One for the small block decoders

[Grumpy old man]

I picked up this small block this morning ,it's a fresh rebuild and I bought it for less than the cost of the parts showing .New hei dist /wires/starter/water pump/fuel pump/ rams horn exhaust/ Edlebrock C3BX intake/ Nice valve covers and Holly double pumper . I paid $300.00 for it loaded in my truck .

VI208TBC
3970010

[demian5]

http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm has all your answers.

[rsavage]

1970 350ci truck engine (TBC) V= made in Flint engine plant. Date is either I 208(208th day of September) or 12/08 8th day of December. Casting number was used for 1968 327 and 69-79 350 ci engines. It has an earlier style intake on it with the oil fill tube.

Nice score!

[crazyjeenyus]

Disclaimer: I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of the information below:

The resource I use (nastyz28.com) gives 3 options based on the "TBC" suffix code:

'70 350, C-10 to 3500, automatic transmission 255HP 4 Barrell Intake

'70 350, K-10 & 20, 3-spd manual transmission 255HP 4 Barrell Intake

'79 350, C-10 to 2500, manual transmission L LS9 165 HP 4 Barrell Intake

Info based on the 3970010 casting number gives 2 options:

'68 327 2-bolt main A body

'69-'79 350 185 to 370 HP 2/4 - bolt mains car, truck, vette

And I interpret the date stampings on the back of the block as follows:

9 - last digit of year block was cast

L10 - L is the month the block was cast, since L is the 12th letter in the alphabet this block was cast in December and 10 is the day of the month.

So, from here you kind of have to combine all the data and come up with something that satisfies all the different stampings.

I would I.D. this as:

'79 350 low compression truck engine with just under 200HP. Probably came with a SM465 - 4 speed manual transmission.

Since it has been rebuilt, it is very likely that the heads are not the original ones that came with the engine, which could greatly increase the HP value. All in all its probably a typical work duty truck engine.

[crazyjeenyus]

Originally Posted by crazyjeenyus

Disclaimer: I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of the information below:

The resource I use (nastyz28.com) gives 3 options based on the "TBC" suffix code:

'70 350, C-10 to 3500, automatic transmission 255HP 4 Barrell Intake

'70 350, K-10 & 20, 3-spd manual transmission 255HP 4 Barrell Intake

'79 350, C-10 to 2500, manual transmission L LS9 165 HP 4 Barrell Intake

Info based on the 3970010 casting number gives 2 options:

'68 327 2-bolt main A body

'69-'79 350 185 to 370 HP 2/4 - bolt mains car, truck, vette

And I interpret the date stampings on the back of the block as follows:

9 - last digit of year block was cast

L10 - L is the month the block was cast, since L is the 12th letter in the alphabet this block was cast in December and 10 is the day of the month.

So, from here you kind of have to combine all the data and come up with something that satisfies all the different stampings.

I would I.D. this as:

'79 350 low compression truck engine with just under 200HP. Probably came with a SM465 - 4 speed manual transmission.

Since it has been rebuilt, it is very likely that the heads are not the original ones that came with the engine, which could greatly increase the HP value. All in all its probably a typical work duty truck engine.

On closer look, the 9 looks like it could be an 8 or a 3. That confuses things a little more.
The suffix code search only gives us two different years as a possibility:

'70 or '79

The casting number search however provides data that is more plausible:

'68 - 327
'69-'79 - 350

So, if we ignore the suffix code (TBC) the possibilities are:

If the number is an 8:

1968 327 block

1978 350 block

If the number is a 3:

1973 350 block

This frustrates things a little but I know from firsthand experience that it is possible to have a block that has conflicting information stamped/cast into it. The original 283 block that came with my '67 custom has a suffix code that only matches up with a 307. In C-10's 307's first came in 1968 and they had breathers in the valve covers. So when all else fails, open it up, measure the bore and stroke and do the math.

In your case large journal 327's and 350's are the same block so with the exception of the crankshaft (which could have easily been replaced) its not really possible to know for sure.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by crazyjeenyus

On closer look, the 9 looks like it could be an 8 or a 3. That confuses things a little more.
The suffix code search only gives us two different years as a possibility:

'70 or '79

The casting number search however provides data that is more plausible:

'68 - 327
'69-'79 - 350

So, if we ignore the suffix code (TBC) the possibilities are:

If the number is an 8:

1968 327 block

1978 350 block

If the number is a 3:

1973 350 block

This frustrates things a little but I know from firsthand experience that it is possible to have a block that has conflicting information stamped/cast into it. The original 283 block that came with my '67 custom has a suffix code that only matches up with a 307. In C-10's 307's first came in 1968 and they had breathers in the valve covers. So when all else fails, open it up, measure the bore and stroke and do the math.

In your case large journal 327's and 350's are the same block so with the exception of the crankshaft (which could have easily been replaced) its not really possible to know for sure.

Yup. One of my younger sisters bought a '66 Malibu with a "4 Bolt Main 350" replacement engine. When I went to rebuild it, I found a small journal 327. Sellers can lie, or maybe just not really know what they have.

[bruceman1968]

Hey Grump, You got everything you need there to positively identify your block.

VI208TBC
3970010
L10

L10 is the casting date
L = December
1 = December 1st
0 = 1970
Your block was cast on December 1st 1970

3970010 in 1970(or 1971 see below) is a 350cid.

VI208TBC is V1208TBC
I's used for 1's is very common when found stamped on Blocks.
1208 = December 8th
Your Block was cast December 1st and assembled on December 8th in 1970.

Casting Date codes are the day, month and year they say they are, but Suffix codes go by Model Year. Your block is December of 1970 which is the 1971 Model Year. So when you look up TBC you have to do it for 1971.
In 1971 TBC = 350cid, 255hp, 350auto, LS9, 4bbl, 10,20 C or K
So you have a 1971MY 350 Truck motor.
Great price. BTW

[Orange67]

Definitely a nice score!

[darkhorse970]

Looks like a very good score to me. Congrats!

[rsavage]

I think you may have committed grand theft for $300!

[Grumpy old man]

[CG]

What size is that carb? I'm not even close to an expert on engine builds but it looks like a lot of carb for that engine. Guess it depends on the internals though. You did say the cam profile doesn't look to be stock. Are you gonna pop the heads?

Little block and accessory clean and paint. Get rid of the ugly (IMO) ball milled valve covers and put some vintage aluminum finned covers, and you are off to the races.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by CG

What size is that carb? I'm not even close to an expert on engine builds but it looks like a lot of carb for that engine. Guess it depends on the internals though. You did say the cam profile doesn't look to be stock. Are you gonna pop the heads?

Little block and accessory clean and paint. Get rid of the ugly (IMO) ball milled valve covers and put some vintage aluminum finned covers, and you are off to the races.

Yeah that carb may be too much but I won't know until I start it today I'll pull it apart just to know for sure what they did to it , I'm already thinking of using the cowl intake plenum I have going to this spectre air intake carb plenum , I've been collecting all the pieces to use it on my tri power 292 but it might look cool mounted to this small block ? I did some digging and the Edlebrock C3-BX aluminum intake is old school 70's before the Performer intakes came along ,From what I've read they work really good and a lot of the C2 vette guys like them ?



http://www.jegs.com/i/Spectre/865/9849/10002/-1

[Grumpy old man]

WOOOOO HOOOOOO !!! Runs perfect ! I've spent $$$$$$ on some small blocks that didn't run like this does .

[Grumpy old man]

I pulled the pan and found a 4 bolt , new crank, new pistons,new cam that looks good ,rods appear to have been balanced ,Everything looks great !

My $300.00 special

[rsavage]

Can't beat that deal!

[davischevy]

A home run I would say.

[special-K]

With that dbl pumper I'd expect some changes have been made internally, like came at least