69 Engine Application
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 43
From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
69 Engine Application
Is there anyway to know for sure what size of engine came with the car.
My VIN is 194379S716618
Trim Tag Paint 975 - Trim ZQ4 Date G18
The original engine is not in the car. The shifter console has a decal of a 350CI/ 300 HP
The tranny is a TH400 #19S71668
My VIN is 194379S716618
Trim Tag Paint 975 - Trim ZQ4 Date G18
The original engine is not in the car. The shifter console has a decal of a 350CI/ 300 HP
The tranny is a TH400 #19S71668
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
FWIW, the car probably had the base engine 350/300hp per the console trim plate. Check the tach redline; it would be under 6K for base engine cars. Stranger things have happened, but most previous owners did not swap out the tach when doing an engine swap.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Jan 2, 2007 at 04:15 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 259
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
The tach is the easiest sign.
300hp 5300
350hp 6000
370hp 6500
Other small block clues:
No rear sway bar
U bolts on halfshafts vs. caps & bolts for big blocks
Small block style hood for 300 & 350hp
Console data plate
Orig Alt for small block was 1100859 base or 1100884 w/ac or TI
300hp 5300
350hp 6000
370hp 6500
Other small block clues:
No rear sway bar
U bolts on halfshafts vs. caps & bolts for big blocks
Small block style hood for 300 & 350hp
Console data plate
Orig Alt for small block was 1100859 base or 1100884 w/ac or TI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 872
Likes: 3
From: Cortlandt Manor New York
The tank sticker or some other original documentation is the only way. Perhaps tracing owners back to the one who did the swap might help you find out what the original engine was and what happened to it. GM no longer has that information and 69 was prior to VIN# desnigations for engines.
The fact that it has a 350/300HP sticker on the console is a good clue. If these were changed they were usually changed to increase the HP of the car. You don't find many big blocks with base engine stickers.
Do you know what is in it today? Are there any stamps on the block? Is it a factory warranty replacement? A crate motor? A used motor? There might be a clue there if it is a factory replacement it is likely of the same HP.
The fact that it has a 350/300HP sticker on the console is a good clue. If these were changed they were usually changed to increase the HP of the car. You don't find many big blocks with base engine stickers.
Do you know what is in it today? Are there any stamps on the block? Is it a factory warranty replacement? A crate motor? A used motor? There might be a clue there if it is a factory replacement it is likely of the same HP.
