Hello,
I m new to Vette ownership and obviously new to the forum. I have a question and if anyone could help, I would greatly appreciate it. I recently bought a 79 Vet and am going to have to rebuild it all. Starting with the engine, I am wondering whether I have a 2 bolt main or 4 bolt main. I would love to keep the orig block and build it up if its a 4 bolt, but all the info I find cant tell me. Eng ID is ZBB (350 - 225hp with Turbo Hydra-Matic) and block casting number 3970010. Is this a good canidate for 350 rebuild? Mabye 383 stroker? Or should I keep it aside and look for a better 4 bolt? Any better suggestions for a replacement engine?

 

What kind of power are you looking for??

 

ZZB is a 225horse L-82 I believe, you can verifiy that with the vin. I believe the L-82's are 4 bolt mains. Depending on the power you are looking to put out you may not need a 4-bolt anyway.

Contratulations on your new Vette

 

The 3970010 is considered a good block to build with because some are rumored to have a higher nickle content in the iron. I think the only way to know for sure if it is 2 or 4 bolt is to pull the pan (MorTec.com says either is possible). FWIW, I have 3970010 that originally came out of a 79 Chevy van and it is a 4-bolt. I ran it as a ~400hp 383 for about 15 years with no issues. Even if it is a 2 bolt, unless your trying to make a lot of power, it should still be ok for street/strip duty.

 

Pretty sure all L82's are 4 bolts

 

You have an L-82, whiuch has a 4-bolt main block and forged crankshaft. The heads are ok, but if your looking for more power, consider upgrading them.

 

Ok, well it is an L-82 and I am wanting about 400-450hp. I am thinking of a 383 because of its good price/power ratio. If you can think of anthing else, please throw it out there.

 

On the 0010 blocks, yes they are high nickel content, you can run 400 horses on the 2 bolt version with no problem. You can also get away with the stock heads and valve sizes, yes they'll rob some power compaired to vortec or aftermarket but you can make your combo work.

 

3970010 only denotes that it is a 350 or 327 sbc and does not tell if will be a 4 or 2 bolt block. The only way to tell is to pull the pan. I have 2x 3970010's now and one is 2 bolt and the other is 4 bolt. The 2 bolt block is good for up to about 500hp with a forged crank and a little less with a cast crank but not much less. For street engines a 2 bolt that will rarely see track time and no juice is plenty strong for even the heaviest foot. The 3970"010" part of this identification and does not denote higher nickel content, the higher nickel blocks will have a 010 stamped on the block by itself behind the timing cover and chain, this has nothing to do with the id number. The heads you have, even though they are L82 heads are still smog heads with inefficient chambers unless you got lucky, the only way to know is check the id numbers and see what you have. They can still make good street power with some reworking but it is limited by the design of the chamber and wont be near that of a set of aftermarket heads or early (68-72) or the later vortec heads.
vic