My buddy is looking at a 69SS with a big block in it. The stamping on the pad is T0205 which decodes to a 69 396/325 Chevelle motor assembled on Feb 5. The body tag says 02B which decodes to a car built the second week of Feb. Does this time frame (Car built about a week after the engine) seem about right? The reason I ask is the guy is not advertising that this is the original motor but with these dates it seems that it might be. My buddy says he can't read the VIN as the block may have been decked. This older gentleman (owner) appears to not be very knowledgeable about the car which is in good running driver #3 condition or better from my friends description but he also is not asking an arm and a leg and there is probably room for negotiating. I suppose it is possible that if the motor was replaced it was coincidental that the dates match up or it is possible this might be the original engine. No build sheet avaiable yet...as the interior is all original except the carpet has been replaced so the build sheet may be in there somewhere.

Thanks,

Robert

Originally posted by Mytmouse:
The stamping on the pad is T0205 which decodes to a 69 396/325 Chevelle motor assembled on Feb 5.
How did you figure that ?


Many 69's had the partial VIN stamped vertically near the oil filter, might tell him to look there.

Dean's right, the T0205 only tells you the engine assembly date, not the hp. That'd be indicated by the two or three letters following the date such as JA for a 325hp. When you get that suffix code, go here (http://www.chevellestuff.com/69velle/69engine.htm) to find the horsepower/trans type if it is indeed a 69 engine.

Here is the other VIN location (http://www.chevellestuff.com/69velle/images/v8engine_stamp_location.jpg) Dean was talking about.

oops...my mistake...T0205 JA (396/325 HP w/manual) which this car is a 4 speed). Any answers to the time frame thing?

Robert

Robert,

The engine in my 69 was assembled on 12/30/68 and the car was assembled on 1/9/69, so those dates on the car your friend is looking at seem about right. If the block had been decked, the T0205JA would probably be gone. Look in the place Dean & Dale are referring to; that's where the partial VIN on mine is stamped.

Thanks Bill (and Dean and Dale) I am aware of the alternate location and so is my friend as this is where his 70 is stamped as the partial VIN was lost when the motor was decked and we used that to confirm what we had already assumed to be true based on the known pedigree of that car. He happened to be talking to someone about Chevelles (He owns 3 already) when he was out of town on business. He was told about this car and went over to take a quick look at it and jotted down some numbers off the body tag and pad but didn't have time to really scrutinize it. I will remind him of the alternate location so when he goes back he can take a closer look. He is not overly concerned about the matching numbers of the motor but if it could be verified somehow it certainly would make it more desireable ... at least to some. This is a Kansas car if that makes any difference about the alternate location.

Also my experience with the stampings on the pad is that Tonwanda codes are much deeper than the auto assembly plants stamp and may survive a light decking. It is certainly this way on both my 70 and 67. Do you agree with this conclusion??

R. Stacho

My 69 SS is a Kansas built car, last week of Feb.
The vin. number is stamped by the oil filter (19Kxxxxxx). On my brothers 68 SS the build date is deeper than the vin # on the head pad. The time frame seems to be pretty close to me.

you should check all the engine casting numbers and date codes on block, heads, dist, manifolds etc. to see if it is correct engine and to see what correct parts are missing.