sandycrouse

I just bought a new engine 427
the number on back is 3955270 and the vin number in the front is TO3497BB the heads are alum 3946074 and the intake is alum 3933163. What is the engine and what did it go in. Please
thanks

emccomas

Pictures of the engine pad will help a lot.

TO3497BB doesn't make any sense.

The block casting number and head casting numbers work for 1969 vintage parts.

The intake manifold looks like if could be a 1968 / 1969 vintage part.

Please post a picture of the front engine pad.

sandycrouse

I will but it is very clear TO3497BB

It seems the BB is the concern. I have tried to research the internet and can not fine this code. The block is for sure a 69 HP block according to all the numbers and the heads and intake is correct for a L88 but the front is a problem

thanks for your help.

emccomas

What the picture will tell us is the font and style of the stamping. Once we see the stamp, we can pretty quickly determine if this is a factory stamping or an aftermarket stamping.

I suspect that you engine code stamp is 7BB. A number of marine engines used a engine suffix code that started with a digit.

Another possibility is a rebuilder's stamp.

Seeing the stamp will help make that determination.

sandycrouse

I will try to get a picture as soon as I can and send. I thank you for all your help. Just a question, if it is a marine block does that kill the value of what I have with the heads, intake etc.? thanks again.

gbvette62

To start with, T03479BB is not a VIN number, it is the identifier for the engine plant, assembly date and engine suffix code. Engines originally installed in a car, would have a second number, the VIN derivative, made up of a portion of the car's VIN number.

The problem with the engine stamp, goes beyond the "BB". There's to many numbers in the stamp.

The "163" intake you have, was not used on the L-88. 68-69 L-88's used the "198" intake, and 67's used the "069". The "163" intake was used on 68-69 396/375's in Camaro's, Chevelle's and Nova's, as well as the 69 427 COPO Camaro's.

A look at the stamping, might help identify what you have.

Big blocks made for marine applications, had a 3 digit suffix code, made up of a number followed by 2 letters. Unfortunately, I can't find any listing for a "7BB" marine suffix code. The vast majority of marine big block suffix codes had an "X" as the second digit, with "F" and "H" as the other most common second digits. There were no marine big blocks that had a "B" as the second digit in the suffix code.

hope2

BB was a 6 cyl common suffix. Did find IB which is a 1968 police 427 with automatic

emccomas

Let dissect what we have here:

TO3497BB

T = Tonowanda (possibly)
O = is this a letter 'O' or a digit zero. let's assume digit zero
3 = March (month of assembly)
49 = oops, there are not 49 days in a month, any month
7BB = suffix code ???

Look at it another way

T = Tonowanda (possibly)
O = is this a letter 'O' or a digit zero. let's assume letter 'O' = ???
34 = oops, no month of 34
97 = oops, there are not 97 days in a month, any month
BB = suffix code ???

Seriously, a picture of this engine pad will help a lot.