['ol Pinion head]

Yes I was mistaken on the 229, the only small Chevy V6's I've worked on a lot have been the '87 or so 4.3's, mainly in S10's.

Over the years I've dragged in a few early 80's GM G-body's with 3.8's. Buick had the distrib in the front. Chevy 229 in the back. Have an '85 231 with a good crank in it at the warehouse, it's a rarity, most had oiling problems. The Regal it was supposed to go in was parted of nice plastic & sheetmetal & crushed. Most of the mid '80's Olds & Buicks I've had were locked up engine deals & made great junkers to winch up on the the trailer & load up scrap metal & parts from older GM's.