engine decoding , please

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 24, 2001 | 03:38 PM

WESCH

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 3,330

Likes: 13

From: Europe , Luxembourg

engine decoding , please

Hi
A friend of me owns a 73 convertible auto
VIN= 1Z67T3S402413
the engine has following numbers on the pad
VO102TBX
C9F388589
What engine is this ?
Thanks alot, Gunther

Sep 24, 2001 | 03:48 PM

Go Ravens

Racer

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 433

Likes: 0

Re: engine decoding , please (WESCH)

The VIN jives..a 73 Conv with a 250HP L-82 engine but....the engine numbers aren't from a 73. Are you sure that the second character in the engine # is a '9'. It should be a letter if it is a Vette engine.

Possibly a crate engine??? Anyone??? Can you get the head #s?

[Modified by Go Ravens, 2:56 PM 9/24/2001]

Sep 24, 2001 | 04:10 PM

68shark

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,160

Likes: 0

From: Ajax Ontario

Re: engine decoding , please (Go Ravens)

If you obtain the casting number (driver side rear portion of block near distributor, you can go to http://www.mortec.com and look the number up. That won't necessarily tell you what car the engine originally resided in, but it will tell you basically what the engine is and the year range of casting. The casting date is on the rear passenger side, fairly close to the casting number and this gives the date. Between those two pieces of info, you will know what you have and when it was made.

Sep 24, 2001 | 05:03 PM

Paul Borowski

Team Owner

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 21,438

Likes: 458

From: Massillon,Ohio USA

2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

Cruise-In VI Veteran

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12

Re: engine decoding , please (WESCH)

The book I have shows TBX to be 70-71 Truck application, 4bbl carb, 255hp. Also the nine after the "C" indicates probably 1969 and the engine was assembled Jan 2(1970) at Flint engine("V").

[Modified by Paul Borowski, 3:04 PM 9/24/2001]

Sep 24, 2001 | 05:11 PM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

Likes: 1,481

From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Re: engine decoding , please (WESCH)

Your friend's '73 originally had the optional L-82 engine, but TBX indicates a truck block.

Your firend has an early production '73 (the 2413th) and would have been assembled in September, 1972. I'd say she was a keeper.

Sep 25, 2001 | 09:50 AM

WESCH

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 3,330

Likes: 13

From: Europe , Luxembourg

Re: engine decoding , please (Paul Borowski)

Thanks a lot.
Looks like if I have to get some more numbers of the block and possibly the heads to exactly see what it is.
What does truck engine mean ? Is there any difference to a normal smal block Vette engine ?
It's a nice car, has power steering and brakes and air conditioning.
Gunther

Sep 25, 2001 | 11:54 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

Likes: 1,481

From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Re: engine decoding , please (WESCH)

Gunther -- "Truck block" means the engine was built and installed in a truck as opposed to a passenger car. Quite often there are no major differences between truck blocks and passenger car blocks.

Sep 25, 2001 | 08:06 PM

rayray

Racer

Joined: May 1999

Posts: 288

Likes: 0

Re: engine decoding , please (WESCH)

I come up with TBX being used for two diferent years:

Both trucks '70, 350cid, 255hp
'79, 350cid, 155hp

But being from a truck you have a good chance that it is a 4-bolt main and a chance that that the block has one or two numbers like 10 or 20 under the timing cover. If there is, them numbers there then it has high tin and nickel present in the block. The '70 block would have it I think. :chevy