Another Block/Head # question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Lousiana
Another Block/Head # question
Well...the problem is, I have no idea whats under the hood in my vette, and it bugs the hell out of me. I've been trying in vain to find the engine code, but I cant seem to find numbers located ANYWHERE on the front of the block. Now...it IS inside the car, so that could be part of my problem, but I cant just take it out to go and explore as I drive it every day. The best that I could get off of the block is its casting number, which is "GM 3970010" and what appears to be the Saginaw clock. According to several sites, this could be pretty much any basic engine from 68-80. The heads...well, I'm not even sure if they're GM heads. They have an outside identifier "WH6508". I havnt pulled the valve covers to check if they have a GM casting number inside because I was under the impression that GM heads did not have any numbers on the outside. 
Any ideas where I should look next or what the head numbers mean?
Any ideas where I should look next or what the head numbers mean?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 43
From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
Try these websites. It will show you where to find the block casting numbers at what they mean.
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...05em_gmachine/
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...05em_gmachine/
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Lousiana
Ive been looking on the mortec and nastyz28 pages, but where they spec the engine code to be, theres nothing but clean block (right front side). Maybe its been decked/machined?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 43
From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
Ah to eat at Mr B's or Brenan's again; Back to the subject. If you are looking at the flange, passenger side above the water pump and it is blank then it has been decked and the assembly date and application code is gone forever.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans Lousiana
Can I measure the block to see how far its been decked? Sorry...I'm a bit new to some of these things.
EDIT: and any idea what that head number refers to?
http://members.***.net/akxb70/Head%20Numbers.JPG
EDIT: and any idea what that head number refers to?
http://members.***.net/akxb70/Head%20Numbers.JPG
Last edited by AkXb70; Mar 7, 2007 at 11:05 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: liberty mo
I got curious while reading this thread and decided to check the # on a 78 L82 i just purchased in FEB, the car had been in storage for 14 years. Front of block # were V0801CMR, under those #'s were 18S437939. the 437939 matched #'s in the cars VIN, this is good right? went to other web-sites to decipher but couldnt really follow what they said. can somebody read these for me and tell me what they mean, and is this the original factory engine. thanks for the help
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,347
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Blocks with blank pads are known to exist, although, odds are, it was machined off.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Yes they do exist. I built a 1970 LS6 last year. It had all stock 1969 435 HP 427 components in it when I tore it down. Stock 435 pistons too. It also had 1 stock 1969 head and 1 1970 over the counter head. The pad was blank with broach marks. I had no history on it but figured it was a 69 corvette that dropped a valve in early 1970 and the block was damaged. The block and 1 head were probably replaced and the internals reused. One of the pistons looked a little different (better condition) than the rest but had the same part # also. Block was a 512 4 bolt main dated E 5 70
Last edited by 63mako; Mar 8, 2007 at 03:02 PM.