engine unit number stamp. The first digit of that stamp is the year, but obviously an oil fill tube can be removed and installed in any block, so that is relatively meaningless. If EX73X244 is in the VIN derivative stamp location, that's obviously not a production VIN derivative. It could be an industrial or marine block, or it could be something else. All the factory experimental parts that I have seen have raised EX------ casting numbers, not stamped numbers. None of them have factory production casting numbers.