am getting a 56 chevy pu that has a older olds motor,[has a distributor}and need help to id what motor this is!it has a oil fill tube in front and left side exhaust manifold has a rear and front exit,valve covers are gold colored,dont have any numbers off it yet,which numbers do I look at? thanks for the help!lonster!
I believe the engine number's stamped on the drive side deck surface below the cylinder head. Sounds like mid '60s/early '70s from the clues you have given.
What he said. early olds motors have more rectangular valve covers, while late one have a definite curve at the top corners. If gold is the original color, it is not a 455. I think some of the small blocks and maybe the 400 as well was gold from the factory. In any event, you should be able to tell pretty quickly by the shape of the valve covers and the letter or number (a single digit about 3/4" high or slightly larger) on the exhaust runner on top of the head. That is the easiest way I know of to ID an Olds. Post that number/letter and/or a pic and I'm sure we can help you out.
Sounds like a 371 golden rocket from 57 or 58. If it has two bolts holding the valve covers then it is a 57 or 58. If screws around perimeter of valve cover, then it is a 59 or 60 371. Both series are gold in color. Look on driver side head near center bottom. You should see some numbers there. The numbers will start with A, B, C, D. A=1957, B=1958, C=1959, D=1960. Hope this helps.
I just reread the OP......if by "left side", you mean the driver side manifold has two outlets on it, it can't be a '49-'64 style engine. It would be the '65 and up second design Olds V8.
A casting number, say off of the intake manifold, head and block would make it easy to nail down, but you would lose most of the speculation and a lot of the drama..... Wouldn't want that.
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