Block serial number decode

[Chevyjimmy]

I am new on here. Hello everyone. I will start out by asking if anyone can tell me if my block is actually a truck block. I know it is from Oshawa Ontario and is a 1969 block. But is it a car block or truck. Serial number taken from the pad on the block in front of the pass side head is 191037134. I know the 1 is for Chevrolet and the 9 states 1969 the next 1 states Oshawa but the issue is the next digit which is the 0. I have read that a car block serial number would not have a 0 at this location. Could this be a truck block? Anyone please?

[geezer#99]

Get the casting code and the suffix code and that will narrow it down.
Info here.
http://www.mortec.com/

And here.
http://www.nastyz28.com/decode.php

[special-K]

It's the suffix code, three letters at the end, that tell what year, model, transmission, 2bbl/4bbl. Check those websites for references

[Chevyjimmy]

Sorry Tim I am not sure what you are saying. This serial number comes off the tab on the block on the pass side just I front of the head.

[geezer#99]

We're both saying check the mortec link to find the locations of the codes you need to decipher your block. THere's a nice set of pics in there.
Then use the other link to find what the suffix code means.

[special-K]

For example from www.nastyz.com, my '72 is a TDR. It matches this chart...Conventional Cab, Automatic trans, 175hp, 4bbl, K/10 and K/20.
http://www.nastyz28.com/gm-chevy-cod...s-suffix-7.php

[bruceman1968]

Chevyjimmy, Hello and welcome to the site.
If your block is for sure a 1969 then it is a car block, because truck blocks did not get partial VINs until the mid seventies. If there is a chance that it is a 1979 block then it could be a truck block. The engine ID number that the guys are asking for is located on the same pad as the partial VIN. It is stamped into the pad. It should be a letter, then 4 numbers then 2 or 3 letters. It's the 2 or 3 letters at the end that will give the application and help determine what the block came out of. The block date code and block casting number are on the back bell flange and might also be needed to determine the correct year. The pic below is from the mortec site. It is a small block but big blocks have the numbers in the same locations. See if you can find the engine ID number on the same pad as the partial VIN and tell us what the last 2 or 3 letters are.

[GASoline71]

If it really is a 1969 block then there will be a stamp on the front pad that has a 2 or 3 letter code at the end of the stamp. I don't think there were "truck" or "car" blocks. But almost all trucks got 4 bolt main blocks when 4 bolt mains started being produced.

If there are no letters at the end of the stamping then that could possibly be a late model crate engine.

Gary

[Chevyjimmy]

Originally Posted by bruceman1968

Chevyjimmy, Hello and welcome to the site.
If your block is for sure a 1969 then it is a car block, because truck blocks did not get partial VINs until the mid seventies. If there is a chance that it is a 1979 block then it could be a truck block. The engine ID number that the guys are asking for is located on the same pad as the partial VIN. It is stamped into the pad. It should be a letter, then 4 numbers then 2 or 3 letters. It's the 2 or 3 letters at the end that will give the application and help determine what the block came out of. The block date code and block casting number are on the back bell flange and might also be needed to determine the correct year. The pic below is from the mortec site. It is a small block but big blocks have the numbers in the same locations. See if you can find the engine ID number on the same pad as the partial VIN and tell us what the last 2 or 3 letters are.
Attachment 1591812

Thanks for the welcome Bruce. The block cast number on the back driver side behind the head is 3956618. The stamp on the pass side of the block in front of the head is very thin due to a deck job in the past. As far as I can make out it is 191037134. Further up the same pad just adjacent to this number is a Capitol K and all I can barely make out is a 0 and then maybe a 5. There aren't any other discernable numbers. Any information I have to date tells me that the cast numbers mentioned above (3956618) tell me this is a 1969 block, either a 327 or a 350. The issue is with the block stamp number nmentioned. Apparently the fourth digit which is a 0 is odd, as any car blocks would not have a 0 in this location. This is all the info I have been able to gather thus far. I sure would like to know what exactly this is. The motor is still in my vehicle.

[Chevyjimmy]

Thanks for the response Gary. I posted all my info above in response to Bruce. Is it still possible for this to be a late model crate engine when my block cast number is 3956618.

[geezer#99]

THat zero doesn't make sense because it's part of the vin on the vehicle it was originally installed.
Normally the last six digits of the vin were on the pad with other identifier numbers.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

THat zero doesn't make sense because it's part of the vin on the vehicle it was originally installed.
Normally the last six digits of the vin were on the pad with other identifier numbers.

Only for cars, not for trucks. Unless that's what you meant (ie: it's a car block). But trucks didn't get the sequence/unit/vin for some reason.

[bruceman1968]

Chevyjimmy, it's not possible for it to be a crate motor because crate motors didn't get partial VINs.
Your casting number helps a little. That block was used from approximately January 1969 to April 1969. It was used for all 327 and low performance 350s, in this narrow time frame. There have been some 350/300hp applications verified. It could be either 2 or 4 bolt mains. It was used in Passenger cars, Chevelles, Chevy 2s, Camaros, and Corvettes. Your partial vin has a unique serial number of 037134, and that will tell what the engine came out of. 037134 means that the starting number was 000001. In 1969 Chevy2s used 100001, Camaros used 500001, Corvettes used 700001 and Chevelle used 300001 for their starting numbers. So it isn't any of those(also most not built at Oshawa). Full size passenger cars used 000001 as their starting number at Oshawa and Tarrytown so that's what it came out of. Unfortunately without the application code I can't tell you if it's a 327 or 350 but it is one or the other and it came out of a 1969 full size passenger car built in Oshawa.
The K you found tells that your engine was built at McKinnon Industries in St. Catherines Ontario.

[bruceman1968]

Chevyjimmy, for the 327 or 350 question, you can pull a valve cover and get the head casting number. We should be able to tell from that.

[Chevyjimmy]

Amazing information Bruce. Thanks so much for that. I will pull a valve cover gasket off tomorrow and post it on here for verification. There sure are a lot of knowledgeable folks on here. Happy I found this site.

[Chevyjimmy]

And so the head cast number is.........wait for it.........3998993. Also shows An F 1 2
And a GM casting as well. So 350 from a pass car for sure????.?.?? Or???.???
42
I will be pulling the motor this winter for a clean up paint and detailing under the hood.

[bruceman1968]

3998993, 1972, used on 350ci 165hp, 1.94/150 intake/exhaust 75.47(76) cc combustion chamber. So you have a 69 block and 72 head/heads. You said the motor had been machined so it all makes sense. It's a 350.

[Chevyjimmy]

Thanks Bruce. I appreciate this. Not much for heads as far as hi perf. Maybe I should switch them out this winter for something with a bit more oomph? Yes no

[bruceman1968]

Up to you, Do you want more oomph(great word)? If the engine has enough power for you now, I'd leave it and spend the money elsewhere. There's no shortage of places to spend money on these trucks. The 165hp number was for the 72 heads on a 72 block. Your block is a 69 so it would of had a higher compression ratio than the 72. Your block has been machined anyway so no telling what the compression ratio is now or the grind of the cam or anything else. If you have enough power to satisfy your driving needs, I'd just leave it alone for now. Your call.
If you can I'm sure we would all like to see some pics of your truck. We love pics on here.

[Chevyjimmy]

Originally Posted by bruceman1968

Up to you, Do you want more oomph(great word)? If the engine has enough power for you now, I'd leave it and spend the money elsewhere. There's no shortage of places to spend money on these trucks. The 165hp number was for the 72 heads on a 72 block. Your block is a 69 so it would of had a higher compression ratio than the 72. Your block has been machined anyway so no telling what the compression ratio is now or the grind of the cam or anything else. If you have enough power to satisfy your driving needs, I'd just leave it alone for now. Your call.
If you can I'm sure we would all like to see some pics of your truck. We love pics on here.

I have two trucks Bruce. One is a 65 Chevy shorty step side 6 cyl. It is in Alberta on blocks at a friends house. My daily is a 2002 silverado z71 4 by 4. This motor is in my 57 Chevy sedan delivery hot rod.the plan is to eventually drop this into the step side and find something else for the SD. It does go pretty good. It was Rodded about 20 years ago the last time I would guess. I have only had it 6 months. Disc brakes, vintage air, power seat and air shocks on the back. It came to Canada about 5 years ago and is originLy from Los Angeles Cal. I could try and post a couple of pics of it if that's ok. It's not a truck but .....I don't know if it would be OK to post them on here.