Block Stamp Codes= HELP
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Block Stamp Codes= HELP
I've found that I DO have the real original block for my car. But what do the other numbers mean? The VIN 18S400777 matches the vin on the car. The casting Number is 3970010... not sure what that means. And this number - I assume this is the block ID??? VO910CMS. What does that number mean? Does anybody know how to decode these numbers?
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I've found that I DO have the real original block for my car. But what do the other numbers mean? The VIN 18S400777 matches the vin on the car. The casting Number is 3970010... not sure what that means. And this number - I assume this is the block ID??? VO910CMS. What does that number mean? Does anybody know how to decode these numbers?
Assuming its a '78, the CMS suffix tells us its an L82. 220 hp 350, w/automatic. 09 10 means September 10 engine assembly date. 010 is the 350 block serial number, used in many Chevys.
What the block date code? It will look something like an H-25-7 or something similar. Very early car.
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Just FYI, when you ask for help on your car, tell us what year it is.
Assuming its a '78, the CMS suffix tells us its an L82. 220 hp 350, w/automatic. 09 10 means September 10 engine assembly date. 010 is the 350 block serial number, used in many Chevys.
What the block date code? It will look something like an H-25-7 or something similar. Very early car.
Assuming its a '78, the CMS suffix tells us its an L82. 220 hp 350, w/automatic. 09 10 means September 10 engine assembly date. 010 is the 350 block serial number, used in many Chevys.
What the block date code? It will look something like an H-25-7 or something similar. Very early car.
Yes, it is a 78. Where can I find the Date Code?
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Its on the rear of the block, on the passenger side, across from the 010 block number. It can be hard to see. Here's a pic of an 010 block date code from 1969, on an engine stand:
Obviously with the heads on, the distributor and shield in place, under paint, grease, wires, etc, sometimes you have to look for it.
By the way, I neglected to tell you the V at the beginning of your engine ***'y date code is for the Flint plant. Tell us all the numbers on your trim tag and we will go through that with you as well.
Obviously with the heads on, the distributor and shield in place, under paint, grease, wires, etc, sometimes you have to look for it.
By the way, I neglected to tell you the V at the beginning of your engine ***'y date code is for the Flint plant. Tell us all the numbers on your trim tag and we will go through that with you as well.
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Now for reference, here's the same date coded engine and the 010 block number, as it looked when the engine first came out. Lovely oil leak. When the block was in place, I had to use a long rod wrapped on the end with laquer thinner soaker rag pieces, to "scrape" off the "010" to verify the block number. The date code was actually easier to see.
I now have a "Broach Buster" monocular lens which makes life much easier on my old eyes.
I now have a "Broach Buster" monocular lens which makes life much easier on my old eyes.
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BTW Thanks for the info.
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#9
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Just FYI, when you ask for help on your car, tell us what year it is.
Assuming its a '78, the CMS suffix tells us its an L82. 220 hp 350, w/automatic. 09 10 means September 10 engine assembly date. 010 is the 350 block serial number, used in many Chevys.
What the block date code? It will look something like an H-25-7 or something similar. Very early car.
Assuming its a '78, the CMS suffix tells us its an L82. 220 hp 350, w/automatic. 09 10 means September 10 engine assembly date. 010 is the 350 block serial number, used in many Chevys.
What the block date code? It will look something like an H-25-7 or something similar. Very early car.
#10
Melting Slicks
I found this:
The block casting date indicates when the block itself was cast in the foundry. This date does not indicate when the motor was assembled and then later placed into the vehicle at the factory. The block casting date is usually found on the rear ledge of the block on the passenger side, but some later model blocks have the casting date on the driver's side of the rear ledge. Some of the early big blocks made in the Sixties have the block casting date located on the passenger side of the block near the freeze plug holes. On these, if the early big block is in the car you will have to get under the motor to see the casting date. Do it while the car is on a lift. The casting dates look something like this "E 12 7". The "E" stands for the month of the year with "A" being the month of January, "B" being the month of February and so on thru the letters to December. In this case the "E" stands for the month of May, the fifth month of the year and the fifth letter of the alphabet. The "12" stands for the 12th day of the month. The "7" is the year of the decade. Now unfortunately this could be '57, '67, '77, '87 or '97 depending on which part you are looking at. Some casting dates have both the year of the decade and the decade itself. They look like this "E 12 77", meaning May 12, 1977. The fun starts when you have a casting date from the first nine days of the month that look like this "D 2 6". Does that stand for April 2,1966 or does it stand for April 26th and the year is missing or hard to see? You have to look closely and carefully to be sure
The block casting date indicates when the block itself was cast in the foundry. This date does not indicate when the motor was assembled and then later placed into the vehicle at the factory. The block casting date is usually found on the rear ledge of the block on the passenger side, but some later model blocks have the casting date on the driver's side of the rear ledge. Some of the early big blocks made in the Sixties have the block casting date located on the passenger side of the block near the freeze plug holes. On these, if the early big block is in the car you will have to get under the motor to see the casting date. Do it while the car is on a lift. The casting dates look something like this "E 12 7". The "E" stands for the month of the year with "A" being the month of January, "B" being the month of February and so on thru the letters to December. In this case the "E" stands for the month of May, the fifth month of the year and the fifth letter of the alphabet. The "12" stands for the 12th day of the month. The "7" is the year of the decade. Now unfortunately this could be '57, '67, '77, '87 or '97 depending on which part you are looking at. Some casting dates have both the year of the decade and the decade itself. They look like this "E 12 77", meaning May 12, 1977. The fun starts when you have a casting date from the first nine days of the month that look like this "D 2 6". Does that stand for April 2,1966 or does it stand for April 26th and the year is missing or hard to see? You have to look closely and carefully to be sure
#11
#12
Melting Slicks
MD1....
A 14 = Sept. 14, 1977
Trim 22 = Oyster
Paint 13L = Silver......
The site's below may be of some use to you....
http://www.corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
http://100megsfree4.com/corvette/1970/vet78.htm
A 14 = Sept. 14, 1977
Trim 22 = Oyster
Paint 13L = Silver......
The site's below may be of some use to you....
http://www.corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
http://100megsfree4.com/corvette/1970/vet78.htm
Last edited by GREGG-73; 12-07-2009 at 02:03 PM.
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#14
Melting Slicks
At my plant, many a day..... parts, sub-assemblies, frame's, small part's, etc....were flown in by Lear jet, just to keep the line going. We would be down maybe a hour or two...sometimes much less....but the needed parts got there..... and the line kept on going, and going, and going....
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I guess when things were running smoothly the dates could be pretty close.
On my 71, 350/270 the block was cast on the twi-light shift of Dec. 31,1970. (They worked New Year's Eve!!!!). Engine was built on January 7, 1971. The car was built on January 14, 1971.
Fast but not as FAST as Mud's.
Regards,
Alan
On my 71, 350/270 the block was cast on the twi-light shift of Dec. 31,1970. (They worked New Year's Eve!!!!). Engine was built on January 7, 1971. The car was built on January 14, 1971.
Fast but not as FAST as Mud's.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; 12-07-2009 at 04:32 PM.
#17
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My '69 BB was pretty quick as well.
Block Cast date: 9/4/68
Engine Build date: 9/6/68
Trim Tag date: 9/13/68
Estimated "Birthday": 9/16/68
#1505 in '69
I understand that in '68-'69 the engine was built in a facility that was adjacent to the Tonowanda foundry (my block would still have been warm!!) so on BB's, it isn't that unusual to have close dates between cast date and build date.
Looks like it took a week to get the engine to St. Louis and on to the line. Cool stuff.
Block Cast date: 9/4/68
Engine Build date: 9/6/68
Trim Tag date: 9/13/68
Estimated "Birthday": 9/16/68
#1505 in '69
I understand that in '68-'69 the engine was built in a facility that was adjacent to the Tonowanda foundry (my block would still have been warm!!) so on BB's, it isn't that unusual to have close dates between cast date and build date.
Looks like it took a week to get the engine to St. Louis and on to the line. Cool stuff.
#19
Melting Slicks
Nope.....
1978 Regular Corvette Production
40,275 Coupes + 6,502 Pace Cars = 46,776 Total Production for 1978
Code Month Production Sequence #
A September '77 3,186 403186
B October 4,215 407401
C November 3,915 411316
D December 3,379 414695
E January '78 3,459 418154
F February 4,349 422503
G March 2,777 425280
H April 0
I May 3,553 428833
J June 4,298 433131
K July 3,717 436848
L August '78 3,426 440274
Last edited by GREGG-73; 12-12-2009 at 08:50 AM.
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...A would be August wouldn't it?...