Help Engine Identification!No VIN on Engine Stamp

[vanleer4]

I know this question has been ask a million times a tons of info on the web, but mines actually an unusual case.

I have attached photos of front plate/casting numbers but still no ID ( the front plate has no info I took all paint off). even the clock where it shows when it was made (but no date stamped by the flange by clock).

I cant find vin anywhere on engine even by the oil filter where some were hidden.

Does anyone know where else a vin maybe stamped on engine block or location. This engine is either a 327 or 350 due to the stamp of #3970010 but that's all the information I can find on her that helps identifying her. I'm trying to figure out if she belongs on my C20 or not

Any information is much appreciated.
Thanks
vanleer4

[57taskforce]

Truck engines didn't get a vin stamp from the factory. Because the front pad is blank I'd say the block has been machined at some point of another.

[snipescastle2]

I believe warranty engine blocks had no VIN # either.
Ben

[vanleer4]

Cool thanks that helps a lot, I was driving myself crazy trying to locate. well that makes since then that truck and warranty engines had no vin's. She drives great and looks to have been really taken care of, nice but as we know in the car world numbers matching is the key to everything.

She has a Box A title here in AZ which means miles are exact or exact to when she is registered. (worth more here in AZ) but was trying to verify if this is the real 327 she came with. I guess there is really no way to tell then if plate is blank. I was afraid of that. Well I guess numbers correct is just as well!

[davepl]

You can verify that the engine was intended for that year of truck, and made about the right time, and that the truck was supposed to come with that type of engine, but not that SPECIFIC engine, that's all.

So your truck SPID should say 327 and the engine should say whatever year truck, and the dates should match up reasonably well. That's as close as you can get I think.

[franken]

010 blocks are supposedly 69-74 350s.

[natestep]

Yeah it should be a 4 bolt 350. They are good blocks!

[57taskforce]

Keep in mind these are trucks not camaros or vettes. Numbers matching means way less with these trucks. While an original numbers matching truck is always a great score it really doesn't do a whole lot on value.

[vanleer4]

davepl thanks for the great idea of doing SPID I see they can be constructed here on the forum I will definitely look into this and put in the ole glove box.

Thanks for all the input this forum has really helped with the experience from everyone.

I did a little more research from NastyZ28 http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.html regarding casting numbers it can either be a 327 from 68 or 350 from 69-79.

Now I just have to figure out is it a 350 or 327. I have been told there is only 1 way to tell it would be the measuring of the crank (measuring the stroke). But I have also heard of a rumor that it could also be valley vent back of 327 (have no idea where that would be located at) or by the front of engine vertical web on the front of the block ( have no idea either what this is) apparently if it has it, 350 never had those.

I attached photos of front of block does anyone see a rip? I think this be a lot easier that measuring the stroke but I maybe wrong.

[davepl]

Is that rubber fuel line? Is it laying on the EXHAUST MANIFOLD?

[Bigdav160]

Yep, fire ready to happen.

All blocks should has suffix and plant id on the pad. Even over the counter and warranty blocks. Yours has been machined off or .....looks like corrosion.

the old blocks with crankcase vents came out near the distributor

[vanleer4]

You are right, good thing she still under contruction and not driving around yet. I'll be moving it shortly thanks for the heads up. and here I thought hot fuel improved gas milage!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mike C]

I don't think any of the 3970010 blocks were factory 327. They can be two or four bolt main so only way to tell is to pull the pan. They were most all 350 ci factory displacement but possibly 302 in '69 but unlikely to come across one.

With that said, I have a 3970010 block in my Jimmy with a '69 large journal 327 crank combined with the .030 overbore is a 331.

Odds are your motor is a 350 but it could have been rebuilt as any number of other displacements including a 302, 327, or 383 commonly.

[JDSurge]

Can anyone help me identify the 350 engine in my 72 Blazer. Its not the original so I was trying to get more info if I could.
The block is the 3970010, the front stamping is V0914TKB and under it is C7Z121682
Looking at a list on a site run by NastyZ28, it says its a 350 block, 165 HP, 4 BBL out of a 1976 Conv. Cab, LS9 C10-1500 Truck
Can anyone tell me what "Conv." stands for?
Also the partial vin "C7Z121682" is very unique. Have not seen the "C" and "Z" in a chevy vin before.
Thanks for any help.
JD

[JDSurge]

Can anyone help me identify the 350 engine in my 72 Blazer. Its not the original so I was trying to get more info if I could.
The block is the 3970010, the front stamping is V0914TKB and under it is C7Z121682
Looking at a list on a site run by NastyZ28, it says its a 350 block, 165 HP, 4 BBL out of a 1976 Conv. Cab, LS9 C10-1500 Truck
Can anyone tell me what "Conv." stands for?
Also the partial vin "C7Z121682" is very unique. Have not seen the "C" and "Z" in a chevy vin before.
Thanks for any help.
JD

[JDSurge]

not sure how my reply was posted twice, sorry.
But, after looking at another site, they said that the partial vin was what you look at to determine where the engine was built.
For example, my partial vin, C7Z121682 was said to be a chevy 'C', and the '7' to be 1977, and the 'Z' to mean built in Fremont, CA
How can the 'V0914TKB' say it was built in Flint, MI but the partial vin says it was built in Fremont, CA?
Pretty confusing.
JD

[jocko]

I believe 'conv' is for conventional cab (regarding the suffix code question). Note TKB suffix code was the same for a 79 C30 - but that is not likely the application in this case once the partial VIN is examined.

Here's my interpretation: Your engine was built in Flint, on 14 Sep 1976 (i.e. very end of the model year), and shipped to the Fremont truck assembly line where it was installed in a 77 truck (and the partial VIN stamp added).

[JDSurge]

Wow Jacko, that's exactly the info I needed. I kinda of thought the truck in question was built in Fremont CA since I bought this Blazer from a man in Seattle WA. The owner in CA must have taken it out of the 77 truck along with the TH350 tranny and replaced the 305, 4 spd. that came with the Blazer.
Thanks again for the info Jacko.
That previously owner also installed the 'add a spring' in the front and back leaf springs that raised it up 4". Getting ready to remove those extra springs, to old to climb up in it. :-)
Have not done that before but I think I can.
JD

['68OrangeSunshine]

CONV is conveyor. Not valuable information to the end users [Us], but on the production line, if blocks are coming into assembly areas from Conveyors 1, 2, and 4 but not #3, someone needs to troubleshoot the #3 Conveyor line to find what happened and fix it.
But I'm not a retired UAW assembler, so I'm just guessing here too. The Flint MI plant had two engine assemblies, "F" and "V".

Milled off numbers on the Engine Dress Pad would indicate a rebuild.

[JDSurge]

I'm was with Jocko on this 68OrangeSunshine, I thought it was Conventional also because I didn't know the flint MI plant built engines for other plants. But like you said, doesn't matter either way but it good to know.
Thanks guys,
JD

[jocko]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

CONV is conveyor. Not valuable information to the end users [Us], but on the production line, if blocks are coming into assembly areas from Conveyors 1, 2, and 4 but not #3, someone needs to troubleshoot the #3 Conveyor line to find what happened and fix it.
But I'm not a retired UAW assembler, so I'm just guessing here too. The Flint MI plant had two engine assemblies, "F" and "V".

68OS, I'm not sure either, but I was comparing it to the other options of "fwrd" cab, van, bus, etc. It was just from a suffix code list, not something specific to any single engine. Who knows though

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by jocko

68OS, I'm not sure either, but I was comparing it to the other options of "fwrd" cab, van, bus, etc. It was just from a suffix code list, not something specific to any single engine. Who knows though

OK. Semantics.
Yeah, I now see the chart you're referring to. ''Conventional'' there, no doubt. A conventional cab would be a 2-door. [GM made no factory extended cabs or 3- or 4-door crew cabs. If you see one it's aftermarket, custom.] I might guess a Fwrd Cab would be like a COE (cab-over-engine)?

I thought you guys were referring to the CONV 1 casting marks on the block. Maybe I shouldn't speedread thru all the posts. My bad.

Regarding GM Engine Plants, that I know of, [in the 67-72 timeframe] -- I have
Flint F
Flint V
Tonawanda NY
There may be others.
Board member Keith Seymore worked at the Chevy Truck Assembly in Flint during the Squarebody era. He sometime jumps in and corrects my misguided assumptions.
Also I see Wikipedia lists a Livonia MI plant, starting in 1971, but I think they made Caddy engines.
The GM Fremont Assembly plant in 1984 became a joint GM/Toyota venture called NUMMI [New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc] then folded in 2010, and now it's the Tesla plant.