Need help Identifying a engine.

Scott Cox

Member
Hello, My name is Scott. My wife just inherited a 1951 Ford F1 with looks to be a Buick engine in it. I was hoping someone could help us identify the engine that is in it.
Year, size etc... The numbers that i found are from the left side, front of the block where the PS pump would be located. The numbers look to be 6B145748.
Thank you for your HELP!! Scott
 
Scott, I think that is a partial vin number stamped on the valley pan rail: 6 would be 1966, B would be Baltimore assembly plant, and 145784 is the production number. The Nailheads had a partial vin stamped in that area during that era. There were only two in 66: the 401 and 425 (also a 400 that was really a 401). They have the distributor at the back of the engine. There should be a two letter engine code followed by a three number date code on the right side of the same surface on the engine. Holding fast with the idea of a partial 66 vin, the letter code should be MT, MR, MW or MZ. Let us know what you find!
 
Scott, I think that is a partial vin number stamped on the valley pan rail: 6 would be 1966, B would be Baltimore assembly plant, and 145784 is the production number. The Nailheads had a partial vin stamped in that area during that era. There were only two in 66: the 401 and 425 (also a 400 that was really a 401). They have the distributor at the back of the engine. There should be a two letter engine code followed by a three number date code on the right side of the same surface on the engine. Holding fast with the idea of a partial 66 vin, the letter code should be MT, MR, MW or MZ. Let us know what you find!
 
Thank you for your response. To put it mildly, I'm so confused right now. the number was taken from the driver side below the head. 6B145748
As for the distributor, it is in the front of the engine. I can not find any numbers below the intake valley on the block. There is a 2 barrel carburetor and the valve cover has 4 bolts. Thank you for your help! Scott
 

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OK, it is not a Nailhead for sure. I still think that is a partial vin for a 66: just not one with a Nailhead. The Buick 300 and 340 had 4 bolt valve covers and it looks like one of those (having owned both). Can you get the casting number off the intake manifold? The 340 had a wider intake so there were different intakes and castings. I think they are large raised numbers in front of the carb on the manifold. Also, the 300 and 340 production code numbers are stamped on the right side of the crankcase and can be viewed between the middle branches of the right exhaust manifold. There should be a two letter code there beginning with a M if it is a 66 300 or 340. The 300 only came in a 2 barrel version in 66 while the 340 had 2 and 4 barrel versions. I think it is 300 because of the volume of those, but it could still be either.
 
OK, it is not a Nailhead for sure. I still think that is a partial vin for a 66: just not one with a Nailhead. The Buick 300 and 340 had 4 bolt valve covers and it looks like one of those (having owned both). Can you get the casting number off the intake manifold? The 340 had a wider intake so there were different intakes and castings. I think they are large raised numbers in front of the carb on the manifold. Also, the 300 and 340 production code numbers are stamped on the right side of the crankcase and can be viewed between the middle branches of the right exhaust manifold. There should be a two letter code there beginning with a M if it is a 66 300 or 340. The 300 only came in a 2 barrel version in 66 while the 340 had 2 and 4 barrel versions. I think it is 300 because of the volume of those, but it could still be either.
 
That number is not in our 300/340 casting numbers listed here. A search on the web identifies it for 66-67 300 two barrel Buick with 310 foot pounds of torque. This was from several individual sellers and a few from junk yards having the same number and identification. Maybe one of the guys with a Hollander here could look it up to be 100% sure.
 
Steve, here is a thread from 3 years ago on identifying a very similar engine. It had a 1375561 intake manifold and a 6B1xxxxx partial VIN. The owner was able to find the ML code stamped on the block which confirmed it to be a '66 300 2-bbl, same as your ID.

 
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