Olds engine casting number question ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

the baron · 05-18-2005, 08:21 AM

Hi all ,

not truck related , mhh ?

yes , it is...

I have a friend which parts regularly out Chevy from the 1970's/1980's , I've been at his workshop yesterday...

He has some Oldsmobile engines laying there around , as I want to change the anemic 260ci Olds engine I have in my Burb , I could identify some 350ci's which interest me a lot ( casting number : 557752 3B ) , on the hand of that list : http://www.butlers-a1.com/oldsm.htm

but there are laying other Olds V8 engines with the casting number : 790 GM5 , which come out of Chevy's Caprice Classic Wagons from the beginning of the 1980's ?????

I did a search on google , but was completely unable to trace that casting number...

Has anyone of you a link to that information ( cubic inches ? )

Thanks

the Baron

Slonaker · 05-18-2005, 08:50 AM

I don't have any info on the casting number, but I can sure sympathize with you regarding the 260. I had one in a Cutlass once, and the car could hardly get out of it's own way. I pulled it, and dropped in a 350 Olds. The difference was amazing.

I am remembering that Oldsmobile 307 engines came out in a lot of GM products in the early 1980s. Could it be one of those?

Slonaker

EDIT: Maybe this will help?

http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofblk.htm

"The 1977 and newer blocks will have the cubic inches cast in large raised numbers right above the right hand center freeze plug, eg. 403. The 307 will be in liters (5L), and a diesel engine will have the letters "DX" on it. The engine VIN letter will also be cast into the side of the block. Note that the 260 blocks sometimes have the last 3 digits of the casting number cast there, "355", which is rather misleading."

the baron · 05-18-2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slonaker

EDIT: Maybe this will help?

http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofblk.htm

"The 1977 and newer blocks will have the cubic inches cast in large raised numbers right above the right hand center freeze plug, eg. 403. The 307 will be in liters (5L), and a diesel engine will have the letters "DX" on it. The engine VIN letter will also be cast into the side of the block. Note that the 260 blocks sometimes have the last 3 digits of the casting number cast there, "355", which is rather misleading."

Hi Slonaker ,

I have already been on that site too , but they don't speak about casting numbers as you may find them on the other blocks ( number casted on the bloc , just on the rear of the water pump ) ...

But I have to admit that I didn't look at the side of those newer blocks , I'll take a look in the coming days

Thans for your answer...

the Baron

*1FaastC10* · 05-18-2005, 05:14 PM

if its 80+, i'd almost put money on it being a 307

the baron · 05-19-2005, 03:31 AM

Hi Jeremy ,

I guess you're right , but why did they put Olds 307 engines in Chevys Caprice Wagons ?

I can't imagine a shortage of 305 by the Chevrolet plants ?

by the way , I've been there with a friend who has a 1976 mid-size Buick with the 3.8 V6 , he has bought a 350 Olds to put in it , 350ci Buick engines are very tough to find here...

he has paid 700â‚¬ for the engine , with all appendages on it ( alt , A/C compressor , carb , starter ) : not much money !

I have ordered my own 350 either , hehe !

*1FaastC10* · 05-19-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the baron

Hi Jeremy ,

I guess you're right , but why did they put Olds 307 engines in Chevys Caprice Wagons ?

I can't imagine a shortage of 305 by the Chevrolet plants ?

by the way , I've been there with a friend who has a 1976 mid-size Buick with the 3.8 V6 , he has bought a 350 Olds to put in it , 350ci Buick engines are very tough to find here...

he has paid 700â‚¬ for the engine , with all appendages on it ( alt , A/C compressor , carb , starter ) : not much money !

I have ordered my own 350 either , hehe !

they were referred to as "Corprate 307s", rather than Olds 307s. why would they put Chevy 305s in Olds Cutlasses and Buick Regals? simple, to save money on parts. the less parts they have to produce, the cheaper things are for everybody.

you mention a shortage of Chevy 305s, consider that they were put in C and K trucks, G vans, Monte Carlos, Malibus, Camaros, Caprices/Impalas, as well as some Buicks, Olds, and Pontiacs of the same vintage. a shortage of engines may not be that far off. since they were already tooled up for the other engines, they probably just upped production of them to fill the need.

Cadillac also used the Olds 307 and Olds 350 Diesel in their cars, since there was no "Cadillac" engine at the time.

05-18-2005, 08:21 AM	#1
the baron Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Liège , Belgium Posts: 263	Olds engine casting number question ? Hi all , not truck related , mhh ? yes , it is... I have a friend which parts regularly out Chevy from the 1970's/1980's , I've been at his workshop yesterday... He has some Oldsmobile engines laying there around , as I want to change the anemic 260ci Olds engine I have in my Burb , I could identify some 350ci's which interest me a lot ( casting number : 557752 3B ) , on the hand of that list : http://www.butlers-a1.com/oldsm.htm but there are laying other Olds V8 engines with the casting number : 790 GM5 , which come out of Chevy's Caprice Classic Wagons from the beginning of the 1980's ????? I did a search on google , but was completely unable to trace that casting number... Has anyone of you a link to that information ( cubic inches ? ) Thanks the Baron __________________ 1982 Suburban 2WD , 260ci Olds engine,TH400 , will get a 1979 front clip , might be ready in ... 2016 1985 Chevy Van ( 305/350 ) , "Kellogg" equipped , my actual D.D. 1960 Girl Friend , frame still good , body has some dents Last edited by the baron; 05-18-2005 at 08:22 AM.

05-18-2005, 08:50 AM	#2
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	I don't have any info on the casting number, but I can sure sympathize with you regarding the 260. I had one in a Cutlass once, and the car could hardly get out of it's own way. I pulled it, and dropped in a 350 Olds. The difference was amazing. I am remembering that Oldsmobile 307 engines came out in a lot of GM products in the early 1980s. Could it be one of those? Slonaker EDIT: Maybe this will help? http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofblk.htm "The 1977 and newer blocks will have the cubic inches cast in large raised numbers right above the right hand center freeze plug, eg. 403. The 307 will be in liters (5L), and a diesel engine will have the letters "DX" on it. The engine VIN letter will also be cast into the side of the block. Note that the 260 blocks sometimes have the last 3 digits of the casting number cast there, "355", which is rather misleading." __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado Last edited by Slonaker; 05-18-2005 at 08:58 AM.

05-19-2005, 03:31 AM	#5
the baron Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Liège , Belgium Posts: 263	Hi Jeremy , I guess you're right , but why did they put Olds 307 engines in Chevys Caprice Wagons ? I can't imagine a shortage of 305 by the Chevrolet plants ? by the way , I've been there with a friend who has a 1976 mid-size Buick with the 3.8 V6 , he has bought a 350 Olds to put in it , 350ci Buick engines are very tough to find here... he has paid 700â‚¬ for the engine , with all appendages on it ( alt , A/C compressor , carb , starter ) : not much money ! I have ordered my own 350 either , hehe ! __________________ 1982 Suburban 2WD , 260ci Olds engine,TH400 , will get a 1979 front clip , might be ready in ... 2016 1985 Chevy Van ( 305/350 ) , "Kellogg" equipped , my actual D.D. 1960 Girl Friend , frame still good , body has some dents

05-18-2005, 05:14 PM	#4
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	if its 80+, i'd almost put money on it being a 307



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