[Speargun]

I just had a chance to take a quick look at a short block, but it didn't have the size embossed below the #1 cylinder or in the valley. What could it be?

Oil & dirt covered the back by the distributor hole and I couldn't get to the front of the block to check for numbers. There was no timing cover so I don't know if it was an 8 or 11 bolt.

There was a set of 061 ('67 400) & 7M5 ('72 455) heads sitting next to it, but I doubt either set was the original heads.

[ponyakr]

Wow, that's not much info to go by.

Since you said the heads are by, and not bolted to it, I suppose you could measure the cylinder bore. Should make it easy to ID it as a 326, 350, or something bigger. The 326 & 350 have a bore size less than 4 inches. Stock bore 389 & 421 were just barely over 4". 400 & 428 were nearly 4 1/8" @ 4.120. 455 was about 4.150.

Also, look at the sides of the block. If there are only 2 motor mount bolt holes, it came in a '69 or earlier model car. If it has only 2 freeze plugs, on the sides, that will help narrow down the possible year models it could be. '67 & later blocks have 3 freeze plugs, on each side. Earlier engines have only 2.

http://pontiachunters.com/articles/p...dentification/

But, obviously, the block casting number and date code, would really help narrow it down, a lot.

[77 TRASHCAN]

[QUOTE=Speargun;5774108]I just had a chance to take a quick look at a short block, but it didn't have the size embossed below the #1 cylinder or in the valley. What could it be?

Oil & dirt covered the back by the distributor hole

What color was the dirt?

[Speargun]

I thought that all of the blocks had the last 2 digits of the engine size embossed on the side & in the valley. I've never seen a Pontiac block without it.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to check it out a little better tomorrow.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by Speargun

I thought that all of the blocks had the last 2 digits of the engine size embossed on the side & in the valley. I've never seen a Pontiac block without it...

The older blocks did not have the cubic inch numbers.

Also, the '78-'79 XX481988 blocks had XX in the lifter valley, instead of 00.

This info & a lot more is included in the link I posted. I think it will answer most of your questions. Here's the link again.

http://pontiachunters.com/articles/p...dentification/

[Stuart]

Get the block code and number off the front of the block.

[ponyakr]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Get the block code and number off the front of the block.

Info found on the front of the block may not help very much, by itself, since the same block code was sometimes used on different size engines, in different years.

For example: The YA code was used on 350, 389, 400, & 455 engines, from '65-'78.

http://www.wallaceracing.com/enginesearch4.htm

So, you'd at least need the date code, preferably the casting number and date code, to go along with the block code.

[Simple Man]

Oh, that's one of those. Haven't seen one of those in years.....

[242177P]

Pyramid (or lack of) and the number of motor mount holes...

[tom s]

The transfer lug would only tell you if it was non 389-400 block!350s and I think 326 got them along with the 3 1/4 main blocks.It is a good start along with the freeze plugs to tell what it might not be.Tom

[Speargun]

I got another quick look at it today and found the engine code. It's an XV block.
It looks like it's a '67, 290hp, 400, 10.5 cr, & the 061 heads would be correct for that engine. I'll be picking it up tomorrow!

[geeteeohguy]

My first car ('66 GTO) had a junkyard '67 XV engine in it, with the 061 heads. With a tripower, 4 speed, and 3.55 gears, that car ran like a scalded cat. The 061 is the first Pontiac non-closed chamber head, and a pretty good choice for today's builds. I found that out about a week after I scrapped my pair.

[ponyakr]

The XV code was also used on a '70 400 330hp 4-barrel engine, according to the Wallace ID page.

http://www.wallaceracing.com/enginesearch4.htm

Easy way to tell which it is by the number of motor mount bolt holes. '67 only has 2. '70 has 5.

These sites also show an XV code on a '73 X-body 350 engine. Again, it would have 5 motor mount bolt holes.

http://www.pontiacpower.net/numbers/engine-codes/

http://www.classicalpontiac.com/cgi-...bal/engine.cgi

http://pontiachunters.com/pontiac_v8_engine_codes.shtml

[PunchT37]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

The XV code was also used on a '70 400 330hp 4-barrel engine, according to the Wallace ID page.

http://www.wallaceracing.com/enginesearch4.htm

Easy way to tell which it is by the number of motor mount bolt holes. '67 only has 2. '70 has 5.

These sites also show an XV code on a '73 X-body 350 engine. Again, it would have 5 motor mount bolt holes.

http://www.pontiacpower.net/numbers/engine-codes/

http://www.classicalpontiac.com/cgi-...bal/engine.cgi

http://pontiachunters.com/pontiac_v8_engine_codes.shtml

The `70 would have the CID identifier on it. So, it`s prolly the `67 engine. Also, 3 freeze plugs instead of 2.

[Speargun]

I picked up the engine yesterday and it is a '67 400 with the 061 heads. It all needs cleaned up, but otherwise, everything looks good.

I'm going to clean it up, oil it down, & bag it for now. Maybe someday I (or some one else) may need it for a correct restoration.

[PunchT37]

Good deal. Most say it`s the best 400 block.

[cuz68]

My guess is a 1767 400.

[Will]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

My first car ('66 GTO) had a junkyard '67 XV engine in it, with the 061 heads. With a tripower, 4 speed, and 3.55 gears, that car ran like a scalded cat. The 061 is the first Pontiac non-closed chamber head, and a pretty good choice for today's builds. I found that out about a week after I scrapped my pair.

Some people say the wide, shallow chambers don't have enough quench pad and are prone to detonation.

I know that I had detonation damage on the rod bearings of my 440" engine using those heads but I had also run the timing too far advanced because the curve was too long and the engine liked more initial.

At the track the car ran the same at 32-34 degrees total as it did with any more than that and I ended up running it about 36-38 for awhile because it really responded well to having 16-18 initial. Obviously I should've stuck to 32-34...

Trying to decide what to do with those heads. They have a really nice SD Performance port job (270+ cfm @ .550"). Wondering how they'd run if I put them on a 350...