was down shopping at the local "Man Mall" (aka scrap yard) and came across a Pontiac 4bbl engine. Only mark I found was the letter M on the heads. Any ideas? It is something I should save?
Need a little more info off the engine. It appears to be older, I can't see if there's an EGR port on the intake, and it looks like it has a divorced choke, which may place it in the pre-1974 era. Most likely a 400, but you'll need to check a couple things... If you look under the passenger side head, you should see a the displacement size cast into the block. The cylinder heads should have a casting number on the center two exhaust ports (unless someone ground them off). Most likely "4" and "X" or "6" and "X". Back by the distributor, on the horizontal area, you should see a large two digit year stamped, like "74", etc. Hope that helps...:beers2:
I rolled the engine over and looked on the block but only saw letters cast on the block. Will look for the year next time I'm down. Thanks for the info!
Block casting number is on he right bank behind the cylinder head and casting date should by by the base of the distributor. Engine code is on the front of the block on the right side just below the head. Pontiac used a lot of the same codes through the years so a date code is pretty important when identify a Pontiac. Also, most of those engines had 400 or 455 cast in large number on he side of the block.
T-stat housing is 1970 and older piece I believe, as it exits straight up at an angle, where the 71-newer T-stat housings exit toward the driverside and at an angle towards the master cylinder. Not saying the housing didn't come from a different engine, but if it's original, I believe the engine to be 70 or older.o No:
All the Pontiac valve covers interchange from the 326 all the way up to the 455, although the valve covers on this engine are `67 and newer because of the shape. These engines all share the same external dimensions. They changed the color to the metallic blue in `67 and used it through `70 so it's probably from one of those years.
It's most likely a 400, but on the drivers side between the freeze plugs, if there's a "428" casting, I'd take the engine. All 1967-68 428s are 4-bolt mains, and the 1969 428s have 4-bolt holes, but low-performance engines with #46 heads have 2-bolt caps. 4-bolt blocks are pretty rare for a Pontiac. The Pontiac Metallic Blue engine paint was used between 1967-1970, but you really can't use this as a reference. A simple rattle can changes color, and Pontiac used many different hues (all blue) throughout their V8 production run. It does appear to be an early timing cover, so this could very well be a 1967-1968 400 or 428 (timing covers can be changed too). These things are antiques, and have probably been rebuilt a few times. But you never know, sitting in a junkyard, it could be a decent find if the internals aren't rusted through. :beer
So far I've only found on the rt front of the block a cast in "GMD". Back by the dist is a big 7 and in smaller letters to the left H147. It is here & I'll tear into it later.
That one doesn't look like it's been detailed lately :grin: A mid-August `67 date is likely a very early `68 production model. Look for the engine code on the front of the block. It will be a two letter code something like YS.
front of block code looks to be WT. Numbers between the center exhaust port is 3 & 6. To the left of them is D & N
'68 code WT engine is 350HP 400 out of GTO. Only thing is... I see no '36' head casting. Only thing close for '68 is '96', which is a Ram Air head- but was not on the WT (which should have '16's). Of course, people can change heads... but there's NO '36' head in my source book, period. Somewhere on the head should be a date code and a part number- check on the 'rail' right under where the valve cover sits- to the NE of the '36'.
