Engine ID help
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Engine ID help
Engine ID please
6:23 AM 3/5/2002
Hi, I've got Mortec but I do not know where to get the ID for the number on the front
pass side of the block tab. I bought a running engine out of a '73 p/u yesterday to
build as a spare. It's a 4 bbl engine with a 3 on the tree stick which I thought was
unusual. Got the complete engine including the a/c pump, p/s pump, alt, starter,
bellhousing and all for $300, and he pulled it. Anyhow, the casting # is 3970010
which shows too many applications. The engine tab # is V1103TJB and the head #'s
are (3) or (8) 998993. If anyone has a site to go to for the tab #'s, that would be cool. Gonna
have the flywheel off tonight to check for the 010 which assures it's a 4 bolt main.
Thanks guys....
_______
[Modified by MasterDave, 7:29 AM 3/5/2002]
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Re: Engine ID help (MasterDave)
Dave,
The engine id on the tab is on a horizontal surface right in front of the passenger side head. All it will have is the a number and the last 5 digits of the original VIN code. The block number you need is located elsewhere
The Mortec site has a picture with number codes to give you general locations of the numbers at http://www.mortec.com/location.htm
The one on the front of the head is usually covered with paint or grime and hard to read. Take a paint scraper and some solvent cleaner and carefully scrape it off. If the engine has been rebuilt and the block decked, the numbers will probably be gone and on a 30 year old engine the chances of a rebuild are pretty good.
The engine id on the tab is on a horizontal surface right in front of the passenger side head. All it will have is the a number and the last 5 digits of the original VIN code. The block number you need is located elsewhere
The Mortec site has a picture with number codes to give you general locations of the numbers at http://www.mortec.com/location.htm
The one on the front of the head is usually covered with paint or grime and hard to read. Take a paint scraper and some solvent cleaner and carefully scrape it off. If the engine has been rebuilt and the block decked, the numbers will probably be gone and on a 30 year old engine the chances of a rebuild are pretty good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,829
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From: Southeast La
Re: Engine ID help (MasterDave)
The engine tab # is V1103TJB
1103 is assembly date which in this case is Nov 3rd.
TJB desigantes it as 350cid, 150hp, 4bb equipped engine out of a '74 truck.
:seeya
Thread Starter
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
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From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Engine ID help (topless68)
Thanks topless68, all I want here is the shortblock. I have the aftermarket heads and will get it bored .030 etc to get it up to 400 hp. Where did you get the info for the block tab number? :cool:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,829
Likes: 14
From: Southeast La
Re: Engine ID help (MasterDave)
Where did you get the info for the block tab number? :cool:
Chevrolet's The Lime Book by Edward McComas. One of the handiest things I've ever spent $8 on.
Also, on Mortec..it listed the 350 as a possible 2 or 4 bolt main. I have found that Mortec lists the either/or, 95% of the time it will be a 2 bolt...and the other 5% that are 4 bolts were HD truck motors, or service replacement blocks. Two bolt block should plenty stout for your app.
:cheers:
[Modified by topless68, 10:59 AM 3/5/2002]
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Engine ID help (topless68)
Thanks again bro, will pull the flywheel tonight. If it's cast with the 010 (hoping) it will designate it as a 4 bolt and I haven't seen a truck engine yet that was a 2 bolt but it is certainly possible. In either case for a 400 hp engine it will be fine.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Engine ID help (MasterDave)
I took the flywheel off last night and the 010 is there so it
is a 4 bolt. I also removed the heads and all looks very nice in the heads. The
pistons though look different than I've seen. First off there is absolutely no carbon on
the tops, they look new actually. I'm going to remove them this week but maybe if I
describe them someone can tell me what they may be. They have 4 valve reliefs and
a very slight dish (maybe .05) around the top of the piston about 1/4" in from the
edge. The strange thing to me is the taper of the pistons. From the top ring groove
they taper in about 1/4" or so and this taper goes to the top of the piston, the
distance of maybe 3/8"-1/2". There is an ever-so-slight lip on the top side of the
cyl's, you almost cannot catch your fingernail on it. The engine is supposed to have
98K on it but I don't see how by looking at it. Any thoughts?
is a 4 bolt. I also removed the heads and all looks very nice in the heads. The
pistons though look different than I've seen. First off there is absolutely no carbon on
the tops, they look new actually. I'm going to remove them this week but maybe if I
describe them someone can tell me what they may be. They have 4 valve reliefs and
a very slight dish (maybe .05) around the top of the piston about 1/4" in from the
edge. The strange thing to me is the taper of the pistons. From the top ring groove
they taper in about 1/4" or so and this taper goes to the top of the piston, the
distance of maybe 3/8"-1/2". There is an ever-so-slight lip on the top side of the
cyl's, you almost cannot catch your fingernail on it. The engine is supposed to have
98K on it but I don't see how by looking at it. Any thoughts?
