I bought a really nice 71SS454 a couple of years ago. The seller said it was not an matching engine car. This weekend I was painting some on the engine and had to take the alternator, a/c, and p/s off. I was finally able to see the pad where the engine number is stamped. There is no number there at all-it is perfectly smooth. Is this number not printed somewhere else? I am not sure what I have. The engine is smooth, very strong-much stronger than what I would expect as a stock engine. It has oval port heads (I took the intake off to paint.) Has an HEI distributor. Thanks for any thoughts.
Mike

mike,
most likely the numbers were removed when the block was machined. this happens a lot, expecially back when no one even knew the term matching numbers. however, that still wouldn't make me think it was the original motor. but if you check the casting number and casting date on the block/ heads/ etc... and they jive with your cars build date, then you just might have it.

Glenn: I will check the casting numbers. I have the book 'Chevy By The Numbers'. Thanks for the help.
Mike

Mike,
You may also want to look down by the oil filter. Sometimes the vin# derivative is stamped vertically in the rough casting there. My vin# on my 71 SS454 is there. My engine pad has the assembly date and CPA engine code, but no vin. If you find your vin derivitive by the oil filter and it is a 454 block, then you have the original motor. FWIW, I went to look at a '66 L78 car a few weeks ago that was advertised as matching numbers. When I asked to see the motor (it was out of the car and fresh from the machine shop), the guy was eager to show it to me. He was floored to see that the block had been decked and there was nothing there. He tried to explain to me that the numbers that WERE there matched the car. I didn't buy the car; the machine shop probably cost him many thousand dollars by decking the block. In your case, you bought the car as a non matching motor, but it would be a very pleasant surprise to find your vin# stamped by the oil filter.
Dwayne

Dwayne: Thanks for that advice. I will see if I can get up under there to look. May have to wait and get it on a lift.
Regardless of what the engine is-it sure meets one of my main reguirements-it will absolutely light those tires up and spin them about as long as you can stay in it.
Mike