Re: New Member: My '39 120 has strange engine number. Help??

Posted by Eric Boyle On 2010/10/11 19:28:23

The 282 IS shorter than the 288/327/356/359 engines, and no parts are interchangeable to my knowledge. The easy identification of the 282 is the road draft tube that bolts to the block instead of the rear tappet cover. The easy identification of the 356 as compared to the other engines is the distributor is directly in the center of the engine underneath the middle freeze plug, whereas on the 288/327/359 has it between the 2nd and 3rd freeze plug. The fuel pump is also in a slightly different position between the 356 and the others. This is the reason why you can't use anything other than a 356 camshaft in a 356 engine. I could go into more detail of the differences, but to suffice it to say, the only parts that "bolt on" between the 288/327/356/359 engines are the heads, manifolds, and distributor. Of course they're all different but they do bolt on. Not sure about the flywheels and bellhousings yet, but I'll let you all know when I find out for sure.