What does it mean?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 3
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What does it mean?
Hi guys, I was reading some forums from 2022. It was about engine numbers and sufixes. I know that the 3970010 is a corvette engine, the block number is a non numbers matching 350. I also know it is made in 78. V0908CMT is stamped on the front. If the first letter is the month, then what month is (V). And I can't find anything on the CMT. I have a 79 c3. Can anyone tell me what the CMT means?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2023
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V is Flint Michigan engine plant. 0908 is September 8th. If it was produced in 1978 then CMT is a 170 hp 350 used in full size cars. Casting # 3970010 is a 350 block and not necessarily a Corvette specific one. FWIW, there's nothing special about the blocks used in small block C3 Vettes. Some are 2 bolt mains and some are 4 bolt, but that's just a matter of how the block is machined originally to accept one or the other type of main caps depending on application.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 3,130
From: Shamong, NJ
3970010 is the casting number for the block. V0908CMT is the engine assembly number. As C3Cliff said, "V" stands for the Flint MI engine plant where the engine was assembled. "09" is September and "08" in the 8th of the month, the assembly number didn't include the year. "CMT" is the engine suffix code, it identifies what the engine is.
"CMT" actually was used for 3 engines by Chevrolet, the 1974 350/245 with an automatic trans from a 1974 Camaro Z/28 (basically the same engine as the 74 Corvette's L-82), a 350/170 automatic from a 78 Chevrolet passenger (Caprice, Nova, Malibu, Monte Carlo) and an 80 350/155 automatic from a passenger car. On the right rear of the block, on the opposite side from where the "010" casting number is there will be a casting date that will help narrow down the year and thus size, horsepower and application.
Welcome to the Forum.
"CMT" actually was used for 3 engines by Chevrolet, the 1974 350/245 with an automatic trans from a 1974 Camaro Z/28 (basically the same engine as the 74 Corvette's L-82), a 350/170 automatic from a 78 Chevrolet passenger (Caprice, Nova, Malibu, Monte Carlo) and an 80 350/155 automatic from a passenger car. On the right rear of the block, on the opposite side from where the "010" casting number is there will be a casting date that will help narrow down the year and thus size, horsepower and application.
Welcome to the Forum.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,948
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From: Virginia
CMT is not a Corvette engine.
It is one of three possible engines listed in the Lime Book, though:
http://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf
More details are here:
https://nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
CMT 1974 350 t400 L82 245 4 Camaro/Chevy II
CMT 1978 350 LM1 L 170 4 B
CMT 1980 305 auto trans. H LG4 155 4 full size/Chevy II
It is one of three possible engines listed in the Lime Book, though:
http://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf
More details are here:
https://nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
CMT 1974 350 t400 L82 245 4 Camaro/Chevy II
CMT 1978 350 LM1 L 170 4 B
CMT 1980 305 auto trans. H LG4 155 4 full size/Chevy II
Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Bottom line is, you have a Chev Small block block. What's inside that block after 45 plus years is anyone's guess.
Could be a well built street performance engine. Could be a worn out old stock engine or anything inbetween.
To actually know what you have you'll really need to take it apart and look!
Could be a well built street performance engine. Could be a worn out old stock engine or anything inbetween.
To actually know what you have you'll really need to take it apart and look!
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
sounds bad!
On the 79 C3 I changed all the rear bearings ,bushings . Had both control arms out cleaned them put all new stuff in it spacers, shocks, spring bushings, Backed it out of the garage and there is a bad clanking noise coming from the rear, I thing it's the rear end. The noise was there before I change everything. I bought this baby about a year ago My first vette. None numbers matching 350. Engine is 1978. I hope I don't have to pull the rear end out. That's going to be hard on a carport floor.
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