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Engine Question - Where Would You Start

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Old Aug 29, 2008 | 01:05 AM
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St. Jude Donor '10
Default Engine Question - Where Would You Start

So you have this car and it has an engine in it. The block has been machined so any sign of a VIN is long gone. So you check the engine casting on the drivers side and find the numbers GM 3982388. You look in the middle of the engine and find the letters K2098. On the passenger side you see the numbers cast T21 CONV 1. And stamped on the edge of the housing you think you read RM 124423 but you are not sure.

So now I have data and not sure how to sort it all out. I know the engine is the wrong era for my 1977. I know the engine has an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and an Edelbrock carb. I know the engine appears to be orange in color and the valve covers are finned like the L-82 style I have seen.

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Where would you begin to try and identify the engine? Does it need to go on a dyno to see what HP it is? I slurps when it idles so I suspect some sort of cam in there causing it to sound like this but don't know.

Ideas?

Thanks for your help.

David
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Old Aug 29, 2008 | 02:45 AM
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Originally Posted by 77Sleeper
So you check the engine casting on the drivers side and find the numbers GM 3982388. You look in the middle of the engine and find the letters K2098.
Where would you begin to try and identify the engine? Does it need to go on a dyno to see what HP it is? I slurps when it idles so I suspect some sort of cam in there causing it to sound like this but don't know.
Ideas?
David
I suspect the block casting number is probably 3932388 ...
1969 only 350/300hp passenger car 4 bolt, or 302/290 Camaro 4 bolt.
If the pad is clean, check by the oil filter to see if the car serial number was stamped on the block. This block was cast from September 1968 to early 1969.

K2098 in the middle?? middle of what?? It sounds suspiciously like a casting date, but where exactly is it located?? There should be a casting date located on the passenger side, behind the distributor. K2098 decodes to November 20, 1998. If it were K208, that would be November 20, 1968 .. and a perfect fit date-wise.

Valve covers look like early 1969-70'ish Corvette/Camaro/LT1/L46 covers. You can confirm the numbers located on the inside.
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Old Aug 29, 2008 | 03:12 AM
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Originally Posted by FrankVincent
I suspect the block casting number is probably 3932388 ...
1969 only 350/300hp passenger car 4 bolt, or 302/290 Camaro 4 bolt.
If the pad is clean, check by the oil filter to see if the car serial number was stamped on the block. This block was cast from September 1968 to early 1969.

K2098 in the middle?? middle of what?? It sounds suspiciously like a casting date, but where exactly is it located?? There should be a casting date located on the passenger side, behind the distributor. K2098 decodes to November 20, 1998. If it were K208, that would be November 20, 1968 .. and a perfect fit date-wise.

Valve covers look like early 1969-70'ish Corvette/Camaro/LT1/L46 covers. You can confirm the numbers located on the inside.
Yes sir, I went back out on the car and the casting number is 3932388. The casting date is located on the block behind the distributor, it reads K208. I'll pull a valve cover and check for numbers this weekend and see if I can find any more cast numbers near the oil filter. Any ideas what the cat letters T21 CONV.1 stands for on the passenger side of the block? Thanks for your help.
David
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Old Aug 29, 2008 | 03:21 AM
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Originally Posted by 77Sleeper
Yes sir, I went back out on the car and the casting number is 3932388. The casting date is located on the block behind the distributor, it reads K208. I'll pull a valve cover and check for numbers this weekend and see if I can find any more cast numbers near the oil filter. Any ideas what the cat letters T21 CONV.1 stands for on the passenger side of the block? Thanks for your help.
David
Plant casting marks ... I think the T21 probably is a Tonawanda internal casting number (this block was mainly cast at Tonawanda ..). The other letters may apply to conveyer 1 ... just a guess, but not important in any event. The serial numbers by the oil filter, if they exist, will be stamped, and not cast.
Good hunting !!
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Old Aug 29, 2008 | 03:23 AM
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AllC34Me
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Originally Posted by FrankVincent
Plant casting marks ... I think the T21 probably is a Tonawanda internal casting number (this block was mainly cast at Tonawanda ..). The other letters may apply to conveyer 1 ... just a guess, but not important in any event. The serial numbers by the oil filter, if they exist, will be stamped, and not cast.
Good hunting !!
Thank you sir, I'll check it out this weekend.
David
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