Engine ID Help!!

[blazerboy_4life]

I know theres multiple decoders on here but Im having a helluva time figuring out what motor is in my 69' Bel Air.

Back Casting # Either 8970010 or
3970010

Im nearly Certain the first number looks like an 8 but its hard to tell with it installed.

Front Casting#'s 190222093
V0519f0


I was told this was the original 327 but from what I have gathered this looks to be a 350?!?

Thanks in advance everyone.

[Lee H]

It may be the original motor but need a little more data.

3970010 is a casting number used for 1968 327s and 1969-1979 350s.

V is flint block
05 is Month, May
19 is day
f0 is suffix code. Not coming up with f0, recheck please or post picture.

Also need to get the date code off the back deck, opposite side of casting number. it will be something like ANNN (A168).

[Marv D]

Lee, where did you find that?
Not that this info is any more reliable, but the all the info I've found for the 68 and the last 327's in the 69 model year were built in a buttload of large journal castings, but I don't see the 3970010 listed as being one of them. <shrugs> not to say that they wern't, LOTS of 'rules' were being broken in the late 60's I think the psydelic years was cause for a number of things to be, that the books say NEVER happened LOL.

The 3970010 is probably the most common of the 4" bore castings, but I can only find the large journal csting used for the 302 from 1969, and 350's from 69 to 80.

blazereboy, first question is, Is the 190222093 show up in the VIN of the car? if so, then it's original!

Assuming not, can you see / know how to read the casting clock on the back of the block. I think if we can narrow it down to a decade we'll have an ID.

Here's the Nasty-Z pages on tracing the numbers

http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php

[Lee H]

High Marv, I got the data from Nasty's web site print outs from August 2001. Had to look at the site to see if it was still there, sure enough.Thought maybe they had revised and took the 327 reference out. Your right about GM breaking the rules in the 60/70s, hard to tell what really happened. Probably the most important rule coming out of that era is the rules where meant to be broken.

http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.php, near the bottom of the page.

[fleetsidelarry]

FWIW, the Mortec site lists the 3970010 as also being a '69, 2-bolt main 327 for trucks and industrial use.

and the first 3 digits of the VIN code could be translated to be 1= chevrolet, 9= 1969 and, 0= truck, from the nastyZ28 link I have

[blazerboy_4life]

Cant see the date code clearly enough to make it out yet. Ill have the motor out next week when I have some time off. I did double check the vin though and the 222093 is in the Vin. The car is has 327 all over it so it must be a 327 right?! Another question. I only really bought the car because I wanted the 327, What do you suppose a motor like this is worth? The odometer reads 03094.4 and while it is in AMAZING condition i think its safest to assume that's 103,094.4 miles. Still doesnt seem like much for a 69' but the original owner used it for church and groceries. Second owner only drove it home and let it sit. Now ive got it and Im trying to bring it back to life. Is it a bad idea to separate a numbers matching car like this?

[blazerboy_4life]

Another interesting tid bit. When I look up NADA book value on it I have to go back to 1967 to find it with the 327ci/350hp option

[Lee H]

Looks like may have a numbers matching engine.

Don't be fooled by stickers on an engine. No one really knows what these old cars and trucks have been through in the last 40 years or so.

There is no relative value in the 327 alone, maybe a few hundred dollars if its running and has less than 20 thou over bore. You already know what a 69 belair is worth. Short of numbers matching most folks will not send money on a 327 when you can do a 350 or 383 for the same $$$$ and have way more HP & torque.

I'm still interested in the date code and the suffix code.