I know it is a 69 396 I looked at one last week on the back of the block it said hiperf pass car, truck. This block had a JQ stamping on the front plate I also know what that is My question is did all the blocks with this casting # say hi perf truck and car? Should the chevelle one say only hiperf pass car? ? I have been looking for a engine for my chevelle.I'm trying to make it as orginal as possible. I could have the block decked to erase the front pad stamping.This block is from a elcamino

Originally posted by Tom G:
I'm trying to make it as orginal as possible. I could have the block decked to erase the front pad stamping.This block is from a elcamino Original or correct? Original, you need the original parts. Correct, you only need parts from the time frame. Suffix code JQ is not even a 'correct' suffix for a 69 Chevelle even though it may have been in one. Look for a VIN derivative stamping on the pad by the oil filter; that would tell you what model the engine is from. Once the block is surfaced and the broach marks are gone, you could stamp anything on the pad you wished. Naturally, anyone with knowledge of this and seeing the original broach marks gone would know the stamping is suspect anyway - it's a no-win situation even if you restamp an original block with the original numbers/letters.

Personally, if I had a block surfaced and it removed the codes I wouldn't restamp them. If it was stamped, the casual looker will be led to believe the stamping; the serious buyer will question it and when you tell them it's stamped the way you want (and it's not 'original' but rather 'correct') it may bring into suspect what else is not original. Someone that wants a fun driver could care less about the numbers, a collector would probably pass on it.

To quote Mortec.com (http://www.mortec.com/locatpg2.htm) There are other things found when you stare at these parts and casting identifiers for a while. On big blocks, you may see the words "HIPERF", "HIPER", "TRUCK", "M.TRUCK", "PASS", "MAR" or "MARINE" cast into the block. You may see one or a combination of some of these words. First let me say that "HIPERF" or "HIPER" was used on ALL '65-'91 Mark IV big block blocks and is not an indication that it has four bolt main caps and was used in a high performance application. Two-bolt, low performance big blocks received the same "HIPERF" designation. (In this regard, keep in mind that ALL '91 and later Gen.V and Gen.VI big blocks come with 4-bolt main caps. The two-bolt big blocks are no longer in production.)