Jump to content

Indentifyng Olds Engines


Recommended Posts

Print this and take it with you. This will give you the casting numbers of each year but a easy way is by the head numbers if original to the engine 303 ci 49- 52 no head number head not marked 303 53 is #3 324 ci 54 is #7 324 55 is #8 324ci 56 is#10 57-58 371 is 17 394 ci is23....... there are others but this covers most ..Tedd http://musclecarclub.com/members/castingnumbers/Oldsmobile1.shtml

Edited by Tedd Thompson (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While not foolproof by any means, at least in 59 & 60 the 371 engine was gold, while the 394 was green (even though Bill Hirsch calls it turquoise.)

Quite a few exceptions, 303's and 324's were green and 57-58 were also gold then the hi compression 394's were a reddish orange. Some of the late 371's were in fact a under bored 394's. There were industrial engines with setups for natural gas or propane, one I've seen was black in color but could have been painted years ago. Then there were the export engines that usually were lower compression units than what was put out for domestic use. I believe they also were turquoise....Tedd

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, this engine is in a race car. I was told it was a 303 from a 1952 98. Looked at the heads and can find no casting number and the engine serial number has been painted over with a very think coat of black engine paint. The car was written up in some articles as a 394 but I am doubting that...........

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...