Need help to ID my Buick V8... casting numbers...

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by kc21, Feb 18, 2002.

  1. kc21

    kc21 Member

    Hi, guys! New to the forum.

    Anyway, I was given a Buick engine my uncle built. All he told me was that it is a 350 Buick. Obviously, I figured out it was a V8 by looking at it! I wanted to find out more info, so I searched for the casting number, and I think I found it. 1382201 is what I came up with. I searched the net and found this out:

    Buick 350 V8 5.7L year 1968-71 Bore: 3.8000

    Does this look right? I'd like to have some confirmation on my discovery before I start bragging to people on what I got!

    I'd appreciate it if someone could run that number for me, or give me another site where I can look it up again. I could not find another site to get the conformation myself, so I'm relying on you fine folks

    Thanks a lot!

    BTW -- I found the number towards the back of the motor, on the top, behind the carb.

    Thanks again!
     
  2. welcome

    Welcome to the board kc21. Great to have you here. The number you found would be for the intake manifold itself. To id the engine block, check the front face of the block, near the distributor on the driver side. There should be an engine serial # stamped into the metal of the block. Also, look for the production code number stamped between the driver side exhaust manifold and the 2 front spark plugs. It should be 2 letters followed by 3 numbers, e.g. AB123. HTH.
     
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Engine code

    The casting # you provided is probably the intake manifold casting #. Take a look between the #1 & #3 sparkplugs on the drivers side bank, between the exhaust manifold and head. Stamped into the DECK surface is a 2 letter production code. The most potent 350 was the 1970 "SP" GS 350 with 10.25:1 compression. It made 315 HP and 410 lb. ft. of Buick Torque:eek2: Let us know what you find and sign your first name:grin: to the post. If the block has been decked you wont be able to see the code. You may need to use a small flaslight to seeit after you clean the area thoroughly. Good Luck.
    Larry
     
  4. kc21

    kc21 Member

    Thanks for the help. I don't know what you mean by "decked", but I can't see anything underneath the valve covers. I think the motor is just kinda sitting in the engine compartment right now, it's deffinently not hooked up to anything!

    Also, I didn't see the block number either. I looked right beside the distributer, but nothing was there...

    I'll try to have some pics up for you guys to look at this after noon or tonight, so you can see what I'm dealing with. It's kinda raining and cloudy out here in Illinois today, so hopefully the weather won't interfere with the picture quality :pp

    Again, thanks for the help!

    BTW -- my name's Kevin.
     
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Kevin,
    The Deck is the block surface that the heads bolt to. There is a small part of the deck that is visible between the head and exhaust manifolds between the 1st 2 plugs. It's not easy to see especially if there's alot of dirt built up. Sometimes when rebuilding an engine they deck or resurface the block to increase compression or to simply true it up. If that's the case, the code is gone unless it's restamped:Brow:
    Larry
     
  6. quick85

    quick85 wrench turner

    buick v-8 codes

    kevin, give me a yell, i have tons of buick books!!
     
  7. kc21

    kc21 Member

    Sorry, guys, but I don't have any pics for you. Weather was kinda bad today, and nothing turned out. Guess I'll try again tomorrow...

    I removed the valve covers today and found this:

    B1233472

    E13 was stamped on the driver's side and E20 was stamped on the passenger's side.

    Haven't made anymore progress today, but I'll keep looking for those number! The engine and the car it's in are kinda in awkward places (wires and disassembled pieces all over engine compartment...), so it's a bit difficult for me to locate everything... especially since I'm kinda new to this!

    Anyway, I hope I can get some decent pics up tomorrow so you all can see what I'm working with.

    Thanks again!
     
  8. JohnK

    JohnK Gas Guzzling Infidel

    1233472 is a 1970 350 cid head casting, one cast on May 13, the other cast on May 20. They have 48 cc combustion chambers. They're probably the best casting to use for a performance buildup.

    1382201 is a 1970 350 cid block casting. The date code is probably on the front of the block under the timing cover. The production code stamped on the deck will tell you the other stuff like advertised compression ratio and horsepower.
     
  9. kc21

    kc21 Member

    Thanks, guys! You've been a big help!

    I saw another site earlier today, and it gave instructions on how to find the block casting number and production number. In the pictures, they seemed to be "carved" instead of "raised" like the numbers I've already found.

    Well, anyway, after my uncle built the engine, he painted it, and I think that the numbers may have been filled in with paint! I guess that's why I can't find them. I guess I'll have to sand down those areas to see if I can find the numbers...

    Here's the pictures I've taken:

    http://www.geocities.com/penguinonbud/engine1.jpg

    http://www.geocities.com/penguinonbud/engine2.jpg
     
  10. kc21

    kc21 Member

    Sorry, I haven't been around much the past few days :)

    I believe I have found the prod. code number. I could only see one letter... B135 (or B136). The paint made it difficult to see, so I don't know if the second letter is covered up, or if it really isn't there. I'll try to sand the area down, but it's in a tight spot, and I don't know how successful I'll be...

    I'll report back with more this weekend!

    Thanks, all!
     
  11. mocookie

    mocookie New Member

    67 buick gs

    i have a 67 gs and the block casting number is 231447 between the ears is this a buick 350?
     
  12. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

    i have a 67 gs and the block casting number is 231447 between the ears is this a buick 350?

    if it is it's not OEM. 1968 was the first year for the 350, in 67 you should have a 340.

    the secret is in the number of valve cover bolts. if you have 4 bolts on each valve cover it's a 67 or earlier 340 / 300 / 215. if you have 6 bolts it's a 350.
     
  13. BuickonDubz

    BuickonDubz Member

    My casting number is 1382201 Can anyone help me ?
     
  14. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    1970 350
     
  15. BuickonDubz

    BuickonDubz Member

    Can you tell me anything else about the motor? i am new to buick motors and this is my first one , its going in a 1980 lesabre
     
  16. BuickonDubz

    BuickonDubz Member

    Is there any difference between this and a 1968? when i bought it i was told it was a 1968 and roughly 310 hp
     
  17. 87GN@Tahoe

    87GN@Tahoe Well-Known Member

    only real difference is the '68 oils the valvetrain through the heads, while the '70 and later engines oil thorugh the pushrods.

    IMO latter design is a better design. Apparently, Buick thought so as well.
     
  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    Not really. look for the engine stamping(production code) on the drivers side cylinder deck between plugs 5 and 7. Should be a two letter code. You'll need to clean the area and use lots of light. If the engine has been rebuilt and the deck has been surfaced, you won't be able to find it. This is a picture of the area you need to look.

    http://www.v8buick.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30417&d=1092699891
     
  19. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

    when i bought it i was told it was a 1968 and roughly 310 hp <!-- / message --> <!-- controls -->

    somebody was confused.

    the best 1968 and 69 350s were rated at 280hp Gross. the 1970 'SP' code 350 was rated at 315hp Gross and was the only Buick 350 ever factory rated over 300hp.

    so they might have had the HP correct but been confused on the year. or they might not have any idea what they're talking about at all.
     
  20. BuickonDubz

    BuickonDubz Member

    Thanks for the input
     

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