guys ive been wondering why my 512 block is stamped MW for a 396 325hp 67-68 camaro.

all of the info ive found says the 512 block was only used for the 427 and 454.

the suffix number looks really fishy, i have 3 or 4 tonowanda built engines here and the 512 block has a different font, isnt stamped as deep and the vin number is stamped the opposite direction of the other blocks.

this car has been in my family for nearly 20 years, my dad originally bought it from a guy in the early to mid 80's. the previous owner said the engine was built by a guy that was well known for building hot chevy BBs in this area, and was the man to see if you wanted one built.

ive had the heads off of the engine and it is a 427, it has L2268F 30 pistons which are forged 11:1 units. as far as i could tell there were no factory broach marks left on the deck surface. i should have checked piston to deck clearance while i had the heads off, which leads me to my main question.

if the suffix was re-stamped then the deck must have been cut right? how much would the deck have to be cut to completely remove the original suffix code?

im assuming this may have been an old racers trick used to deceive people into thinking it was a 396. is this something that was done frequently? in this case i cant think of any other reason why this would be done.

if the suffix was re-stamped then the deck must have been cut right? how much would the deck have to be cut to completely remove the original suffix code? bump, anybody?

It obviously depends on the block and how square it is to begin with, but in my latest example, a 0.020 cut completely removed the deck stampings. ( a 75 454 )

On these early BBC's there was no gaurantee that the block would be stamped at all with a suffix code.

Really, so it could have been an unstamped block. i assumed since the block has clearly been restamped it must have been decked.

one of these days when i get the time and funds im going to pull the engine out and refreshen it and probably change the cam. ill check the piston to deck height and everything while its on the stand.

to be honest i could care less why the engine was restamped, im more concerned about the compression ratio. i want to go to a smaller more aggressive solid cam, but i may have to have the domes on the pistons cut to lower the comp. ill probably have to IF the deck has been cut.