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About a year ago I bought an engine that had been in storage for a while. I finally found time to investigate what I had bought. I thought it was a 350 but it had an odd look to it. It has aluminum finned valve cover, a corvette type oil pan, a high rise intake #3972116 (no carb), dual point distributor, and a heavy duty harmonic balancer.
The number stamped on the front pad is CE3A479 (Crate Engine). The block is a 3970010 and the alloy is the desirable 010/020. It has a 4bolt main and the number on the connecting rod journal is 3951629. I believe this is the same journal used on a 383 stroker. The heads are double hump 3991492.with heavy duty orange springs. One unusual thing are the two hoses running from the front water neck to the back of the heads like a primitive reverse flow.
So what do I have? Is it an LT1, a 383 stroker, or just a tricked out 350 crate motor? Double hump with accessory holes. Reverse flow hoses Long oil pan sump Journal number Orange valve springs. Note water hose connections.
You have a Service Replacement LT-1 350. It is a high-compression, 350ci LT-1 Crate Motor. With the 010/020 high-nickel block, forged crank, and that high-rise intake, you have a 370-horsepower-capable engine that was built for high-RPM abuse. If those orange springs are still stiff, it was likely set up for a solid-lifter camshaft. Just be sure to check those valve lash settings before you fire it up!
Thanks. I'm in agreement with your comments. We did fire up the motor without checking the valve lashings and fortunately no problems. Compression was at 11:1 and oil pressure held at 65. Since I didn't have it hooked up to a radiator, I didn't run it long. That's next. Not sure which cam is in it. Happy it has flat top pistons. With the heads I have, domed pistons would probably have given me 13:1 compression, correct?
Crate LT1
