1956 Buick engine block serial number

[Richard Jewett]

I find I have become an "old man" now and must (says my wife) start clearing out my stuff so she won't have to do it when my day comes!

The first thing to go is a spare (almost new) 1956 Buick engine block. I purchased this from Ralph Crisp a Buick zone rep.(who lived in Omaha Ne.) in the late "70's.

He said it came from a newly purchased Buick that the owner insisted something was wrong with the motor. The owner talked Buick into replacing the engine block and crankshaft. Ralph (a sort of pack-rat) kept the old block and crank and insisted (to me) that nothing was wrong with them. I was told he kept many Buick take off parts rather than throwing them away. Having a 1956 Century, I purchased the block/crank for future use--which never came. This block has a (to me) strange serial number and I was wondering if anyone could help me understand it. The number is V8827955. I am told it came from a "56 Super.  Why the odd serial number?  Richard

[old-tank]

The "5" at the end indicates installed in a Super.  Take that off and you have V 882,795 indicating an early 1955 engine.  Also after engine 1,000,000 the "V" was dropped on the engine stamping.  Numbers matching is not important on Buick engines and that block can be built as a 54 55 56 and maybe a 53 if no one is watching.

[Richard Jewett]

The block casting number is GM1165165. Doesn't this denote a '56 casting which has an inch added to the bell housing length to accommodate a bigger torque converter? So if I understand, this block is  interchangeable with any 322 block from '53 thru '56?  Richard

[usnavystgc]

19 hours ago, Richard Jewett said:

Ralph (a sort of pack-rat) kept the old block and crank and insisted (to me) that nothing was wrong with them.

Any idea how much you want to sell it for?  Where are you located?

[old-tank]

18 hours ago, Richard Jewett said:

The block casting number is GM1165165. Doesn't this denote a '56 casting which has an inch added to the bell housing length to accommodate a bigger torque converter? So if I understand, this block is  interchangeable with any 322 block from '53 thru '56?  Richard

Look here

That casting number is for 322...53 to 56

[Richard Jewett]

Thanks to old-tank for the information. I live in Des Moines, Iowa. Have a '56 Century series 63. Have had it since '75.  Not show quality but nice. Can we put email info. on this site??  Richard Jewett 

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[1953mack]

The casting number on a 1953 Buick V8 engine block is not 1165165.  

[old-tank]

12 hours ago, 1953mack said:

The casting number on a 1953 Buick V8 engine block is not 1165165.  

Tell that to the nice folks over at team buick and in the meantime tell us the correct casting number.

[usnavystgc]

22 hours ago, Richard Jewett said:

Can we put email info. on this site?? 

Yes, you can.