so confused

[robert1839]

I did a lot of research on how to tell the difference between engines.  I looked and looked and spent many hours trying to find out what I had so I came to the conclusion that it was and olds 215.  I ordered some intake vales for an olds and they where the wrong ones i sent them back and ordered buick ones ( as suggested by my machine shop guy.  He told me I had a buick 215) and they were wrong too!   I then call egge back and explained what is going on and why I am returning their valves again and they have no idea why they wont work.   I looked at the gasket set I had got for a buick 215 and the head gaskets are missing some holes.  I then took them back to the auto parts store (thinking I had an olds gasket set) and told the guy I needed buick ones.  He told me that they where buick ones so he took down all the numbers on the block and a number on the crank to give them to a guy who knows how to decipher them.  Today  I  got a call back saying the numbers on the crank is for a 61-63 biuck 215 and all the other numbers didn't come up with anything. When I looked again, I found one more number that had the following on it:  3   1194233  buick so I assume that it is a buick, but why don't the valves fit? Also, why are the head gaskets missing holes?  I am really confused on all this and need help.  Any suggestions?

[mgb260]

Upper block is Buick, second picture is Olds block. Maybe you have Olds heads. Rover heads don't use the bottom head bolts either. Just use 4 head bolts per cylinder. People have used so many different valve sizes in these engines. I used 2.3 Ford valves in Buick 300 heads. If I had to do it again I'd use 2.8 Chevy V6 valves and matching seats.

[Moderator]

The first two pics show Buick 215 pattern gaskets sitting on top of an Olds 215 block.

I don't know what the 3rd photo shows... And I expect you shouldn't worry about that one.

AFAIK, Buick 215 and Olds 215 cranks are the exact same part.

[MGBV8]

"Rover heads don't use the bottom head bolts either."

Actually, all pre-1996 Rovers do have the bottom row head bolts. Rover deleted them in 1996.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Mix-n-match Tristan. Only Olds blocks have the full 6 bolt pattern so that part is easy. None of the others had the bolt boss cast into the deck so they weren't thick enough for the hole to be drilled and tapped. As for the heads, they could be anything and still work. If they have the long head bolts going all the way through the rocker arms and the heads into the block then they are Olds and use valves unique to those heads and not commonly available. Substitutes can be found I think but it may take some juggling of parts. Any of the other heads will work and generally the olds heads are considered to be the least desirable from the standpoint of airflow. If they are the 2 bbl heads they are have large chambers making it difficult to get the compression up. 2bbl Olds heads and low compression Buick pistons results in a CR of about 6-1/2:1. The 4 bbl heads were pretty decent though and use a chamber volume about the same as the Buick heads. Useful for builds using forced induction or nitrous due to the full bolt circle. The valve covers are different as well and Buick heads can use the cast aluminum Rover valve covers.

If you decide to go with different heads the later Rover heads are a good choice and reasonable to purchase. They will work fine with your block. A good head and piston choice should give you a CR in the 10:1 range and a squish distance of about .040" (minimum) with a composition gasket, with either a flat top or more likely a dished piston.

Jim

[mgb260]

Didn't have my glasses on late last night and must have been tired also. I thought you had 2 different block pictures. Also meant later Rover heads went to the 4 bolt per cylinder like the Buick 300. Somebody still could have done a custom valve job on your heads.