69 Engine decoding help needed
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Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Maine
3927184 intake is a i969 used for both 350/300 and 350/ 350 . The HW block is a special cam (350HP) and 4 speed trans as derek noted. Need the head part number and date stamp to ID. 3927186 can be either .197 or .202 heads so you need to look at the valves to confirm. 3927187 will be .202 heads . Date stamp will confirm the year, could be 1969 or 1970. Nice find. Tim Also Stamped block vin ID falls within the 1969 Vin range
Last edited by Tim69L46; Apr 6, 2018 at 09:32 AM. Reason: add more info
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There are no other codes, but you could look at head and intake manifold casting dates. The dates should precede the February 4th date the engine was assembled.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Apr 7, 2018 at 07:49 AM.
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The 350 350 or L46 was gm's top performing small block for 1969. You will find this engine built with the best of parts in their day as well. The heads if original will be the big valve (2.02) heads. Block comes with 2482 nodular 4 bolt main caps. 1182 forged steel crankshaft. "O" forged pink rods and forged pistons. These engines also came with a factory installed windage tray. Great engines built for the corvette.
Norm
Norm
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Hi Glenn,
The part number and casting date for cast iron intake manifolds are near each other on the runners just a little forward of the coil mounting bracket.
The alpha/numeric date code is the same as that used for the engine block. (A....January)
Regards,
Alan
Part number upper.
Date code lower.
The part number and casting date on sb heads.
It can be seen on the left side head by looking through the oil fill hole in the valve cover. The valve cover needs to be removed to see the info on the right side head.
The part number and casting date for cast iron intake manifolds are near each other on the runners just a little forward of the coil mounting bracket.
The alpha/numeric date code is the same as that used for the engine block. (A....January)
Regards,
Alan
Part number upper.
Date code lower.
The part number and casting date on sb heads.
It can be seen on the left side head by looking through the oil fill hole in the valve cover. The valve cover needs to be removed to see the info on the right side head.
Last edited by Alan 71; Apr 7, 2018 at 03:22 PM.
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Hi Glenn,
Here's one just for fun.
The foundry needed to keep track of when the blocks were cast.
A 'casting clock' was used for that. It's located on the rear flange of the block along with the date code and the casting number.
The 'clock' had 2 parts:
First the shift needed to be noted... D for day, T for twilight, and N for night. An arrow was rotated to indicate the shift.
Secondly the hour of the shift needed to be noted.... an arrow was rotated to indicate the hour within the shift not the time of day. The double dot indicates the first hour of the shift.
This clock is from a block cast on December 31. The shift indicator is pointed towards T.
The clock therefore indicates that the foundry was operating and pouring blocks on New Year's Eve.
The block was poured on the 7th hour of the shift.
The Flint Plant was assembling 5000 engines per day so there was a tremendous need for blocks from the foundry.
Regards,
Alan
Here's one just for fun.
The foundry needed to keep track of when the blocks were cast.
A 'casting clock' was used for that. It's located on the rear flange of the block along with the date code and the casting number.
The 'clock' had 2 parts:
First the shift needed to be noted... D for day, T for twilight, and N for night. An arrow was rotated to indicate the shift.
Secondly the hour of the shift needed to be noted.... an arrow was rotated to indicate the hour within the shift not the time of day. The double dot indicates the first hour of the shift.
This clock is from a block cast on December 31. The shift indicator is pointed towards T.
The clock therefore indicates that the foundry was operating and pouring blocks on New Year's Eve.
The block was poured on the 7th hour of the shift.
The Flint Plant was assembling 5000 engines per day so there was a tremendous need for blocks from the foundry.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Apr 7, 2018 at 01:46 PM.
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From: BC
Alan - "The Flint Plant was assembling 5000 engines per day so there was a tremendous need for blocks from the foundry."
I noticed on my 69 L36 that the block casting date (Oct 20 69) is only 4 days previous to the car build date of Oct 24 69 so those blocks didn't sit around gathering any dust. Heck, by the time the engine was assembled the block might have still been warm.
I noticed on my 69 L36 that the block casting date (Oct 20 69) is only 4 days previous to the car build date of Oct 24 69 so those blocks didn't sit around gathering any dust. Heck, by the time the engine was assembled the block might have still been warm.
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi CG,
Yes, I think what was being done at the Flint plant in terms the number of engines assembled, and in over 100 variations at times, is pretty incredible.
I believe the small blocks came from the Saginaw Foundry which was only about
40 miles away.
I believe engines have been seen with as little as a day or 2 from cast date to assembly date.
Your example is interesting because of the distance from Tonawanda (big blocks) to St.Louis.
The engine in my 71 was cast on the 31st of December (70) and assembled on January 7th (71). The trim tag is stamped January 14th, 71. I used to think that was pretty quick... but YOURS!!!
It has been mentioned often by those familiar with the plants that there was very little room for storage so parts (including engines) needed to appear very close to the time they would be needed.
It's always fun to learn stuff!
Regards,
Alan
Yes, I think what was being done at the Flint plant in terms the number of engines assembled, and in over 100 variations at times, is pretty incredible.
I believe the small blocks came from the Saginaw Foundry which was only about
40 miles away.
I believe engines have been seen with as little as a day or 2 from cast date to assembly date.
Your example is interesting because of the distance from Tonawanda (big blocks) to St.Louis.
The engine in my 71 was cast on the 31st of December (70) and assembled on January 7th (71). The trim tag is stamped January 14th, 71. I used to think that was pretty quick... but YOURS!!!
It has been mentioned often by those familiar with the plants that there was very little room for storage so parts (including engines) needed to appear very close to the time they would be needed.
It's always fun to learn stuff!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Apr 7, 2018 at 03:52 PM.