Determining engine year
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Determining engine year
Hi guys
Can you tell me how to figure out exactly what year of engine is in my car? As per PO, it is a 70s SBC350 but I would like to be sure of exactly what it is in case I need to order parts for it etc.
Thanks
Can you tell me how to figure out exactly what year of engine is in my car? As per PO, it is a 70s SBC350 but I would like to be sure of exactly what it is in case I need to order parts for it etc.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
what is stamped on the block stamp pad in front of the pass side cylinder head
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The stamped numbers on the engine ID pad on the passenger side block deck surface just below the cylinder head gasket have the actual date that the engine was assembled. A typical stamp on the ID pad may look like this:
6113797 F0113HP
The first digit “6” means that the engine is a 1966 model year engine.
113797 is the VIN number of the vehicle it was installed in.
“F” means the engine was assembled at the Flint Michigan Plant. Corvette engines were built in Flint.
0113 is the date is was assembled, which means it was assembled on January 13th, 1966.
"HP" is the engine code, identifying this as a 350 horse 327 "L79."
Last edited by lars; Jul 6, 2018 at 10:57 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
as helpful as Lars is, he probably didn't guess your engine correctly. this site has a very good list of small block engine codes. http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
I wasn't trying to guess the engine - I was providing examples of the date code system used on Chevy engines and showing how to interpret the numbers and letters. The numbers in my post above are only used as an example to show how you can determine the date. 
Lars
Lars
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
i knew you weren't. joking way to say here is where you find the codes...
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Here are pics I took of the engine. I can’t really make out what it says in the first picture. It looks like 397014? Any help identifying the engine would be appreciated. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 122
From: Lighthouse Point FL
Still need a picture of the flat pad on the block, below the passenger side cylinder head. That is where the numbers are stamped that will tell you what the engine is. Casting numbers are too generic.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
