2 or 4 bolt main?

[lak2004]

Anyway to tell if an engine is either without pulling the oil pan? I have the engine sitting in the back of my blazer and no way to pull the pan to tell engine number is 14093638. I would like to know cause a guy is interested in buying it, but I might as well just keep it if it is a 4 bolt.

Thanks guys!

 

[StevoandaRedK5]

14093638...350...87-95...2 or 4...Roller or flat tappet cam, one-piece rear seal

from Mortec.com

best to just drop the pan IMHO

 

[79rustyk10]

sometimes the casting number will tell what it is and sometimes it could be 2 or 4 bolt mains with the same casting number.

 

[lak2004]

Yep thats what I was afraid of. Oh well Ill just keep it until I can afford to get it rebuilt and have a spare laying around.

 

[76zimmer]

I think there's agood chance of a 4 bolt if it has an 8" factory Harmonic Balancer.........6

 

[dyeager535]

Whats the suffix code? (passenger side, just forward of where the head meets the deck, behind where the alternator is typically mounted)

 

[K5dreamer]

is it really that hard to pull and oil pan these days???

 

[4X4HIGH]

There is no need to even worry about a 4 bolt block UNLESS you plan to use a blower/turbo/lots of nitrous. I ran a 2 bolt block in my 66 Nova which was a 13:1 engine and never had a failure.

 

[K5dreamer]

yeah, trying to explain to people that its the machine and balancing work that makes an engine survive more than a 2 vs 4 bolt app after theyve been told 2 bolts are crap, tis tough to do.

 

[76zimmer]

yeah, trying to explain to people that its the machine and balancing work that makes an engine survive more than a 2 vs 4 bolt app after theyve been told 2 bolts are crap, tis tough to do.

everything has its limits, but if you stay below 6K, a 2 bolt will last forever, as long as its put together right. Just as important is machining, and good parts, mag the rotating assy. etc.
Check check and triple check everything.

 

[dyeager535]

is it really that hard to pull and oil pan these days???

With no way to lift an engine sitting on the pan, I'd say yes.

 

[K5dreamer]

With no way to lift an engine sitting on the pan, I'd say yes.

lift with your legs!!!!

seriously though, im guessing it already had the oil drained. just tilt it back on the flywheel side of things, with the weight of the block on the crankshaft and cylinder heads as a kind of "tripod", pop the oil pan off, take a gander, pop it back on, set it back down. I cant imagine that would hurt anything.

 

[Mike D]

I agree with 76zimmer, my 81 350 had an 8 inch harmonic balancer and it also was a 4 bolt main. My 81 K20 also had small intake valves ( probably 1.94 but they looked like 1.6" valves ). If it came from a truck it would be built for pulling not performance. Good luck.

 

[lak2004]

Cool thanks guys, good idea k5dreamer I might just try to tip it on the balancer side and pull the pan. Or I might just say fock it and keep the thing and have it rebuilt to run on propane . I was going to sell it for $100 but I dont even think its worth getting rid of, we will see I guess.