What is the accepted window of time between casting date and the cars assembly date? I have an '70 LS-5 which has a engine casting date of L-9-9. The date on the front of the engine is T1216CRT and the build date of the car is 04A.Is this possible or do I have a restamp? Thanks.

The motor can be built anywhere from 3 or 4 months to a couple weeks before the car was built. My 68 motor was assembled 4 weeks before the car was built.
I'm sure these times varied some as well..
You have a 4 month difference which is longer than most, but is still feasible.

My '67 Camaro has an engine assembly date one week before the car was built, and I was told this is unusually close, but being the first year of production could explain a high demand.

You might try to find someone with a build date close to yours and see what kind of time frame they have.

My 70 LS5 built in Oshawa also has a December of 69 block. The date on my front pad is T1230CRQ and my trim tag reads 1A. So my engine was stamped December 30, 1969 and trim tag put on the first week of January 1970 with the build sheet showing the actual production date of January 12, 1970.

Hope that helps. Doesn't really make alot of sense that your engine was built the middle of Dec. and not put in a car until the 1st week of april, but who knows anything is possible.

I'm guessing your vin# is also on the front pad?

Ron ,My Baltimore built LS-5 shows similar #s dates.Cant read my block casting date(3963512 block) but heads cast on 1/17/70 and 1/21/70,Block stamped TO123CRT(JAN.23)Cowl tag.Last week of Jan.After the crt on the pad and before the vin I have 188.Does anybody know what these #s mean?The ser.# on my trans starts with 188 also.

Hi I have a 1970 LS6 M22 el camino. Baltimore built GM of Canada documented car. The block is original and has never been decked or restamped and the serial number stamp starts with 188 then the serial number instead of 10B. It should be 1 for chevrolet division, 0 for 1970 then B for Baltimore. Also I just noticed on Ebay a 1970 monte carlo LS5 baltimore built with the same thing 188. Interesting, did Baltimore plant do this for very long or is it just sporatic. Thanks, Cam. Here's the link to the monte on ebay with the picture of the pad. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1970-Chevrolet-Monte-Carlo-SS-454-Original-Documented_W0QQitemZ200254540263QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q2 0TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200254540 263&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

There were lots of cars built in Baltimore in 70 with the 188 numbers stamped including mine which has been authenicated by Jeff Dotterer.(Diamond Judge)He also owns a Baltimore built LS-5 car with the 188 stampings.Would like to see a pic of your elco if you have one.(not the stampings,just the car)

Troy, nothing to worry about. The Orange 69 Z28 I had, the block was cast in January, assembled end of April for a May built car. Send me a pic of the block stamp and I'll take a look at it.

Thanks Dave but that post was from Nov.2004. Unfortunatly that car is long gone.

Wow....a resurrection.... :D