VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Exhaust manifold Identification

G'Day all,
A young man has shown me a 3 port exhaust manifold. It appears to be embossed 381096. I believe this is likely for the 1921 FB with the 3 port head but I cannot currently confirm this number with any of the parts literature I have on file. He has an engine block with the open tappets, but the block is not a configuration I am familiar with. Odd to me was a threaded engine dip stick. Trying to find info on the block but not in what I would have thought were the "usual" locations. He is not sure if all the loose parts are from the same engine as he obtained everything dismantled from someone other than the dismantler.
...........Thanks..........Joe............

The exhaust manifold might be off a 4cyl Oldsmobile head,which is practically the same as FB head.

Thanks. If the identification of the block and other items was established, that should assist. I would post some photos for him but alas, I have not been able to post photos. (System tells me I need to use another system. Not in my cerebral ballpark).
I had one of those 3 port heads a few years ago and I recorded the head number as 381099. It was on a 26 or 27 Chev block at the time. I knew then that the head was used on the 21 FB and an Oldsmobile of the same or close year. I may have wrongly assumed then it was Chevrolet. Perhaps it was an Oldsmobile With this manifold having a number so close.....381096....I'm going to make a large assumption that they were meant to be paired. Perhaps GM did not cross index the parts numbers for the Chev & Olds parts book and he should be looking at an Olds book.
Actually, I thought the very large threaded dip stick would be a stand out for identifying it. If no members recognize that, then that may be another indication it is not a Chev at all. We'll see..............TKS..........Joe...........

Joe, I would go on a vintage Oldsmobile site and give your info to them. I'm sure they would know just like we know Chevy numbers.

Steve

I checked with a chat room on one Olds site but was advised they primarily talk about much newer models.

After scraping decades of built up crud off the block, the following embossed letters are located on the block just above the bottom edge on the left side:
R 3950 11 5 18 2
I believe the 11 5 18 is the date code likely reading November 5th 1918 or 11 May 1918. Likely the former if it adheres to the Chevy codes.
...........Thanks..........Joe........

I started this post to identify the exhaust manifold in attempts to identify the block. I have since located online descriptions of an Oldsmobile, Mason designed engine that closely matches.
The description of the bottom of the block having a cast iron skirt to which the oil pan is attached is correct, and the position of the oil dip stick in a photo of a bare Olds block from that era is correct. However someone has responded that Olds did not make a 4 cyl engine between 1917 - 1920. I believe my newly uncovered date code is correct for 1918 so I am still perplexed.
I realize we are talking "CHEVYS" here, but I believe the "MASON" designed block keeps the topic in close association.
...........Thanks all.........Joe..........

Olds made a 4cyl,the model 43-A from at least 1916 up to early 1923,when their V8's,early 6's and the 43-A was replaced by the new 30 series engines.If you can get a look at the book,"The Cars of Oldsmobile",there's a photo on page 81 of the exhaust manifold side of the engine which might help you I.D. the manifold.Page 83 in the same book has a plan view photo of the 43-A engine.The book,"Setting The Pace",Oldsmobiles First 100 Years,has on page 83,a 3/4 front on view of the drivers side of a 4cyl 43-A on the assembly line,just showing the inlet manifold steering etc.

Joe my reference book(The Production Figure Book of U.S. Cars) lists a 4 cylinder economy Olds truck for 1919. If your engine was cast in November of 1918 that would be right in the production year for a 1919 vehicle.
Steve

Thanks Kev & Steve. Oddly enough I have books on most popular makes of cars of that era but not Olds. I very much appreciate the research and information you Gentleman provided. I will continue to sort this out.
.....Joe......

The mid to late teens Oldsmobile trucks used a 4 cylinder engine and transmission that were essentially the same as the full sized Chevrolet F series and Model T trucks of that period. The major difference between the trucks drive trains was the rear end of the Olds had independent suspension and the Chevy a solid axle housing. There is an example of the Olds truck in the I-80 truck stop in Iowa. Also was one in the Hays Truck Museum in California which I understand has been closed and most trucks auctioned. A guy who lived north of Houston had at least two of those Olds trucks. Don't know if he is still with us.

Thanks much.............Joe..............

From information generously supplied in this forum and from Oldsmobile club members, I'm pretty sure the block was produced in late 1918 as a 1919 model. One Gentleman posted factory photos that pretty much confirmed the block was certainly of that time period. Thanks again to all............Joe..........