postalguy

Thanks Paul, Ypur answer clears up a lot of questions I had about what was up with the engine and associated parts. really appreciate your help and this site...George

Greetings, need to resource the vast knowledge on this site. background: I acquired a 1952 olds barn find. Was told that the car had been sitting since 1985, that the engine was trash. Turns out the heads were bad, but upon inspection, it seems like the bottom half was rebuilt prior to the heads going bad. Had the heads rebuilt and the car starts right and sounds really good. Now my confusion: The ID in the door jamb and the ID plate on the cowl clearly identify the car as a 1952 olds, super 88. cowl = 52-1669D, ID plate = 528C11062 However, the shop manual states that the engine #, located on a plate and visible between the exhaust manifold port holes, on the driver side should only start with the letter R and 1001...for the 1952 olds. The plate on the engine reads: 8A455742H? Further confusing is that the manual states that the '52 super 88 came with a four barrel rochester. This engine has a two barrel rochester (only # on carb is RP 7013878). The # on the intake manifold = 555693-2. Lastly, the #'s on the heads are = 555644 (GM-2) and 555644 (GM-1). So, is this the correct engine for '52? How about the intake and heads? Really appreciate any input...Thanks

Greetings, I was removing the passenger side exhaust manifold on a 303 rocket engine, and, when I removed one of the lower bolts the coolant began coming out of the same hole? Is this normal? Thanks, George

Thanks Pete, Yep, the eng. is a 303, all eng. ID #'s confirm such. Trans is original hydramatic too. Previous owner sold the olds shortly after he bought it, cause he assumed the whole eng. was trash. He didn't do anything to it. Owner who obviously did the work in the block did pass away. Did find a web article on the step by step process for adjusting the valves using the sdjusting nut on the pushrods. I'll give it a shot. thanks again!

Hey Pete32, A little background. The previous owner advised me that the engine was trash. He couldn't even get fire out of the distributor. Anyway my friend, a very good but not advanced mechanic, got the engine running. Discovered the heads were shot, multiple cracks.We took alook inside the block and found the all the internal parts, crank, lifters pistons, etc., has been replaced, all appeared to be fairly new and unmarked. had the heads rebuilt. The push rods look original, each one having what seems to be an adjustment nut at the top where it meets the rocker? After the engine was reinstalled and everything hooked up, we tried to start it. It cranks but makes a whining noise (not the starter) and my friend stated that the valves needed adjusting? Removed the rocker covers and some of the rockers have more play than others where they meet the valve springs (coils?) Hope this clarifies a bit.

Greetings, can anyone advise me as to the step by step procedure for adjusting the valves (intake, exhaust) on a 1952 303 olds engine? Or, refer me to a website that has that info? The '52 repair manual I have gives the proper specifications, but not the procedure for adjusting. Appreciate any help, thanks...George

Thanks for the excellent input. Can the seals and gaskets you refer to be replaced without removing the engine from the car? Thanks...

George

RE: 1996 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, Northstar engine I cannot find the source of an oil leak. I've replaced the oil sending unit, the valve covers, the oil pan gasket, the oil filter, and it is dry around the oil pan drain plug. Any Ideas would be appreciated, thanks...

Thanks, Jeff and Pete, in response to Jeff; I'm in Los Angeles, Ca.. Response to Pete; I've seen some heads for 55-59 olds on E-bay, however, when I contact the sellers they advise me that those heads are not compatible with my 303 eng. Estimates I've gotten so far for a complete long block rebuild (including welding repair for the heads) runs from 2600 - 3100. Thus my reason for considering an engine upgrade. Thanks for your input guys, not in a hurry so I'll keep looking...George

Thanks, 31Ford, am looking into that suggestion. 303 & 324 engines are far and few between here in CA. P.S. most estimates I've gotten to rebuild mine fall around 3100.00.

Greetings, the heads on the 303 V-8 both have cracks and I can't seem to find replacements, so, in that the bottom of the engine could probably use a rebuild, I'm considering upgrading instead. Question; what yaer and brand engine & trans combo would require the least modifications to be made for upgrading? Thanks for any advice...George

Greetings, I'm interested in upgrading the original 303 V-8 & original trans, any suggestions as to what yr. & brand of engine and trans would require the minimum modifications and cost? The 303 currently in the super 88 has cracks in both heads and I'm having no luck locating replacement heads, so maybe an upgrade is the best way to go? Thanks for any advice...George

Thanks, htrdsx, this explains a lot. Someone had obviously relaced the original distributor in my '52 old super 88 with this one you just identified as being for a '49-50. My distributor should be 1110824 (51-55), so the parts stores kept giving me the rotor, cap, etc. for the 51-55 dist., they couldn't understand why I kept returning the parts which wouldn't fit, now we all know why. Thanks for your time, I'll check out your website...George

Greetings need ID info/application for delco remy distributor #1110817 Thanks...George