hp ratings

[jabba]

i have an 74 olds 350 in my 85 cutlass. the guy i bought it from said it was a 71 but by the firing order its an 74-75 does anyone know what the horsepower rating is by chance. what numbers on the motor can i use to see exactley what model it is. thanx for any help

 

[beeterolds]

All Olds engines have the same firing order.. 18436572 If its a 71 engine it will have a #7 cast on the driverside head just to the left of the #1 spark plug..

the 1971 engines were grossly rated at either 240 or 260hp.. the 1974 Olds engines were rated at 180 or 200 with dual exhaust net. the 1975 engine well hehe... since Cat converters came around pushed ratings back to 170-175hp... and all Olds 350 from 1973-1976 used #8 heads

 

[ssaamm]

ummm... now I'm confused, my head has 7a stamped into the left head just infront of the #1 spark plug... so when you say a 7, you DO mean 7 and not 7a right?
mine is a 307 with 7a heads right?

 

[dan2286]

ummm... now I'm confused, my head has 7a stamped into the left head just infront of the #1 spark plug... so when you say a 7, you DO mean 7 and not 7a right?
mine is a 307 with 7a heads right?

He just meant #7 heads for a 71 engine. 7A heads came on the 307. Their is also another 7 head that was used that had a smaller A next to the 7.

 

[beeterolds]

Ya the 7 tiny A heads are good 1972 350 castings the last of the best.. if you cant tell the difference between Olds 350 heads and the Olds 307 heads.. all you have to do is look for is the casting ribs over the exhaust ports..you will find these ribs on the 350 heads..on 307 heads they will be smooth indicating the junk swirl port heads.

 

[jabba]

Ii guess i meant to say was the location on the cap is differnt as far as #1
the manual i looked at showed 75 and up with #1 different on the dist cap

 

[dan2286]

Ii guess i meant to say was the location on the cap is differnt as far as #1
the manual i looked at showed 75 and up with #1 different on the dist cap

The location on the cap for #1 really does not matter as long as the firing order is right.

 

[jabba]

JUST CHECKED NUMBERS ON MY HEAD 3A 6M6 PMD
ALSO ON MY TIMING COVER IT SAYS 395558 2
DONT KNOW WHAT ALL THAT MEANS IF SOMEONE COULD HELP I WOULD BE THANKFULL

 

[jabba]

ok i did some reading and found out that the heads are 77 - 80 heads but the block should be 70-74 area. i see the heads are prolly crappy so i should try to find a better set of heads any suggestions im doin this on a budget lol

 

[dan2286]

JUST CHECKED NUMBERS ON MY HEAD 3A 6M6 PMD
ALSO ON MY TIMING COVER IT SAYS 395558 2
DONT KNOW WHAT ALL THAT MEANS IF SOMEONE COULD HELP I WOULD BE THANKFULL

The heads are from a 77-80 350. The block could be from 68-76 I believe. The block should be pretty good quality but the heads are low compression and dont flow that well.