I don't have a matching numbers car as I drive mine whenever I can. But just out of curiosity would like some info on this Mexican motor. Casting number on the rear of the block is 3970010, which supposed to be a 350 Blok and may well be. But the stamping on the pad is ML26800, which is supposed to be a Mexico 327 275 hp but I really don't know one from the other. I could only find 2 engine ID with the ML stamp and one is a '67 and the other one is a '68, which is supposed to be mine. What throws me is the casting number which everyone says is a 350 block, so how can that be?

 

Is it a factory stamping? If you can, please post a picture of the engine stamp pad.

 

Oh Lord, just found out I am blind.......That should be ME not ML, which shows to be a 1967 327. RATS.. That is the only letters & numbers I can see on the pad, no VIN hat I can tell. Don't know what 26800 is.
But again. what is the 3970010 casting

 

67 was just before vins?

 

Did they make 010 blocks that said “hecho en mehico?” I thought Mexican engines were newer.

 

Haven't seen anything (yet) that says made in Mexico. I can't get over the 010 block..........

 

a picture of the stamp pad would help along with the casting date

 

It's probably a "ME" PREFIX, not a SUFFIX. The "Lime Book" book will not help you with a GM Crate Engine made in Mexico.

4" bore, large journal 350 engine.

 

Oops, wrong again.....just above the block casting # it says it.

 

Took some not so great pics. Will post shortly

 

IIRC they should all be the heavy duty 4-bolt main 350 truck blocks. I have one that GM bored and clearanced as a 383 block. I don't think any Mexico cast blocks went into standard production runs, all parts dept blocks.

 

The number you gave with the "ML" is not in the normal configuration for a production line engine. Chevrolet engines are usually coded with a letter for the assembly plant, a four digit number for the month and day it was assembled, and a 1, 2 or 3 letter code that identified the size and horsepower of the engine, EI: V0624ML

What you have sounds a little like an old Target Master 350. The Target Master came out around 79-81, as cheap replacement 350 engine, the name was later changed to Goodwrench 350.

I may be wrong though, as the numbers don't sound exactly as I remember them for Target Masters. The Target Master had a serial number starting with a number, followed by an "M" and then four more numbers. Then there was a second line with three digits, usually a number followed by two letters. I think the top line decoded something like this, the year, an M for Mexico, and the the month and date of assembly. I think the second line identified the engine as a Target Master? A typical Target Master pad looked something like this:

1M0624
4VP

Also, while the "010" was a very common block, used between 68 and 79 for thousands of Chevrolet engines, I didn't think they were used for Target Masters. From what I recall, Target Masters usually have a block casting number ending in "036". The Target Masters used the small stamp pad found on late 70's and up small blocks, not the wide one used on earlier engines. The back of the block should also have a casting date and "Hecho en Mexico" cast into it.

A picture of the pad, as well as the casting date, would be helpful.

 

I saw a similar comment in another thread and I find it curious. Beginning in 1960, the portion of the car's VIN indicating the sequence # was stamped on the block's pad. It was done at St. Louis and is a separate stamping from the engine plant/date/option stamp (which was done at Flint or Tonawanda). Is this what you're referring to?

 

pretty sure this is a replacement engine. never installed in a car at a GM plant so it was not vin-stamp married to a specific car.

 

Good Info. !

 

Well for sure it's not a 327 as that configuration was discontinued after 1969 using block casting number 3956618.

Chevrolet by the Numbers 1965-69 by Alan L. Colvin
The 3970010 casting was introduced by GM in 1969 and was used through 1975. It was produced in both 2-bolt and 4-bolt main configuration and these applications varied greatly from year to year. In the 1969 model year, Chevrolet documentation shows the block only being used in the 4-bolt main configuration. This block saw extensive truck usage as well. Some 3970010 blocks have verified with a December "M" month code. It is unknown why these "M" blocks exist.

Corvette by the Numbers 1955-82 by Alan L. Colvin
Everything above remains the same except the it now states this block was used through 1979 and was replaced late in production that year with casting 14016379.

 

Tried to do some research on this and only get more confused. Here are some pics of the block ID and the stamp pad. I can't interpret the stamp pad, but that's not unusual for me.
The block ID is 3970010, made in Mexico. The intake is a 350 (1400737,1238 date I believe). This is supposed to be a '68 327 but I really don't know and can't say for sure. I saw a print out that said this block was used from '67-69, however the '68 had the large journals in stead of the small like the '62-'67 had. The only difference is the piston travel (?) from the 350. So the block id is a 350 (Mexico), intake is a 350, so how can one determine the crank size without tearing the motor apart, which I won't do. Want to sell it but would like to know what it is, think that would help as I don't want to be dishonest about it. I can't figure out the stamp pad. Hoping some of the tech experts could. I want to thank you guys for all your help and time and info on this. Hope some one can figure it out for me. BTW, the stamp pad is: ME26800 in case it isn't readable to you.
.

 

You can look at the rear crankshaft flange to determine the stroke.

You can stop trying to research the engine. Nobody ever documented Mexican crate engines. They were never used in production or warranty, only generic over the counter replacements. They were 350 cube, low compression base 350s. Any documentation you find will be for original production line engines, not for generic replacement crate engines.

good luck with your sale.

 

Thank you sir. I know this engine did not come in the car, someone put it in there when the original blew, just guessing of course. I was just trying to find out the actual date of the motor and what HP it might be. I actually don't even know if it's a 327, just what I was told. Thought the stamp pad might give some insight but I guess not.

 

The Mexican made Targetmasters of the late 70s and early 80s were built stronger than most of GM's factory installed engines of that era. They used better heads and 4 bolt blocks on the Targetmaster engines.