Hello to this community, i am playing around with my vette now since a while, now i would like to really know what's under the hood.

Bought the car(1973 coupe) in California and shipped it to germany. I was told by the seller that the car is basically original with a non original small block engine. Now im interested to identify what engine is in there.

This is what i have:

VIN: 1Z37T3S419791

Egine Block casting number: 3970010
Block Date: B 273
Casting Clock present on Block
Cylinder Head(Non Aluminum): 69977771 GM3
Carb is Rochester MV4
Finned Aluminum Cylinder Head Covers
Air conditioning present
Distributor with contact, no HEI
Exhaust Manifolds have the EGR Holes (Blindfolded)
No Engine Identification number present/Recognisable
Egine compartment white sticker indicates "350CU IN: Hi Perf GM104"

Here is my logic:

-Date of Block indicates casting date second day of Februar 1973.
-The fact that a Casting Clock is present,indicates that it was built in Saginaw plant
-Finned Covers indicates that it should be a L82 Engine.
-Sticker would also indicate towards L82 as this was the "High performance version"

Concluding, should be a L82 250 HP Version.

The only thing is the cylinder head number cant find it anywhere.....

Is my logic right and can somebody contribute further given the mentioned facts ????

Appreciate any input, thanks

 

The T in the VIN indicates that the car was built as an L82 and the s/n indicates that the car was built in early April 1973. The trim tag would give a closer date.

The block casting date having only one digit for the date - '3' and not '73' indicates that it was cast and probably assembled by the Flint plant. This would be correct for a Corvette SBC either L48 or L82.

What you call a cylinder head with 69977771 is actually the intake manifold with casting number 3997771 and is correct for either L48 or L82 in '73.

All the other details are common to both L48 and L82 with the exception of the valve cover which sound like L82. Not sure about the white sticker. Do you mean tune up label?

Is there identification on the 'stamp pad' on the block in front of the passenger side cylinder. This would indicate of the engine is original or not, and what might be inside.

 

Thanks Mike, so i mixed up the number of the manifold with the heads, thanks for clarifying my mistake, now i need to check the Cyl. Head number(Remove cover) will do so.

- Yes i think i mean the "tune up label" , the sticker i mean sits in engine compartment on the left side near the wipers.

- You sure about the casting date info, i read that first digit is a letter, indicating month, second is day, 3rd and sometimes fourth digit indicates year. I clearly have B273. Internet also told me that if there is a additional datum clock (Which i have) indicates Saginaw plant.

- Unfortunately on my stamp pad everything is grinded away, nothing to be found anymore, that is way i need to do this "detective work"

=> Any other suggestion what numbers i should be searching for to identify that beast :-)))

 

It's very possible that this is the original block- the casting number and date are well within the range of typical production

With the stamp pad pad details gone, you'll never know the true origin of the block for sure. Without a tear down the present config of the motor will be a mystery too.