3782870 block casting confusion
03-02-2013, 08:45 PM
#1
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3782870 block casting confusion
Hello
I am at a loss I found a 327 in a junkyard and am going to place it in a 1940 chevy truck on a s10 frame and when I had it cleaned the mechanist sent me the numbers off the block so I can find out more about it, and I know it is a 327 casting is # 3282870 is a 327 sbc but it has an IU suffix, which on all my research is an IU is from 427 435 hp the block and the other numbers read was FO40IU ,now is the IU strictly 427/435hp or is the IU just 435 hp. What i know is this motor had been taken out of a mid 60s grain truck. Can anybody help me with the code of FO40IU and why the suffix iu on a 327 i have not found any 327 with this suffix of IU on any of the chevy small block decoding sites.
Thanks
I am at a loss I found a 327 in a junkyard and am going to place it in a 1940 chevy truck on a s10 frame and when I had it cleaned the mechanist sent me the numbers off the block so I can find out more about it, and I know it is a 327 casting is # 3282870 is a 327 sbc but it has an IU suffix, which on all my research is an IU is from 427 435 hp the block and the other numbers read was FO40IU ,now is the IU strictly 427/435hp or is the IU just 435 hp. What i know is this motor had been taken out of a mid 60s grain truck. Can anybody help me with the code of FO40IU and why the suffix iu on a 327 i have not found any 327 with this suffix of IU on any of the chevy small block decoding sites.
Thanks
Last edited by terry151965; 03-03-2013 at 12:41 AM.
03-04-2013, 09:48 AM
#2
Race Director
"IU" was only ever used on the 67 and 68 427/435's, that I'm aware of.
I think your misinterpreting some of the info on the stamp pad, and may be missing some info from it too. Chevy engines after 1959, used a 4 digit date stamp, on the pad. What you are reading as IU, I think should actually be read as 0I and then U.
F040IU would be an engine from the Flint engine plant (F). The next 2 digits (04), are the month the engine was assembled, in this case April. "I" was sometimes substituted for the number "1", so the next 2 digits, 0I, are likely the first of the month. I'm reading the info stamped on the pad as a Flint engine, assembled on April 1st (April fools day!).
Finally, the date would be followed by the engine suffix code, which identifies the type of engine. In this case, "U" is the engine suffix code, but I don't know of any small block that carried a single "U" suffix code. I don't think there was 327 code, that even started with a "U", and to my knowledge, the 870 block was only ever used for 62-65 327's.
Re-check the info on the stamp pad, or post a picture of the stamp pad here. Also, is there a VIN derivative stamped on the pad, as that may be of some help identifying the engine. Also, what is the casting date of the block? The casting date is on the right rear of the block, on the flange that the bell housing bolts up to. It's cast into the block, similar to where the casting number is.
If you get us someone info, some more you here should be able to help you identify the engine.
I think your misinterpreting some of the info on the stamp pad, and may be missing some info from it too. Chevy engines after 1959, used a 4 digit date stamp, on the pad. What you are reading as IU, I think should actually be read as 0I and then U.
F040IU would be an engine from the Flint engine plant (F). The next 2 digits (04), are the month the engine was assembled, in this case April. "I" was sometimes substituted for the number "1", so the next 2 digits, 0I, are likely the first of the month. I'm reading the info stamped on the pad as a Flint engine, assembled on April 1st (April fools day!).
Finally, the date would be followed by the engine suffix code, which identifies the type of engine. In this case, "U" is the engine suffix code, but I don't know of any small block that carried a single "U" suffix code. I don't think there was 327 code, that even started with a "U", and to my knowledge, the 870 block was only ever used for 62-65 327's.
Re-check the info on the stamp pad, or post a picture of the stamp pad here. Also, is there a VIN derivative stamped on the pad, as that may be of some help identifying the engine. Also, what is the casting date of the block? The casting date is on the right rear of the block, on the flange that the bell housing bolts up to. It's cast into the block, similar to where the casting number is.
If you get us someone info, some more you here should be able to help you identify the engine.
Last edited by gbvette62; 03-04-2013 at 09:50 AM.