57 Chevy coe engine

[Tn. Wayne]

The coe must have had the engine changed sometime in its life. Supposed to be a 322 Buick engine. But looks like a small block chevy with the M looking exaust manifolds. The numbers stamped on the block in front of the right head are: 15285 or 15235 and V1276XT0 or V1216XTO Cant read a couple of numbers for sure. Anyone know what this engine is? Thanks much.

 

[ericlb]

not sure from these numbers, but most likley either a 283 or 327 with those manifolds, its probably actually a good thing as sb chevy parts are everywhere and cheap, the 322 buick would be hard to find stuff for, the chevy will make it a nice drivable truck, and only a hard core perfectionist would be able to spot the change, if you found out what color the original engine was and gave the chevy a paint job

 

[Tn. Wayne]

Would the Buick engine look completely different from a Chevy? Would the valve covers stand up straight on a Buick engine? This one does not say anything on the valve covers, but look like Chevy.

 

[Dennis Benson]

The numbers stamped around the front will tell more about the vehicle the engine was from than about the engine. There is a cast number behind the left head on Chevy engines on the flange where the bell housing bolts on that will tell about the engine.

 

[rustyfarmall]

A Buick engine has the distributor located at the front of the engine. The Chevy engine has the distributor located at the rear.

Sometime in the late '70s, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and Pontiacs all started using engines that were built by various GM divisions, so it was possible to buy a brand new Buick and find a Chevy under the hood, or an Oldsmobile with a Buick under the hood, etc, etc.

 

[Dean]

Yes. The "nail head" Buicks are completely different looking than any other V8 engine. You cannot mistake the designs.

Dean

 

[Duner Wi]

I have never seen a nail head Buick with the dist at the front. By nail head I mean the V8 built by Buick starting in 1953 till 66 or so.

 

[Pops1532]

Did you ever figure out what engine you have?
The rams horn exhaust manifolds made me think 283/327 SBC as was mentioned before. When you said the valve covers stand straight up I immediately thought "nailhead" Buick. The nailhead has a rear distributor as does the SBC. The nailhead will have a cast coolant crossover pipe from the front of one head to the other. The Buick nailhead engines are highly sought after by traditional hot rodders......so is the 283/327.