Need some help identifying this big block.
 

I know someone who is selling a big block gm engine. He said it came out of an Oldsmobile, but before that it was in a Chevy, so he says its a Chevy engine. He only wants 300.00 for it, but i cant tell if its a Chevy engine or an Oldsmobile. I took some pics of it, but i couldn't get at the casting numbers due to the way its sitting. If anyone can tell what it is, that would be fantastic. He says its a Chevy 454, but i have a feeling its an olds 400. Im looking to rebuild it and put it in my 86 sport coupe, but if its an olds motor i don't know if it will fit right.

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That's an Oldsmobile engine, late 1970's if the block is the same vintage as the intake manifold. Even the smaller c.i. Buick/Pontiac/Oldsmobile engines were physically bigger than the small block Chevy, and could be mistakenly called a "big block". The engine parts on it are not interchangeable with Chevy, and the bellhousing pattern is different as well.

Thanks, i think your spot on. I researched the number on the intake manifold and it only comes up as being on an Oldsmobile small block 307. Glad i checked that out before i bought it. Thanks again

Yep thats an Olds alright they had a onesize block fits all ideolegy so it could be a 350 or a 455 or anything in between and as camaro69 said they have a different bolt pattern on the bell housing if you want to make a halfbreed you could make it fit but you would have to use the olds pontiac trans and fab your own mounts possably move the cross member, have a custom driveline and the list goes on

I told the guy I'm not gonna take it. If the trans and stuff would match up, and it I knew for sure it was a big block, then I probably would. But the fact that the intake comes up as a 307, I'm staying away. Plus the fact that a lot of modification would be required to get it in the car.

I'm going to look at a 305HO tonight out of an 88 monte. It's still in the car running with under 100,000 miles. Comes with an edlebrock aluminum intake and 650cfm carb. Normally I wouldnt even think about getting a 305, but the fact that he wants only 300.00 bucks obo, it seems like a good deal.

I just want a cheap engine I can throw in to get the car on the road while I build, or save up for a big block. Plus it will be coupled to a t56 with 4.11s, so it shouldnt be THAT slow. Thanks again for the help.

The HO is a good engine, as far as 305's are concerned. They don't have the "boat anchor" heads that came on other 305's.
For the record, if you were to put an Olds engine in your Camaro, you would be required to turn in your Camaro owner's man card, plus your name would then be put on a national "Camaro Molesters" list. It's not worth it! ;)

I thought i got lucky today and went to look at a 350 about 20 miles away. The guy has it on craigslist for 225.00, complete from carb to pan. It was pulled out of an 85 blazer and stored in his carport. Well, i checked the block casting and it did come out of an 85, but it was a 305, not a 350.

So after that let down the guy for the 305HO called me to come and take a look at it. It started right up with no hesitation and ran smoothly. It just had a lifter tap on the passenger side, which he posted in the listing. Gonna do all the gaskets on it and throw in a Crane Compucam 2040 with new lifters and valve springs. He said hes gonna have it pulled this weekend and i hope to pick it up sunday night. 300 bucks seems like a good deal for a complete running engine, even if its just a 305. It should hold me off until i get the cash for the 454 build.

Some listing pics:
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