I have a '68 SS 396 El Camino and am still trying to figure out if the engine is the original 396. It is definitly an original SS car. The numbers on the fron right pad have been ground off due to block machining years ago. Is there another place that the '68 Fremont cars got the number on the block?

If the block has been decked and the code/partial VIN are gone, you can only guess. If the casting date of the block, heads etc. are prior to the date on the trim tag chances are it is possibly correct but you will never really know.

Sorry I posted the same theory as Dave..

Dave

Thanks guys. I tracked down one of the previous owners when the engine was done, about 10 years ago and he told me the block was original but that he had put a forged 375 HP crankshaft it it. Wow. I am going to pull the motor to thoroughly prove or disprove this cause I can't find the dates and it needs to be cleaned up and resealed anyway. If it is authentic as far as dates go, I will get the VIN restamped.

Phil

if its a forged crank you should be able to look at the crankshaft flange from under the car, if its a automatic. and see the forging line. jim

If it is authentic as far as dates go, I will get the VIN restamped. :noway:
Phil

First, the 350 HP motor has the same crank as the 375 HP motor, so that's not going to prove anything.
Second, restamps are easy to spot, especially on decked blocks. JMO, but I wouldn't do it.
BillL

Second, restamps are easy to spot, especially on decked blocks. JMO, but I wouldn't do it.
BillL

I'll second that thought. Most people are smart enough to realize some blocks got decked over the years, losing their identifiability (is that a word?). But an obvious restamp will raise more issues than it might ever solve. Leave it alone.

if its a forged crank you should be able to look at the crankshaft flange from under the car, if its a automatic. and see the forging line. jim

Where is the forging line, on the rear flange where the flexplate bolts to???

Thanks, Phil

First, the 350 HP motor has the same crank as the 375 HP motor, so that's not going to prove anything.
Second, restamps are easy to spot, especially on decked blocks. JMO, but I wouldn't do it.
BillL

There are professionals that restamp just like originals, I am told. Not something to do in a backyard garage.

Still makes it look suspicious.
Just because "one of the previous owners" says it original doesn't make it so.
Might as well stamp the engine code too , while your cloning a numbers matching engine.

Still makes it look suspicious.
Just because "one of the previous owners" says it original doesn't make it so.
Might as well stamp the engine code too , while your cloning a numbers matching engine.

I agree that just the previous owners word is not good enough. But if all the date codes agree and the engine code is right, chaces are it is the original motor. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, you probably have a duck.

A restamp is still a restamp and as you have no proof of the origionality ,what would you call it ?
I'd label it correct date and not forge the VIN number on a block of unknown origin.

There are professionals that restamp just like originals, I am told. Not something to do in a backyard garage.

Yes, there are unethical professionals in every business.:sad:
You have a 138 code car, that proves that it's an SS. '68's aren't the most desirable Chevelle and having a restamped motor isn't going to increase it's value very much, if any.
Restamping is one of the deals in the hobby that most people feel strongly about. Either you think it's wrong, or you think it's OK. It's my opinion that it's wrong, but that doesn't mean anything to anyone but me. I know that I would buy a NOM car and I wouldn't buy a restamp, and I'm pretty confident in my ability to spot one. I'll get off my soapbox now.
BillL

flange where the flywheel bolts to. jim

Yes, there are unethical professionals in every business.:sad:
You have a 138 code car, that proves that it's an SS. '68's aren't the most desirable Chevelle BillL

Not true, this is a '68 El Camino SS and is a strong favorite.

Hey Phil,
I also am the proud owner of a 68 SS El Camino. Unfortunately mine does not have the original engine. If you have any pics of your car/truck I would like to see them. I have been the owner of mine since 1986 and am continually restoring it since it is a summer daily driver.

I had a 69 SS396 that had the VIN stamped next to the oil filter. I just about passed on buying the car until I found the original numbers. If I remember right the pad on the front of the block only had the engine HP stampings to show it was a 325 hp 396.

Not true, this is a '68 El Camino SS and is a strong favorite.

:noway:

I'd get something in writing from that previous owner that the block was decked and include it with the documentation if you ever sell it.
I wouldn't restamp it, just leave it the way it is.

Contact that previous owner again and see if he has any paperwork from the shop that did the work. Or go to that shop yourself and see if they still may have paperwork for the work that was done. You might get lucky and get copies of paperwork, that they may have put a VIN number on or identifying number. It's worth a shot.

:noway:

:yes::yes::yes::yes: