C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

Need Help Decoding a Engine

Old Feb 16, 2017 | 08:44 PM
  #1  
Mr D.'s Avatar
Mr D.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,679
Likes: 1,830
From: Huntsville AL
Default Need Help Decoding a Engine

Picked up a 71 Project Vette today and it came with a spare engine.

350 Cu In / 3970010 / A61

11S159592 V0107CJD

Thinking this is out of a 1971 Chevelle but the 11S of the above VIN is not working (see picture).

Dennis
Attached Images  

Last edited by Mr D.; Feb 16, 2017 at 08:45 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2017 | 08:57 PM
  #2  
Easy Rhino's Avatar
Easy Rhino
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Photoriffic
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,800
Likes: 2,396
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Default

According to Colvin's book, the 3970010 block was used from April/May of 1969 through 1979. It was used in Corvettes in both a 2-bolt and 4-bolt main 350 configuration, but none of these were CJD.

According to McComas "Lime Book" the CJD was used in 1970 in a 402 engine rated at 375 HP with a 4 barrel, 4 speed installed in Chevelles and El Caminos only.

Also, McComas shows that In 1971 CJD was a 350 rated at 270 HP using a 4 barrel and a TH350 tranny, and installed in Chevelles, El Caminos, Camaros, and Novas only.

No other CJD code engines were built.

Last edited by Easy Rhino; Feb 16, 2017 at 08:57 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2017 | 09:55 PM
  #3  
Mr D.'s Avatar
Mr D.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,679
Likes: 1,830
From: Huntsville AL
Default

The S in the VIN would point to St Louis but that doesn't make sense with the number sequence or suffix code.
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2017 | 11:07 PM
  #4  
gbvette62's Avatar
gbvette62
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,682
Likes: 3,135
From: Shamong, NJ
Default

I think you're right, I'd say that it could be a 71 Chevelle 350/270 L-48.

St. Louis didn't just build Corvettes, they also built trucks, and I think at one time, GM A-Bodies (Chevelle, Skylark, Le Mans, Cutlass). I'm not sure when Chevelles were built there, but I know that after the Corvette line shut down in 81, they still built trucks there for another 4 or 5 years.

Other than the exhaust manifolds, the Corvette and Chevelle L-48's are basically the same.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2017 | 09:28 AM
  #5  
emccomas's Avatar
emccomas
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,497
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
Default

St. Louis Truck Assembly was a General Motors automobile factory that built GMC/Chevrolet trucks, GM "A" body passenger cars, the Chevrolet Nova, and 1954-1981 Corvette models.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2017 | 02:07 PM
  #6  
Mike67nv's Avatar
Mike67nv
Melting Slicks
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 282
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
Default

There were actually two assembly plants as part of the St Louis complex in the '60's and '70's. The smaller of the two built Corvettes. The larger plant built trucks and passenger cars. The passenger line changed models over time and I don't remember what was built in '71 but you can probably do a Google search.

As for the engine stamp above, the first "1" indicates Chevrolet, the second "1" indicates 1971, the "S" is definitely St Louis. So, it was from whatever car line they were building in '71. I don't recall them building A-Bodies at that time, so my money is on an X-Body (Chevy II/Nova).

Last edited by Mike67nv; Feb 17, 2017 at 02:10 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Need Help Decoding a Engine



Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:43 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE