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Engine identification

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Old Jun 1, 2010 | 10:45 AM
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Default Engine identification

I bought a '75 coupe recently and had it checked out at a local Vette guru who took a lot of time to go over the car from front to back.

The engine is not the original so my dreams of stumbling on a "numbers matching" coupe are dashed. I'm actually ok with it.

The engine has a gray block. Can anyone tell me which manufacturers use this paint?

How would I find out where the engine block and heads are manufactured?

Thanks....
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Old Jun 1, 2010 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by kirt8548
The engine has a gray block. Can anyone tell me which manufacturers use this paint?....
Anybody could've painted the block gray. Doesn't mean anything.

How would I find out where the engine block and heads are manufactured?

Thanks....
Originally manufactured?? or remanufactured?
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Old Jun 1, 2010 | 01:02 PM
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On the right side front of the block there is a machined pad, just forward of the head. On this pad there should be 2 series of numbers stamped. The first will consist of a letter indicating which plant the engine came from, next will be four numbers indicating the assembly date and then there will be 2 or 3 letters which are a code to identify the engine. The second set of numbers will be a derivative the VIN of the vehicle that the motor was originally installed in. An over the counter engine will only have the first set of numbers, and a engine that was rebuilt and decked, may not have any numbers on the pad.

On the left side of the block, behind the head, on the flange where the bell housing bolts up, there will be a part number cast into the block. On the right side rear of the block, in the same area, will be a date in cast into the block.

If you can find and post these numbers and post them here, I'm sure someone will be able to identify the engine.
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Old Jun 1, 2010 | 09:12 PM
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If you want to know about the heads you need to pull the valve covers. Once you do you will be able to see the casting number. Then you can run them through mortec.com to find what they are off of.
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Old Jun 2, 2010 | 03:59 PM
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Hi K,
The Navy paints a lot of it's equipment gray so maybe it's a naval surplus engine. Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Did the fellow who looked over the car for you have any idea what it might be?
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jun 2, 2010 | 04:04 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by kirt8548
I bought a '75 coupe recently and had it checked out at a local Vette guru who took a lot of time to go over the car from front to back.

The engine is not the original so my dreams of stumbling on a "numbers matching" coupe are dashed. I'm actually ok with it.

The engine has a gray block. Can anyone tell me which manufacturers use this paint?

How would I find out where the engine block and heads are manufactured?

Thanks....
Ask your vette guru for the numbers that he found and post them, it would at least be a starting point.
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