What year is this engine?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 156
Likes: 4
From: Glendora CA
What year is this engine?
Looking for some advice from the corvette engine gurus.
I have a 72 vert and I am sure the numbers are not matching. The block is a 350 - casting numbers 20GM 3970010. I have other numbers on the passenger side head that say 118143224 followed by what I think is V0128000. Can anyone tell me what engine I have? also, I am thinking I am going to replace the carburetor and want to know the best carburetor for this engine.
Thanks to all the experts out there!
GlenJack
I have a 72 vert and I am sure the numbers are not matching. The block is a 350 - casting numbers 20GM 3970010. I have other numbers on the passenger side head that say 118143224 followed by what I think is V0128000. Can anyone tell me what engine I have? also, I am thinking I am going to replace the carburetor and want to know the best carburetor for this engine.
Thanks to all the experts out there!
GlenJack
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,251
Likes: 766
From: Waterford WI
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
GlenJack, the number of bolts refers to the fasteners holding the main caps to the block. With a small block, 2-bolt main caps are much narrower than their 4-bolt counterparts and provide less clamping force...with the exception of the 400 block, it used wide caps in both 2 and 4 bolt applications. Smallblocks all use 2-bolt caps on front and back and either 2 or 4 bolts for the middle caps and saddles. Big blocks also have 2 or 4 bolt mains but all caps are wide including front and back. It's these wider caps that most of us believe provide a much larger clamping/contact area which helps keep the caps in place and prevent cap walk or chattering under high rpm/high load conditions.
Last edited by L88Plus; Nov 14, 2018 at 07:21 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,809
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From: Wichita Kansas
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,305
Likes: 8,109
From: Napa Valley California
Depending on your intended use of your car and your intended torque and horsepower output, you could be perfectly fine with a 2-bolt motor.
There are people out there running 700-800 horsepower big block motors with studded 2-bolt main motors with no problems.
There are people out there running 700-800 horsepower big block motors with studded 2-bolt main motors with no problems.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 54
Likes: 6
From: Liberty, Mo
As other have posted, if you do not plan on running high RPM/ HP either block will work (2 or 4 bolt main) A 4 bolt will give you a stronger lower end and will help prevent cap walk. My Guide shows that block being only a 2 bolt main. Only way to know for sure is to drop the pan. If you are running stock to mild HP it does not matter. Build the motor and enjoy.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
If there is a oil feed / tap in top front of block it should be a 4 bolt main. You are missing the 2nd set of stamped numbers. It's a Flint built service block; if there is only one set of numbers.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
The 2 number sequences on the block's pass pad tell you a lot but yours are incomplete/incorrect.. or someone re-stamped it with incorrect info.
VO128000 = Flint Michigan - (V) Jan 28 - (0128).... 000 is incorrect as there should be a 3 letter suffix not (3) zeros.
118143224 - This should be the is the unique vehicle serial number (to match against vehicle VIN) but again something is either mis-identified or re-staped incorrect. Chevrolet (1) the second (1) would mean year of mfgr = 1971. The next character should be a letter to identify the auto's plant of mfgr.... the rest would be the sequence number of the VIN.
Will
VO128000 = Flint Michigan - (V) Jan 28 - (0128).... 000 is incorrect as there should be a 3 letter suffix not (3) zeros.
118143224 - This should be the is the unique vehicle serial number (to match against vehicle VIN) but again something is either mis-identified or re-staped incorrect. Chevrolet (1) the second (1) would mean year of mfgr = 1971. The next character should be a letter to identify the auto's plant of mfgr.... the rest would be the sequence number of the VIN.
Will
Last edited by rklessdriver; Nov 14, 2018 at 01:40 PM.