My '79 coupe was an early production car with a L-48
and a turbo 350. The original motor was changed and
I can't identify what it is. I was told only that it was a
from an earlier car. The only numbers that I can read
on the deck are - 10309CK on the top and on the bottom
it looks like o13B54315o I know this seems weird and
maybe the small "o" is an unreadable stamping. Does
anyone know what this engine might be from?

Thanks, Psychovette

 

Check again. Could the 1 be a T? T0309CK

That's the VIN derivitive of the vehicle the engine was originally installed in.

 

I did check it again. It's a 1 not a T. Not worried about numbers matching or original equipment, I was just curious as to where the engine came from. It runs great, has lots of power and doesn't smoke. Car is a great driver! 10309CK and o13B54315o are the only numbers on the stamping pad.

 

in the back, behind your distributor is a casting code and a casting date of the engine block, let us know what those are?

I can't find a CK suffix code in my book, could be a truck motor, or if it really says GK then it is an old 283. The casting date will help alot

2 character engine suffix codes are pre 1970.

 

The casting code on the block behind the distributor seems to be 3970014 The "7" almost looks like a / but looks closer to a 7
Thanks for the help!
Psychvette

 

now how about the date code, it is also behind the distributor on the other side of the engine from the casting code?

 

It appears to be a 1972 350 cu. in. motor, but not a vette motor.
The vehicle vin is (was) 43150, Mar 9 build, 3970014-350, ck-1972 engine suffix family. My guess, 1972, some type of Chevrolet, other than vette.
Chas

 

Thanks to all for your help. The other engine casting number on the passenger side below the distributor seems to be T3 in large letters above and CONV2 in smaller letters below.

 

The stampnig on the pad breaks down as follows. The first digit is the engine assembly plant, the next 4 are the assembly date, and the last 2 are the engine identifier code. The date and code you listed can't be correct. The 0309 would be March 9th, but I don't know any GM engine plant that used a "1" to identify it. "F" was for Flint prior to 67 and "V" after 67. Tonawanda plants used "T".

There appears to be a letter missing from that engine suffix. The "CK" engine suffix was a 68 250 Cu In 6 cylinder. From 72-77, 014 blocks had suffix codes of CKA through CKD, CKH-CKM, CKR-CKU and CKW-CKZ for various 350's.

Chevrolet block stamping VIN derivatives start with a "1" for Chevrolet, a number for the year (2 for 72, 3 for 73, etc.) a letter for the assembly plant (S for St. Louis) and then the last 6 numbers of the VIN. 13B54315? would be Chevrolet (1), 1973 (3), Baltimore assembly plant (B) and the 43,15?th car built (54315?).

The 3970014 is a 350 block, that was used in passenger cars from 69-77 and trucks from 69-79.

Neither T3 or CONV are casting dates, though Tonawanda blocks often have a large "T" cast in them. Block casting dates consist of a letter and either 3 or 4 numbers. The letter is for the month "A" (January) through "L" (December), the next 2 numbers are the day of the month (01, 02, 03, through 31) and the last 1 or 2 numbers are the year. On Flint blocks, it's a single number for the last digit of the year, such as "2" for 72 (or 82, 92, etc.). Tonawanda blocks use 2 digits for the year, so "72" would be 1972.

It sounds like it's a 73 350 from a Chevrolet passenger car. I don't know what line was assembled in Baltimore in 73. You need to look more closely at the stamp pad and the rear of the block, before you can identify your engine.

 

Wow! You guys are awesome. Looks like I've got a 350 from a 1972 or 73 Chevy passenger car that got rebuilt and put into my '79. I had noticed some red engine paint under places that didn't get covered when the block got painted blue. It's still a great driver and probably has more power than the L48 that it was born with.

 

due to the wierd numbers and missing letters, still don't know the date of the block cast.. still need the casting date. it would firm up some guesses made above.

 

Could be a 283 from an even older car.

 

No, it can't be a 283 (or 302, 307, 327, or 400). With a 3970014 block, I'm pretty sure it has to be a 350. You just can't tell what year or horsepower, without more info.

 

My bad. I missed the casting number post and was stewing over a possible CK or GK code.