Olds 350 rocket please help?

I recently bought an engine my buddy pulled out of a 75 cutlass and we thought it was a 350. I got the casting number (395558   2). The big 2 in the casting number is the id code I think, and if so it says it is a 350 from 1968 to 1970. Then I pulled the vin number off the motor and it is 35M152400, 3 for olds, 5 for 1975, and M for michigan meaning the lansing plant. But when I was looking on 442.com it didnt have a listing for a 350 in 1975 only a 260 in which the casting numbers were the same but the id codes were different. I just wanted to know if I ran these numbers correct, cause im confused. Thank you for your help in advance  

The code you listed says that it is a 350 block that was produced from 1968 to 1976.  

The heads could've been swapped at some point int he car's life. The Olds 350 was a fair motor, basically designed to make torque to move their heavy cars. They were never really performance motors.

But, Edelbrock I believe has aluminum heads that fit those motors, and that's the biggest weakness is the poor flowing factory heads.  

Actually...thats not entirely correct.  The Olds big block was designed for low end torque.  The small block features a bigger bore and shorter stroke than the Chevy 350, and given that big block heads bolt right on...there are plenty of high performance cylinder head choices to use with them as well (Edelbrock, as you named, as well as Rocket Racing Performance and Mondello to name a couple more).  They'll spin up pretty high so long as you do the important (yet cheap) upgrades to the oiling system.  
68 Olds Cutlass ~ 350 Rocket
85 Delta 88 ~ 425 Rocket
02 Silverado 4X4 ~ 5.3L

Would you guys happen to know anywhere I could find the olds blue metallic engine paint?  

Year One has it for sure...I'm sure others have it as well (OPG for example).  You could also just find some metallic blue engine paint at your local parts store (which is what I did for the gold paint, original color, on my 350...as I did not care to have the exact correct shade of gold)  
68 Olds Cutlass ~ 350 Rocket
85 Delta 88 ~ 425 Rocket
02 Silverado 4X4 ~ 5.3L

Also those Olds 350 motors can be excellent performance motors you can either port & polish those heads or go with the bulldog aluminum heads (Edelbrock pieces are built like the factory Olds big block heads which limits performance) Greg's Performance & BTR Performance also are good choices to help with your build.  

ok soo..........i need a flywheel for the same casting number 395558 2...i dont even know wat year it is  

is there any truth to the scuttlebug that I have heard that the valvetrain on Oldsmobile small blocks isn't adjustable and that the geometry is pooched even by the slightest modification?  I sincerely hope not.  I found a sweet 1980 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 and supposedly perfect interior. I have never laid hands on an Oldsmobile product before so I am pretty stoked.  I want to see what I can ring out of this bad boy without going the typical small block chevy route.  

smallblockjunkie:
is there any truth to the scuttlebug that I have heard that the valvetrain on Oldsmobile small blocks isn't adjustable and that the geometry is pooched even by the slightest modification?  I sincerely hope not.  I found a sweet 1980 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 and supposedly perfect interior. I have never laid hands on an Oldsmobile product before so I am pretty stoked.  I want to see what I can ring out of this bad boy without going the typical small block chevy route.

It is pretty much true...if you keep the stock setup, you'll have to do quite a bit of work to get the geometry right by buying proper length pushrods...

Or you can convert it over to an adjustable valvetrain.  There are kits available to do it...my 350 has an adjustable valvetrain with roller tip rocker arms from Comp Cams.  
68 Olds Cutlass ~ 350 Rocket
85 Delta 88 ~ 425 Rocket
02 Silverado 4X4 ~ 5.3L

Well I went and had a look at the Cutlass today. The body and undercarriage are mostly rust free and straight  The paint is trash.  The interior isn't what it was billed to be but my overall impression of the car was pretty good for $1500. It needs a brake booster to be road worthy.  It comes with a parts car (don't they all) that is pretty much complete and rust free minus engine and tranny.  The motor is supposed to be a 73 model with a freshening 30000 miles ago.  The guy said he built it for nitrous at something around 8.5 to 1 but it ran out really solid for something that low compression.  If it really is 8.5 to 1 then I can't wait to feel it when I build her out to 10 to 1.  Of course my wife hates the car and was less than enthusiastic at the mention of a parts car.  She wants me to get the 2000 Grand Prix GTP for sale down the street.  But what fun is that.  I have till Wed to let the guy know so I will keep you all posted.  My wife says this is where a responsible adult buys the newer car.  I still think it is cute that after eight years she still hasn't figured out she isn't married to a responsible adult.  

hahah. of course get the cutlass!!! sounds like a pretty good deal  

so did you find your flywheel yet?  

all oldsmobile flywheels are the same except for the 330 and 425 have a different bolt pattern,  

And early (64-67) 400s.
Flywheel bolt patterns work out like this
64-67 (330,400,425)
68-90 (260,307,350,400,403,455)
Also if you want to install a stick where an auto was you will need to have the crank drilled for the pilot bearing/bushing.