I bought a 1963 Corvette that had been stolen and stripped at some point in it's life. One of the previous owners put it back together but as a '65 (4 wheel discs, body panels and emblems, etc) and put a 350 in it. I have been trying to determine some of the history about the motor.

I was able to take a picture of the engine code stamped on the pad in front of the passenger side head. From what I have been able to decipher the number is V1117TXB although the first and third "1" look different from the second "1". I know the V designates the engine was made in Flint. From what I have read the TXB means the engine is a 1975 350 - 165HP that was originally installed in a 3/4 or one ton pickup.

The casting number on the driver side near the bell housing is 3970010. Any help would be appreciated.

 

75 Truck engine

 

The engine runs strong and doesn't feel anemic. One of the previous owners outfitted it with headers, Edelbrock Performer intake and carb, upgraded ignition and distributor. I was thinking about taking the car and having it dyno tested but can't seem to find anyone in my area (Bay City/Saginaw/Midland, MI). Does anyone know of a shop in the tri-city area that does dyno testing?

 

What would you be testing for?

 

Anything close to you?

Michigan Chassis Dynos -
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AC Tire Service
5440 Dixie Highway
Waterford, MI 48329
(248) 623-6900

Automotive Performance Engineering
44297 Macomb Industrial Dr.
Clinton Township, MI 48036
(586) 954-3181

AYA Racing
2882 Remico St. SW
Grandville, MI 49418
(616) 530-4621
www.ayaracing.com

Backwoods Racing
617 Jefferson Avenue
Midland, MI 48640
(989) 837-6311
www.backwoodsracing.com

Calsonics
27000 Hills Tech Court
Farrington Hills, MI 48331

CARS Inc.
5711 Elizabeth Lake Rd.
Waterford, MI 48327
(248) 682-3840
www.collinsautomotiverepair.com

Dewitt Service Center
10890 US 27
Dewitt, MI 48820
(517) 669-1165

Dyno Testing & Tuning High Performance Parts
18798 US 31
Interlochen, MI 49643
(231) 651-0681
www.dynotunehp.com

DynoServe LLC
5101 Ackerson Lake Road
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 764-4272
www.dynoserve.com

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36704 Commerce
Livonia, MI 48150
(734) 591-9176
www.edpcompany.com

Jackson Dawson Communications
1 Parklane Boulevard Suite 1105E
Dearborn, MI 48126
(313) 593-0690

Katech Inc.
24324 Sorrentino Ct.
Clinton Township, MI 48035
(586) 791-4120
www.katechengines.com

Livernois Motorsports
2500 South Gulley Rd.
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
(313) 561-5500
www.livernoismotorsports.com

Motor City Steel
2111 Haggerty Rd.
Commerce Twp., MI 48390
(248) 668-1400
www.motorcitysteel.net

Orries Automotive
4080 S. Walker Road
Miskogen, MI 49444
(616) 777-4854

Paulstra
460 Fuller N.E. PO Box 1886
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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Payne Technologies, Inc.
1668 Thornecroft Street
Troy, MI 48084
(248) 649-3966
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RAM Racing
7411 MacArthur Rd.
Saranac, MI 48881
(616) 642-6707

Safety Auto Center
2111 Haggerty Road
Commerce Twp., MI 48881
(248) 668-1400
www.motorcitysteel.net

Sensor's Inc.
6812 South State Street
Saine, MI 48176

Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
12245 Wormer
Redford, MI 48150
(734) 513-2710

Speed Insustry LLC
1668 Thorncroft
Troy, MI 48084
(586) 216-6107
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TMG Marketing
1092 Centre Rd.
Auburn Hills, MI 24837

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304 Jacob Street
Sturgio, MI 49091
(269) 651-3966
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Utica Enterprises
13231 23 Mile Road
Shelby Twp, MI 48315
(810) 726-4300

Vector Motorsports
24291 Sorrentino Ct.
Clinton Twp, MI 48036
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Wheel-To-Wheel Powertrain
32505 Industrial Drive
Madison Hts., MI 48071
(248) 589-1170
www.w2powertrain.com

 

1) to see what horsepower I am pushing right now
2) depending on the answer to #1, tune it to maximize what I currently have, or
3) decide to yank the existing engine and replace with a 327 crate motor

I don't plan on selling this car for a long time and am willing to sink some money into it.

 

Backwoods Racing is only 30 minutes from where I live. Thanks for the help!

 

You probaby have very little.

Since you say it is running good, I would skip the dyno session and apply the dyno money to option #3. Seriously.

 

MikeM - your advice will be heeded. It's always good to get another person's point of view. Thanks.

 

Just because the 350 CI block in your car started life as a 165 HP 1975 truck motor doesn't mean that is what it is currently.

That block could have...might have been rebuilt with increased compression, different cam, etc., etc.

My opinion? If it "feels" strong, and runs well, let it alone, unless you decide to take the route of a "restoration motor", which would mean finding a properly dated 63 327 block, etc. etc.

AND THEN, that would also entail returning everything else to 1963 configuration, like removing the 4 wheel disc brakes, etc., etc.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Chuck

 

And, It may be one of those good truck engines with the pink rods and the steel crank. It is out of a 3500. We used to raid the truck shops for these back in the day. That was on earlier 327s but the may have had good stuff in that one too.