CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Decoding/Numbers => Topic started by: sftibbs on October 06, 2009, 08:50:49 PM

Title: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 06, 2009, 08:50:49 PM
My 69 SS350 was built in January 1969. According to CRG, there are 4 blocks used for the 350 that year: 3932386; 3932388; 3956618; 3970010. However, the second and fourth blocks listed were used in mid year and late year, respectively. Am I correct then in looking for either a 3932386 or a 3956618 block for my car? And where besides ebay does one look for a correct block? Thanks.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: dougrmac on October 09, 2009, 05:46:05 PM
My SS350 which was built the first week of January has the 388 block .
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: KurtS on October 10, 2009, 05:33:18 AM
As the verbage indicates, those blocks are listed in order, though there was alot of overlap.

You'd have to find an early 618 block for your car.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 15, 2009, 01:45:34 AM
Thanks for the help. How important is it to find the suffix code HA? Or could I purchase an early block with the 618 casting number that was out of a different Chevrolet and hence a diffrent suffix code?

Steve
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: KurtS on October 15, 2009, 02:12:46 AM
3932386 and 3932388 and 3956618 would all work. If you're trying to get it close, you gotta go by the casting date.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 15, 2009, 10:18:13 PM
Thanks again for the help...I'm finding these blocks are not cheap!
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: Jerry@CHP on October 16, 2009, 12:20:46 AM
Checked my CHP data base and most of the original L48's that I've looked at during the build period have the 388 block.  Any of them are correct but this is just the trends that I see doing on-site inspections.

Jerry
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: 1968RSZ28 on October 16, 2009, 03:18:54 AM
Here's a complete, running '69 350cid engine with a 388 block on Ebay now...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/69-350-CHEVY-ENGINE-3932388-COMPLETE_W0QQitemZ180419506915QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2a01d732e3

Paul
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sixt9x33rs on October 16, 2009, 11:06:24 AM
Steve,

Here is a block (688) that will work for your car on TC. However, if it were me I would probably go with what Jerry is saying and stick to the trends.

http://www.camaros.net/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=38051&cat=8
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sixt9x33rs on October 16, 2009, 11:13:43 AM
Here's a complete, running '69 350cid engine with a 388 block on Ebay now...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/69-350-CHEVY-ENGINE-3932388-COMPLETE_W0QQitemZ180419506915QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2a01d732e3

Paul
I read this guys ad. Unbelievable, I cant believe the guy is taking a perfectly good matching numbers car and selling the motor out of it. He would be better off just selling the entire car and buying a 6 cylinder shell then putting his race engine in it.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: KevinW on October 16, 2009, 11:14:34 AM
Its too bad, I have a jan 1969 HA block in the shed, but the deck stamp was altered in a drunken episode and now it is junk for a numbers car :(  
Title: Re: Correct engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 16, 2009, 06:11:24 PM
Wow, I'm overwhelmed by all the help! Thanks!!!

What is meant by trends? Because the block that sixt9x33rs refers to on TC seems like a good match. Am I right in my thinking that as long as the casting numbers and casting date is correct, the deck stamp is not relevant since it won't be matching anyway? In other words, a 3956618 could have come out of other Chevrolet models, not just the Camaro.

Paul: I did see the engine on ebay, thanks. I think the date works because it's within 90 days of the build of my car (3rd week of January). I'm also looking on Craigslist and asking around. It does seem crazy to sell a totally matching numbers motor!

Steve
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 16, 2009, 06:20:14 PM
BTW: The casting date for the engine on ebay is November 12, 1968.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 16, 2009, 07:18:50 PM
Kevin: What is the casting date on your block?
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: 68Zproject on October 16, 2009, 08:35:08 PM
the deck stamp is not relevant since it won't be matching anyway? In other words, a 3956618 could have come out of other Chevrolet models, not just the Camaro.
Steve

Yes
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sixt9x33rs on October 16, 2009, 10:33:50 PM
Wow, I'm overwhelmed by all the help! Thanks!!!

What is meant by trends? Because the block that sixt9x33rs refers to on TC seems like a good match. Am I right in my thinking that as long as the casting numbers and casting date is correct, the deck stamp is not relevant since it won't be matching anyway? In other words, a 3956618 could have come out of other Chevrolet models, not just the Camaro.

Paul: I did see the engine on ebay, thanks. I think the date works because it's within 90 days of the build of my car (3rd week of January). I'm also looking on Craigslist and asking around. It does seem crazy to sell a totally matching numbers motor!

Steve
Jerry mentioned that while on site inspections he has observed the trends of L-48 cars having 388 blocks. That is the way I understood it.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: KevinW on October 17, 2009, 12:16:12 AM
Kevin: What is the casting date on your block?

I gotta dig it out of the shed first this weekend :)
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: 1968RSZ28 on October 17, 2009, 12:56:29 AM
BTW: The casting date for the engine on ebay is November 12, 1968.

The Ebay listing states the block casting date is November 13, 1968...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/69-350-CHEVY-ENGINE-3932388-COMPLETE_W0QQitemZ180419506915QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2a01d732e3

Paul
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: 1968RSZ28 on October 17, 2009, 01:10:28 AM
the deck stamp is not relevant since it won't be matching anyway?
Steve

Yes

Steve -

I disagree, if your car was built at Norwood, it's possible to make your engine pad "numbers matching" if you do your homework, take your time and find a donor block from another Camaro...

http://www.camaros.org/drivetrain.shtml#PartialVINs

 :)

Paul
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: KevinW on October 17, 2009, 02:10:52 PM
Kevin: What is the casting date on your block?

Well Steve, you are going to be pissed, but the block is a 3956618, casting date of L 18 8 (Dec 18 1968), deck stamp V0113HA VIN from a 69 Camaro by oil filter, BUT deck stamp has been altered 1 changed to a 4, so the stamp now reads V0413HA.   It would have been perfect for your car. :(

can't read the VIN in the spot that it is (will take a couple of hours to dig out more, which I am not going to do), but I know it is 69 Norwood Camaro, Standard bore, greasy, pulled from a basement in the 80s in north NJ and sitting in my shed(s) ever since (except for the drunken part) :( I have been rueing that day since (a looong time ago). :( 
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 18, 2009, 12:47:42 AM
Steve -

I disagree, if your car was built at Norwood, it's possible to make your engine pad "numbers matching" if you do your homework, take your time and find a donor block from another Camaro...


Paul,

I guess where I'm missing it is aren't the sequential numbers part of what is stamped? Therefore, the engine pad would have the partial VIN matching the VIN tag on the dash??? If it makes any difference, my car was built in L.A.

Steve
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sftibbs on October 18, 2009, 12:54:32 AM
Well Steve, you are going to be pissed, but the block is a 3956618, casting date of L 18 8 (Dec 18 1968), deck stamp V0113HA VIN from a 69 Camaro by oil filter, BUT deck stamp has been altered 1 changed to a 4, so the stamp now reads V0413HA.   It would have been perfect for your car.   

Kevin: Well that isn't great news is it. I appreciate you checking for me anyway. Thanks.
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: sixt9x33rs on October 18, 2009, 02:42:56 AM
Steve -

I disagree, if your car was built at Norwood, it's possible to make your engine pad "numbers matching" if you do your homework, take your time and find a donor block from another Camaro...




Steve,

LA built cars did have the VIN on the PAD longer in the model year than Norwood cars and they moved them to the oil filter area and then abck to the pad. I dont know the dates that this happened. Your car may would have had the vin on the pad.

I guess where I'm missing it is aren't the sequential numbers part of what is stamped? Therefore, the engine pad would have the partial VIN matching the VIN tag on the dash??? If it makes any difference, my car was built in L.A.

Steve
Title: Re: Coorect engine block for 1969 SS350
Post by: KurtS on October 19, 2009, 09:12:01 PM
You could just deck Kevin's block and be mostly correct. It wouldn't have the wrong pad stamp, just no pad stamp. :)