motornewbie

Hey everyone, just picked up a motor today - needing some help, even though information I have is limited. The guy I got this motor from does not have any paperwork but says this motor pushed around 400 horse. I am looking for hp in that range and decent low end torque.

Ok here is what I got. SBC with block casting # 3979910. My research shows it is more than likely a 350 block, although the guy I got it from swears it is a 327 out of a 69 vette or 69 camaro. Heads are definitely camelback (stamping on front) with casting # 3899462. I took valve cover off and no roller rockers. Has a high rise Weiand X-CELerator intake (#7546).

So I'm going to put on accessories and let it buck. Going to put a high torque mini-starter on. My question comes to other accessories, and will this motor push that much hp?

Thinking about a MSD pro billet distributor - worth it? Would it be a good add on? In addition, I have an edelbrock 600 cfm carb I need to rebuild (manual choke 1405). Would this carb/dist. combo be a good match with this motor? This is NOT for a street application - will have an aluminum radiator, and a 8 3/4 mopar rearend with around low 4 gears - will be run in dirt. Thanks again, I appreciate any help in advance! Thanks!

tomgallucci57

69 vettes didnt have a 327

motornewbie

Ok - so must be out of a 69 camaro then. Thanks.

Any motor guys have any input on the combination I am thinking and whether or not I will achieve the power I am looking for (I know it is hard without cam specs, etc. but I don't have them either).

Thanks again!

gbvette62

Are you sure about that casting number? I'm not aware of 3979910 being used as a Chevy small block casting number.

Sometimes it can be hard to make out casting numbers, especially after years of paint and dirt accumulates on the block. Is it possible that the 2 middle digits are "00", not "99", making the casting number 3970010. The 010 block is a very common block, that was used between 68 and 79. The 010 was used as a 327 in 68 only. From 69 to 79, it was used as a 350. I think the 69 327 block was casting number 3956618.

Check the dating, on the back of the block. Also, what's stamped on the pad on the right from of the block, just in front of the head? This might help identify what engine you have.

motornewbie

Sorry - laptop keyboard, haha. 3970010 is the block casting. I suppose it is possible it is a '68 block then?

All it says above that casting on the back of the block is a big 19 followed by GM.

On the front of the block, right by the head is a smaller stamped number where 3 digits are wore just about completely - followed by this: VO52OFB. I am guessing on the stamp right in front of this as 196219897. This is all stamped on the passenger side front of the block, just below the double hump mark on the front of the camel back head.

Thank you!

kdf1986

Hello
It is true the motor could have come out of a 69 vette. But that doesnt make it a 69 vette motor! Think about this. The original vette motor was blown and replaced with an unknown motor. Then the vette gets wrecked. And this person takes the motor out of the 69 vette. So technically he can say the motor came out of a 69 vette.

It doesnt make it a 69 vette motor though.

kdf

motornewbie

Thanks kdf - I understand that, I guess I am less concerned whether or not the motor actually came from a vette - was told it was, so I came here.

It would be more beneficial if I knew it was a 327, and whether or not I can achieve the HP I desire with the above combination - even with limited or no knowledge of any paperwork on the cam, head work, etc. Is it possible?

I thought this number casting block with camel back heads weren't too common and might be a give away towards one common year/option in a certain make - but again check my screen name

Thanks again!

DZRick

I'll have to double check but the block I have in my garage I'm almost positive has a FB stamp.
It was a 210hp 327 from a '69 Camaro with a 2 barrel carb.

I'll check it again and get the casting number too.

gbvette62

The casting date is in the same same area as the casting number, but on the right rear of the block. Look for it to the top right of the top bellhousing bolt boss.

From my Chevrolet parts book, V0520FB is a Flint engine ("V" = Flint), assembled May 20th (05 + May, 20 is the 20th day of the month), and "FB" indicates a 327/235hp, 2bbl, Powerglide in a full size 69 Chevrolet.

196219897 is the VIN number of the car that the engine came out of. "1" is Chevrolet, and "9" is 1969. "6" should be the car assembly plant, but letters, not numbers, were used to identify assembly plants. Could it be a "G", instead of a "6", as this would be Framingham, MA? 219897 is the VIN sequence for the car the engine came out of.

The thing that throws me is the 010 block. Everything I have indicates that the 010 block was only used for 350's in 69, and that all 69 327's (as well as some 68 327's), used the 618 block??????

From what I have, the stamping seems to indicate that your engine started life as a 69 327/235hp, 2bbl, with a Powerglide behind it.

motornewbie

Thanks guys - just tearing into this thing now.

So - how do I ascertain if this motor was originally from a corvette? If it was - I have to have a tach drive distributor, correct?

If it came from a Camaro, I can use any distributor I want - correct?


Don't want to drop $$ on a distributor and come to find out it won't work....

Thank you!!

Alan 71

Hi mn,
The difference in a tach drive distributor or non tach drive distributor won't limit what engine it can be used in, it will only determine whether it will drive a mechanical tachometer or not.
Regards,
Alan

spot99

This might help. Copy and paste if the link behaves like your '69.

http://rowleycorvette.com/stats69.html

motornewbie

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

Manuel Azevedo

You know it really doesn't matter what numbers are on that block. That engine is years old and completely unknown as to what it is and no Numbers at this point will tell you what it is other than maybe what it was how many years ago! Take it apart at lease the heads and oil pan and you can tell the bore size and then get a casting number from the crank, that will tell you what the motor is today!

Easy Mike

It is not a Corvette engine; there were no FB codes in Corvettes. My hunch is that you have an Impala or truck engine.

joewill

you may want to think about other options and other engines. it is gonna be pretty hard to get 400HP out of a 327-235. sure it may already have some hipo parts in it, but needing rebuilt at best.

find you a 400 hp crate motor already done that is turnkey ready.. probably cost about the same.. especially after hauling you motor back and forth from your builder and waiting months for him to finish it.

also.. no such thing as a 400HP small block that has good low end torque. unless you really stroke it out to a 383 or more. you sacrifice one for the other.

BOSTONCAMARO

Joewill, could be a female machinist...just saying haha

but yes that is a good point...the biggest thing is the heads, spend 3-5 hundred at a shop, maybe more when you can get new aluminum heads for not much more

builder

If the "guy" doesn't have paperwork to show it, he doesn't know what the engine really is....it's just another SBC.
Can that motor push 400 HP? It could, but without a dyno test.....We may never know. I personally doubt it.

spot99

My 2 pennies. If the car is gonna be a dirt racer, you would need tons of low end torque. Engine displacement is secondary. Cross pipes and a restricter at the back of the exhaust will help with torque. That's my first penny. My second penny would be to never drive a Corvette in the dirt. JMHO.