need 303 engine ID help!

[postalguy]

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

Edited September 1, 2009 by postalguy11
spelling errors (see edit history)

[Oldsfan]

Looks like that engine is out of a '50:

http://forums.aaca.org/f138/need-id-olds-motor-219553.html

Makes sense that it would only be a 2 bbl, because '52 was the first year for the 4-jet (standard on 98s and Super 88s).

Paul

Edited September 1, 2009 by Oldsfan (see edit history)

[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