Hey,

I was hoping someone here could help me out with the this. A bunch of years ago I bought a 69 Chevelle with a 454BB dropped into it. Since I wasn't much of a car guy at the time, I couldn't tell the difference one way or the other... I want to confirm what type of engine I have and what year the engine is... Can someone tell me how to do that? I read some numbers at the back of the engine near the distributor cap that appear to be: 3868848 and three digits beneath it that I can only make out the last two: _M2... Does this help at all? Oh, and it also says its a Holley. I read in another post here that the 386 number may actually be 3866948 or 3888848... It's hard to tell but one of the 8's looks like it could be a 9 and another looks like it could be a 6... It's just really hard to tell... Any suggestions would be appreciated...

Thanks

Didn't see your number anywhere, but this site should be able to answer any questions you have.

http://www.mortec.com/

Post back the letters at the end of the VIN number string and we can tell you what it is IF it is still stock.

They should be on the little deck pad that's right above the pass. side top water pump bolt..

Like "CS" or "TSC" sorta deal here..

pdq67

Numbers are hard to read when in the car. 3's often look like 8's. Check again on the number. Closest I could find is this:
3969858....427T......68-84...4-bolt

Hey, thanks for the help...

Post back the letters at the end of the VIN number string and we can tell you what it is IF it is still stock.

They should be on the little deck pad that's right above the pass. side top water pump bolt..

Like "CS" or "TSC" sorta deal here..

pdq67I didn't find anything like it... I don't know if it matters but the water pump is new... It was replaced a couple of years ago and it has a CY on it, but again, it's only two years old...

Numbers are hard to read when in the car. 3's often look like 8's. Check again on the number. Closest I could find is this:
3969858....427T......68-84...4-boltHere are the only two numbers I could get to:
http://www.urbanroyalflats.com/graphies/carpart_02.jpg
As you can see, this is why it's so hard to read this number precisely... It could be 3868848 or 386 6848 or 3848??? The number or letters under this number seem to be GM2 with a T underneath or it's CM2... That first letter is hard to decipher...

This is the only other number I could find just eyeballing the engine:
http://www.urbanroyalflats.com/graphies/carpart_01.jpg

Any ideas? Thanks again fellas...

That looks like the intake casting number, 3883948 (66-68),not the engine casting. The engine number is on rear ledge where the transmission bolts up.
Hard to see when engine is in car. Partial vin and engine code may be stamped into small pad in front of passenger head.

Again!

The VIN with the needed letters at it's end should be on the little deck pad that's right above the pass. side top water pump bolt..

That's where the VIN is stamped.

Post back the 2 or 3 letters at it's end..

pdq67

Chris. These two pages should help you locate the numbers on your block. http://www.mortec.com/location.htm http://www.mortec.com/locatpg2.htm
Heres a picture of the number Paul is talking about. Its right in front of the pas. side head.
http://www.mortec.com/cast4.gif

Thanks guys... It took some hefty cleaning and scrapping but I finally found the numbers on the ledge just behind and below the alternator... Here they are... There were two numbers listed on the ledge:

http://www.urbanroyalflats.com/graphies/cartpart03.jpg

Do these numbers help to determine what size engine it actually is and what year it was made?

Thanks again for the help... I appreciate it...

T=Tonawanda engine plant
1013=Oct 13th engine assembled date
CWH=73 Impala 454/215hp LS-4

Partial vin:
1=Chevrolet Div
3=1973 model year
C=Southgate, CA. assembly plant
134137=car sequence number

Right on! Thanks for the assistance... Extremely helpful.

"CWH"...............

That's them!! GREAT pic's too!

pdq67

Thanks, I got lucky that my little digital had a macro feature so I was able to get in really tight to figure out what those numbers were...

Hey, do any of you guys know it this a good engine? I was just talking with a buddy and he said he thinks it is and would have decent worth. I prepping the car to be sold so of course, this may make a difference in how I display it...

Thanks... Take it easy...

Thought I should show the engine I've been asking about:


http://www.urbanroyalflats.com/graphies/engine_002.jpg

http://www.urbanroyalflats.com/graphies/engine_003.jpg

Thanks again for the help...