C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Determining engine year

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-06-2018, 03:05 PM
  #1  
titanle
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
titanle's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 963
Received 56 Likes on 46 Posts
Default 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
Old 07-06-2018, 04:08 PM
  #2  
PAmotorman
Melting Slicks
 
PAmotorman's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 0
Received 150 Likes on 131 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by titanle
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
what is stamped on the block stamp pad in front of the pass side cylinder head
The following users liked this post:
titanle (07-10-2018)
Old 07-06-2018, 10:42 PM
  #3  
A88FXRS
Racer
 
A88FXRS's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2007
Location: PHILADELPHIA PA
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 12 Posts

Default

need casting numbers / pad id stamping / date codes on rear of block
The following users liked this post:
titanle (07-10-2018)
Old 07-06-2018, 10:56 PM
  #4  
lars
Tech Contributor
Support Corvetteforum!
 
lars's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Posts: 13,654
Received 4,924 Likes on 1,930 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by titanle
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
The casting date of the engine block is cast into the block in the ledge behind the distributor, above the bellhousing parting surface. Date codes are a letter (from "A" thru "L"), 1 or 2 digits for the day of the month, and 1 digit for the year. Thus a 327 with a casting date of J257 would be October 25, 1967. If it was a 350, it would be 1977.

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; 07-06-2018 at 10:57 PM.
The following users liked this post:
titanle (07-10-2018)
Old 07-07-2018, 10:31 AM
  #5  
derekderek
Race Director
 
derekderek's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2015
Location: SW Florida.
Posts: 13,021
Received 3,388 Likes on 2,633 Posts
Default

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
The following users liked this post:
titanle (07-10-2018)
Old 07-07-2018, 11:00 AM
  #6  
lars
Tech Contributor
Support Corvetteforum!
 
lars's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Posts: 13,654
Received 4,924 Likes on 1,930 Posts

Default

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
The following users liked this post:
titanle (07-10-2018)
Old 07-07-2018, 05:44 PM
  #7  
derekderek
Race Director
 
derekderek's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2015
Location: SW Florida.
Posts: 13,021
Received 3,388 Likes on 2,633 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by lars
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
i knew you weren't. joking way to say here is where you find the codes...
Old 07-10-2018, 12:31 PM
  #8  
titanle
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
titanle's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 963
Received 56 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

THanks for all the help!!!
Old 07-10-2018, 11:57 PM
  #9  
titanle
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
titanle's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 963
Received 56 Likes on 46 Posts
Default




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.

Old 07-11-2018, 07:46 AM
  #10  
maj75
Burning Brakes
 
maj75's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Lighthouse Point FL
Posts: 959
Received 121 Likes on 90 Posts

Default

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.
Old 07-11-2018, 08:50 AM
  #11  
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Easy Mike's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Southbound
Posts: 38,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,468 Likes on 1,247 Posts
Cruise-In II Veteran

Default

Originally Posted by maj75
...Still need a picture of the flat pad on the block...
True. What is on the block pad? 3965577 is a Corvette intake manifold. You can Google GM part numbers.
Old 07-14-2018, 09:55 AM
  #12  
EarlyC34me
Parts Sherpa
Support Corvetteforum!
 
EarlyC34me's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2017
Location: ICE boneyard, Pa
Posts: 520
Received 98 Likes on 89 Posts
Default

That's a jan 27 1971 block cast at towanda

You can tell by the two digit year and 014 block cast number
Old 07-14-2018, 10:18 PM
  #13  
titanle
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
titanle's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 963
Received 56 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

Thank you.

I can't really see the block pad, the alternator is mounted on the passenger side and its blocking that part of the engine.

Get notified of new replies

To Determining engine year




Quick Reply: Determining engine year



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:53 AM.