so i am picking up a later 324/371 (many characteristics identify it as 324 but it has a 4" bore like a 371), the engine was apparently in a boat or something. i am kind of baffled, when it was picked up it had early 303 no-number heads and adjustable rockers on it. strangely (i didn't know this till i saw it) the pad with the ID code was between the #1 cylinder and the next back on the passanger side instead of between the last two. i digress, so assuming this is either a 324 or 371, what would have been the purpose of the poor flowing 303 heads and adjustables? (the motor has hyraulic lifters) secondly, on say a 56 324 or early 371, what would the pros and cons be of using the 324 #8 heads i have? i know the #10 324's supposedly have better flow, but what can be done to have the #8's match the performance of the later ones? thanks for any advice or help. Jr.
I don't know the original Rocket engines, but there is some info here... http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofeng.htm#ENG 1949 - 1964 Similarities / Differences Hope it helps.
If your motor was in a boat, and repaired like that back in the day, it was to make it keep running. The heads, #'s, and anything else is confetti. It's a good starting point.
well, from what it looks like there have been no repairs to it really, mainly it just seems for some reason or another someone had swapped early heads on to it (for unknown hop up purposes?). the fuel pump has been blocked off as well as the waterpump. bores and pistons all look VERY clean. one other thing im puzzled about is, on the bellhousing where the holes are that usually have like a mesh in them, have solid freezplug type deals in em, i suppose to keep water out since it was in a boat? anyways.. drank caffine way to late and cant sleep. rock me to bed hamb.
difference between #8 and #10 heads is minor, and you really gotta be movin some power to see a big difference.. get rid of the 303 heads, none of those were good, and the stuff will bolt up to 324 heads the same..
here is the cylinder, can anyone tell me whats up with the part thats oblonged out. has this been bored and sleeved?
heres another pic of all the cylinder bores, and then another of the bellhousing. it has slugs in the vent holes instead of the mesh like my other block. so, the oil pan is not like the 371's with the weird thing that sticks outa the side, but it has a 4" bore... so, could this be a bored out 324 or possibly a 370 industrial engine?
what's the stamped number on the deck surface say? it's a crapshoot trying to guess what the history is on that engine, it's possible a 303 spun a bearing and a later replacement short block was used... all heads will bolt to all blocks, the crashes occur when large valve heads are put on small bore blocks
must be a '56 324. the 324/371 Engle i have slipped in and fits like a glove. as far as i know the 371's had a weird canister looking thing on the oil pan, does anyone know if a 370 had the same thing? also, i dont think 371's had the vent holes in the intregul bellhousing right? anyways, it would appear that this is a 324, as the cam fit fine but the lifter bores were to small for the roller lifters that go with the cam, but the lifter bores can be taken out to fit the roller lifters correct? so the roller lifters i have must go to a 57/8 371 i would have to assume because didnt the enlarge the lifter size in 371's? anyways, i put the timing cover from my 303 on it since it is nicer than the one that was on the new motor and already had the motor mounts and fuel pump block off bolted to it and slipped the cam and distributor in to check and make sure everything was kosher.
if it were me, I wouldn't open the lifter bores up I'd to go with chevy lifters. save the 371 rollers for the next build, or sell them to me I'll see if I can't id those block #s
grabbed this from an earlier DON_WOW post in your thread dated 7-02-08 49-303-8A1001 TO 8A193864 H PREFIX =HYDRA MATIC 50 303-8A194001 TO 8A568689 H PREFIX = HYDRA MATIC 51 303-8C1001 TO 8C287312 B PREFIX = STICK TRANS 52 303-8R1001 TO 8R214478 53 303-R215001 TO R549482 54 324-V1001 TO V355083 55 324- V400001 TO V983275 56 324-A001001 TO A385513
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