Author Topic: 1969 Z28 Block ID (Read 5720 times)

JST69Z28 · « **on:** July 17, 2022, 03:05:26 PM »

I have a 1969 Z28 and the engine block has VO42OTND stamped on the RF. I am trying to determine originality. I have owned the car for 40 years and have just started to research it. There is no DZ in the serial number, and I understood that was on all 69 302s. I'm not sure if this engine is original. The block casting numbers are 3970010 and GM29 on the LR. I looked near the oil filter and saw no other numbers. Any ideas would be appreciated.

bertfam · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2022, 03:30:45 PM »

It's not original. It's a 1970's truck engine. I can't find a TND suffix code in my documentation though. Can you post a picture of the pad?

Ed

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2022, 04:23:08 PM »

Photo attached. Thanks.

bertfam · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2022, 04:38:08 PM »

Yeah, it's TND, but I can't find that suffix anywhere. I DID find a reference where a guy had the SAME SUFFIX engine and he found a site that showed it as a 73 school bus, but that link is no longer working.

I found ANOTHER SITE that shows it as a 262 V6 engine, but that can't be right!

Whats the partial VIN on the other side?

Ed

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2022, 04:52:26 PM »

Where can I find the partial VIN?

bertfam · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2022, 05:13:38 PM »

It should be just to the left of the suffix code (see picture below).

Ed

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2022, 05:45:58 PM »

I cleaned it well and don't see any markings there at all.

bertfam · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2022, 05:55:38 PM »

In that case the only hint I can give you is to see what the casting date on the block is. Since there's no partial VIN, it probably is from a heavy duty truck (like a dump truck or heavy hauler, etc...) or a bus like the other guy found on that broken link. The casting date on the block will be located on the rear of the block where the bell housing attaches across from the casting number (see example below)

Ed

David K · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2022, 05:59:35 PM »

If this was an assembly line engine for a car, it would be visible where Ed has the arrows….clearly visible from 3 feet away-all day. Ed, if this was a warranty replacement block, it would have a different code correct? CE stamping or something like that? Would it have the vin restamped? There’s a lot of misinformation. Maybe another thread?

bertfam · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2022, 06:17:31 PM »

Quote

Ed, if this was a warranty replacement block, it would have a different code correct? CE stamping or something like that? Would it have the vin restamped?

Correct, but a warranty replacement wouldn't be stamped TND. And yes, it would start with CE...

Ed

william · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2022, 06:22:03 PM »

There is no misinformation.

The only engine factory-installed in a '69 Z/28 was a DZ coded 302. The TND engine in your car is neither original nor a warranty replacement and will not have your con VIN on it.

rocco376 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2022, 06:26:19 PM »

https://www.gregwapling.com/hotrod/monaro-shrine/08-decoding-small-block-chevy-engine-suffix-codes-and-stamped-numbers-tjt-txb.html

Everything but TND here

David K · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2022, 09:04:30 PM »

Found this….but still no TND found.

Can you upload a picture of the casting numbers?

https://chevroletforum.com/forum/engine-building-overhauling-43/engine-number-62679/

fsc66 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2022, 03:43:52 PM »

Nothing in lime book:
http://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf

Paul

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2022, 06:56:04 PM »

Attached is a photo of numbers and symbols on top rear of block. Also, on the block near the bottom just in front of the oil filter is a small 132N which is upside down. Thank you for any feedback.

bertfam · « **Reply #15 on:** July 18, 2022, 07:09:14 PM »

Anything on the other side?

Ed

David K · « **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2022, 09:24:11 PM »

Try the area on the block one more notch to the driver’s side for numbers. Should be 7 numbers.

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 19, 2022, 01:35:32 PM »

I attached another photo of the numbers on the top rear of the block. You can see the TND, but I don't know what that or the circle of dots and what looks like 0 3 0 stand for. I built this engine when I got the car in 1982, and it is a 4 inch bore with 4 bolt mains. Any ideas would be appreciated, just trying to determine where this block came from. Thanks.

bertfam · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2022, 01:40:00 PM »

That's the same picture that you posted before but it doesn't really matter. As I stated above, it's a 70's truck engine and not original to your car.

Ed

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2022, 01:50:27 PM »

Another photo attached from other side. Thanks.

bertfam · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2022, 01:59:39 PM »

D 13 2 is the date the block was cast so it's April 13th, 1972. And THIS THREAD still points to it as coming from a school bus. A 1972 school bus! Which is why you won't find a partial VIN. Heavy duty trucks and buses weren't required to have the partial VIN stamped on the front pad.

Ed

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 19, 2022, 02:31:10 PM »

Thank you. I bought the car from a friend in 1982, and he bought it in 1978, and at that time the engine had already been replaced. I have the names of the 2 previous owners before my friend and am trying to connect with them and find out some more history. Thanks again.

william · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2022, 02:39:41 PM »

Last Saturday I looked at a '69 DZ engine that has been sitting untouched in a closed business for over 30 years. Got the VIN; it belongs to a Z/28 owned by the brother of an acquaintance of mine.

Don't know how this will go but it does happen.

David K · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2022, 01:38:01 AM »

Drivers side behind the cylinder head. This should help.

bertfam · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2022, 01:45:30 AM »

He already posted the casting number. From his initial post:

Quote

The block casting numbers are 3970010

Ed

David K · « **Reply #25 on:** July 20, 2022, 04:13:50 AM »

ban617 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 06, 2022, 11:43:29 AM »

How do you know your engine in question has 4 bolt mains ? Have you had it apart ? If so does it have an 1178 crankshaft for a 302 ? Maybe the original engine was hurt & the original block was unusable, so they put the surviving pieces into this block in the car …

69Z28-RS · « **Reply #27 on:** August 19, 2022, 02:11:52 PM »

Most truck engine 350 ci engines of that era DID have 4-bolt mains...

JST69Z28 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 19, 2022, 02:42:31 PM »

I finally connected with the owner of the car before the guy I bought it from. He had it from 1974 to 1978 and told me he wore out the engine and a friend with a machine shop in St. Pete, FL replaced the block using the original parts from the 302. This was 47 years ago so he has no idea what happened to the DZ block. I rebuilt the engine when I got the car in 1982 and it had a 4" bore, 4 bolt mains, and the original 3" stroke crank. The previous owner confirmed that original parts were used, just the block was replaced. Now I know a little more about the history of the engine.

News:

Author Topic: 1969 Z28 Block ID (Read 5720 times)