400 or 350

[Timstoy70CST/10]

I recently bought a 70 CST/10. It has a 400 V8 motor in it, but it lists a 350option on the VIN tag on the glovebox door, yet has the 8/400 emblems below the CST/10 fender emblems. My question is, would it list the engine option as a 400 on the tag, or has someone maybe dropped a 400 motor in it and replaced the fender emblems?
Also, what would be a good resource for the production numbers, options and original photos for these trucks. Mine is a factory bucket seat/console truck. The seats hae been recovered, but not sure if it is correct material. The insets are kind of a tweed cloth material.
Love this truck, looking forward to bringing it back to its full glory.

Timstoy70CST/10

[sameyrasmea72]

When you say it HAS a 400 v-8, I assume you mean 396/402 big block and not a 400 small block. The vin tag is a metal plate rivitted to the door jam. The option sticker on the glovebox is a SPID. If the glove says 350, Then what ever truck came with that glovebox door had a 350 originally. So either the glovebox door has been changed or the engine and fender emblems have been chanded. In 1970, I think the glovebox whould have listed a BB v-8 as a 396 ci v-8.

[sameyrasmea72]

The option sheet should have the VIN # at the top of it. If that # matches the # on your vin plate/title (assuming nobody has typed a replacement one), then your truck was a 350 from the factory.

[special-K]

WELCOME to the message board.

I`m with Sameyear up there^.Although the 396s in`70 are actually 402s,the badge would say 8-396 in`70.The badges you have are 71/72.I`m sure someone did some upgrading on an already nice truck.All factory buckets were vinyl,no cloth.BTW,you`ll be banned if you don`t post pictures within 3 days....we love pictures.Sounds like a nice truck.

[Longhorn Man]

actually, 70 would be a 402 with 400 badged. 69 was the last of the 396 engies.
As for the 350 verses 400... if you are talking 400 small block, then there is no way it is original since they weren't installed in trucks till the 73 - 87 trucks.

[Timstoy70CST/10]

Lots of good help out there, Thanks Again. I was referring to 400 small block versus the 350. Now I'm not even sure what motor I have in there. I was going by what the seller told me. The VIN # on the glove box tag matches the door tag. I have owned Falcons, Comets, Rancheros, Fairlanes, Galaxies, F100's (all Fords) all my life. Time for a change. I like the C series Chevy trucks better than the F100's. I'm not familiar with the Chevy blocks or VIN decoding.
Here's a couple photos. I will post more in my profile when I have them. What's the easiest way to ID the motor and break down the VIN and the special equipment #.
By the way, it's nie to be part of such an active forum. The Ford boards were't nearly as informative or active.

Timstoy70CST/10

[vectorit]

One quick way is to crawl under your engine bay, and look up at the engine block from the oil pan. 400SB's had 3 freeze plugs, while all the others had two.

I maybe wrong, but always seemed work for me.

[kxnomore]

Is there a stamping on the front of the engine, just under the left (driver's side) cylinder head? It's on a flat surface right on top of the block. You can use that engine code to find out quite a bit. our trucks didn't have the VIN code stamped in the engine, but you can tell by the 3 letters what year and size the block is.

here's a link to a good site to decode the numbers. Good luck. And very nice truck BTW.

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

[sameyrasmea72]

Originally Posted by Timstoy70CST/10

.....and break down the VIN and the special equipment #.......
Timstoy70CST/10

The only way to tell the equipment is to go by the glove box. Some GM cars(like chevelles ect) had a equipment tag that told interior/exterior color and other stuff, but trucks had only the SPID.

[turp mcspray]

Best way is to check engine suffix on the pad in front of right head or casting number on left side by the bellhousing area. 400 also has some material notched out of the balancer. It's not a continuos edge (if that makes any sense) like a 350. Early 400 has 3 freeze plugs and later 400 has 2 freeze plugs with what looks like an unmachined freeze plug boss in between the outer 2.

[turp mcspray]

Best way is to check engine suffix on the pad in front of right head or casting number on left side by the bellhousing area. 400 also has some material notched out of the balancer. It's not a continuos edge (if that makes any sense) like a 350. Early 400 has 3 freeze plugs and later 400 has 2 freeze plugs with what looks like an unmachined freeze plug boss in between the outer 2. Hopefully it's a 400. Cubic Inches!!

[Timstoy70CST/10]

Just got back to town. Thanks for all the great replies. I couldn't see the number on the back of the block (it's starting to get dark out). I did get the numbers from the front passenger side, below the alternator. The first set reads 11S234428, the second set reads T0603SLK. What info can I get off these numbers? Do I need the rear numbers to find out more (like the year). I really wanted for this to be the original motor.

Tim F.
Hermitage, TN