1957 Nailhead serial number with 1959 casting number???

wisebri24

Member
Driving myself crazy (literally) trying to figure out what I have here. The car my engine came from is 1957.
My block casting # is 1173201 which is 1959-61 364 engine. My serial number starts with 4D__________ then 363060.
My heads are 1185485 which is 1961-66 401-425 engine.
My Offy tri power intake is a 3557 which is 1957-58-59 Lesabre only.

Please help identify!
 

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These cars are sixty plus years old. A lot of times and me for one would put a lot of different parts together to keep it running. This was the most economical way to go. No body thought they would last this long and most people are not interested in keeping it original.
 
Since my car is a:
31 Ford body, 29 chassis, 57 or 58 Nailhead, 65 Wildcat bell-housing, 81 Camaro Tranny, 90 Blazer rear, 39 Chevy front straight axle, I think I know what you mean...
 
The partial engine serial number stamped on the block gives the original application. On yours 4 = series 40 - Special and D = 1957 model year. There should be another digit after the D that indicates the assy plant. The engine serial number would match the VIN on the car it originally came from.

The later heads have larger exhaust valves than the '57s (1.500 vs 1.437). Casting numbers are difficult to use in parts identification for various reasons.

Since Buick had no optional engines that year, the rating on series 40 Dynaflow cars was 250HP, 9.5 compr ratio, 2 bbl carb. Synchromesh cars used different pistons to get an 8.0 compr ratio and a lower HP rating (which Buick did not publish). In present form yours looks like it can put out a lot more 😊.
 
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