Help a noob with his '69 3/4 ton project.

[BigCarl]

So, here is the skinny.

I have recevied this truck dirt cheap and have plans on getting it on the road for Spring. But, I have never worked on a GM vehicle before. I have found plenty of parts for this truck at dirt cheap prices which was a huge contributing factor in taking ownership of it.

Here comes the noob... get ready.

My biggest question is... What engine is this?

I know its a 350 sbc and has the quadrajet 4 bbl carb. But, from there, I know nothing.

Is this the original engine? I cannot find the ID tag... the intake manifold is supposedly from the 68/69 model year, or at least that is what I researched through Google. Now, with that said, I am thinking this would be the original engine for this truck. But, can't be sure do to the lack of a tag, or at least not being able to find it.

Looking on the glove box door, this truck does have the 350 option on the tag with the 3 speed Hydramatic Tranny. The guy I received it from told me the engine was bought brand new in the 80's but, I can't see someone putting a circa 1969 intake manifold on a mid'ish 80's motor... Right?

The engine tag is supposed to be at the front of the pass. side cylinder head, but I have failed to find this plate. I have put up a pic of the area if someone could point out exactly where it should be, I would be most grateful.

Here is the beast:



Engine shot:



The corner where I think the ID plate should be:



The Carb:



The production number on the intake manifold:



Any and all help is appreciated as this is m first huge project. However, I am mostly concerned with that engine. When I find out what engine it is, I can get all the specs for maintenance and such.

Thanks in advance.

Carl.

[BurnoutNova]

thats a late 70's sbc... the pad right infront of the passenger side head has numbers on it. there stamped into the block.

i know its a late 70's becasue the size of the pad is smaller than earlier ones, and its painted blue (most likely late 70's)

[BigCarl]

Well that sets me in a better direction. But, to add to this... The engine is painted blue, but the blue is covering orange paint. The valve covers, block and intake all have blue paint over orange. I don't know if the orange is primer or not.

As for this pad on which the block is stamped, I am going insane trying to find it. I have looked all over, but sadly, I don't know specifically where to look. Can you see this pad in a pic that I have posted? If so, which one and where in the pic is this pad.

Thanks for the speedy reply.

Carl.

[WorkinLonghorn]

The pad is on the BLOCK just below the front of the passenger side head. In the second engine pic above it would be under the fuel line about 5 inches down the metal part.
BTW,on my rebuilt engine this number was milled off leaving a blank pad with no numbers on it.

[BurnoutNova]

]


maybe this will help

[72BLUZ]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

]


maybe this will help

CALL YOU LOCAL CHEVY PARTS DEPT AND GIVE THEM THESE NUMBERS. THEY CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAVE

[blukangoo]

I had to scrub for a while til my numbers on the front were visible.
I don´t know of any other spot where there would be some numbers.
If you post the casting number, somebody can tell you what block it is.
See if you can find them.
They are usually here:

[arkracing]

Underneath the fuel line there - right behind the passenger side of the water pump where it bolts to the block. Clean that off with some Carb cleaner and a putty knife or rag or razor blade.

there will be a series of 2 or 3 letters @ the end of a bunch of numbers - post them here and we should be able to narrow it down for you.

Better yet just write down everything you see on that pad

[blukangoo]

Here you can find the casting number:



Here is where you find the Engine ID:



Here is a close-up of what the engine ID should look like: (Post your engine ID and you will know in no time what kind of engine you have.)

[BigCarl]

Thanks for circling the pad on my pics guys. That's where I thought it was originally and had cleaned that spot off completely. That spot is just a bare shiny spot. There are no numbers or anything on it. So, now I am stuck again not knowing the information about my motor.

Now, is there another place I can look for this information or was that the one and only spot?

Carl.

[airdale94]

The previous owner probably bought a long block in the late 70's and just pulled everything off the original engine that doesn't come with a long block. Intake manifold, carb, distributor & coil, and all the brackets and accessories on the front of the engine.

Nice looking truck by the way... except for the rear wheel well!

[WorkinLonghorn]

That sounds right,and to answer the question about the '69 intake mani on a later engine;When you buy an engine it usually doesn't include the intake.You switch over the old one or buy an after-market one.
I have the same truck. Glad to answer any Qs- Brian

[xshadow]

is there any other way to id the engine if the numbers are missing?

[northerngmc]

The red tag on the front of the carb looks just like the tag on mine. It is from "Autoline Products" Autoline is a remanufacturer in Canada. www.autoline.ca

I emailed them from their webpage with the number on the tag and they told me that the qjet on my truck was built for a 74 Chev 3/4 ton with a 350.


BTW I pulled my block numbers off the drivers side rear of the block. I sprayed a little penetrating oil back there to loose the dirt and then cleaned it up and found out I have a 78/79 305 in my 69 GMC. Are you sure it is a 350?


Good luck

[tclaremont]

If it is a service replacement block it will not necessarilly have any numbers stamped there.

Note that it is important to understand that these are stamped numbers as opposed to cast numbers. They are likely to be filled with dirt and grime to the point where you may very well miss them.

[WorkinLonghorn]

I had that same numbered block on my last '69 GMC and it was the standard 4 bolt main 350.I believe they just call that block a "010".

[Bucky71]

You could measure the stroke by removing a spark plug, sliding a wood dowel through the hole, rotating the crank (by hand), and marking the dowel at the spark plug hole at the bottom and top of the piston stroke. The distance between the marks would be your stroke.
302 = 3.00"
327 = 3.25"
350 = 3.48"

Good luck.

[blukangoo]

Originally Posted by Bucky71

You could measure the stroke by removing a spark plug, sliding a wood dowel through the hole, rotating the crank (by hand), and marking the dowel at the spark plug hole at the bottom and top of the piston stroke. The distance between the marks would be your stroke.
302 = 3.00"
327 = 3.25"
350 = 3.48"

Good luck.

Damn dude, I´m gonna have to try that. Learn something new every day.
Just like Number 5 said "Input, Input"

Learned something from Arkracing too. Thanks.

[BurnoutNova]

thats a 350

guarantee it... the small pad in front tof the pass head is small..... meaning later that 76 (i think) so it cant be a 302/327

and i dont think sticking a dowel in there will work... wont go straight down, it will hit the cylinder wall.


so once again

350

[lukecp]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

thats a 350

guarantee it... the small pad in front tof the pass head is small..... meaning later that 76 (i think) so it cant be a 302/327

and i dont think sticking a dowel in there will work... wont go straight down, it will hit the cylinder wall.


so once again

350

Plus, it would be at an angle too...so the distance between the marks on the rod wouldn't be the actual stroke of the engine. If the block has that casting number, it is almost certinaly a 350 as said before...the chances of it being a 302/327 are slim to none, since that casting number was produced for a long time, and only in 350 form for almost all of that time.