[baron]

Engine block has k0309800 stamped on the front pad behind the alt,can anyone tell me what this stamp is.Thanks.

 

[bcmiller]

Partial VIN. Check your numbers again though. Should be more like 10K309800 with the last six numbers matching the last six of the VIN of the car it is from.

Does it look similar to this pic with the partial VIN upside down?

 

[DaleM]

Problem is with a 70 engine, VINs started at 100001 for all plants except Arlington (200001) and Oshawa (500001) so a sequence of 309800 would be much greater than the production run of 122,339 at KC for 1970 - largest of any plant in 1970.

A photo of the engine pad might help.

 

[Mike]

oop's

 

[DaleM]

I was talking about the original poster's stamp of k0309800 and the possibility of it being 10K309800 - which it can't be.

 

[Mike]

Wasn't directed to you Dale ,thought the pic was the op's.
corrected the prior post :clonk:

 

[bcmiller]

No problem Mike. The pic is of a block that I have.

We need a picture of what the original poster has or the correct numbers from it.

 

[baron]

I have pictures of the engine and the pad stamp #s in the engine forum titled Newer 350 rebuild.

 

[Mike]

Look's like an Olds engine from the gold color.
In the pic that shows what appears to be 350 on the rear of the block ,what's on the opposite side?
Should be a casting date there too.

 

[baron]

Mike that is a 350 stamp on the block.I did not get a pic of the other side.

 

[bcmiller]

Doesn't look like a Chevy 350 to me, but I could be wrong.

 

[Mike]

The Chevy V8 became the Corporate small V8 and was used in a variety of GM vehicles.
Yeah ,it's a Chevy but the small stamp pad doesn't fit with the Olds era use of the Corporate engine.
His post in engine forum indicates he's passing on this one so doesn't matter much now.

 

[Doug Garland]

I think it may be a Targetmaster engine, but the K is confusing. They went with a different format in 78-79, and the 9800 code was used to signify a 79 model. The #'s in front are the date code, but a number is missing.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/Z15_34396/targetmaster2.jpg

 

[baron]

I think it may be a Targetmaster engine, but the K is confusing. They went with a different format in 78-79, and the 9800 code was used to signify a 79 model. The #'s in front are the date code, but a number is missing.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb222/Z15_34396/targetmaster2.jpg

Doug what is a targetmaster engine?I also did buy the thing 250$

 

[DaleM]

It's the budget-minded, low horsepower (varied over the years but now 260) 350 crate engine from Chevrolet. It's been renamed the Goodwrench 350. Do a Google search on "GM TargetMaster" or "Goodwrench 350" for a lot of information.

 

[baron]

I read up on the targetmasters but still could not find any code that resembled mine.When I get the engine home Ill put it up on the stand clean it up and get some more #s off it.I am looking forward to pulling the pan and seeing exactly what I have,but I figure for 250 bucks Ill roll the dice.Wish me luck.

 

[Doug Garland]

Did you click on the link I posted for the decode? A Targetmaster engine was the early crate engine supplied by Chevrolet. They were made in the USA as well as Mexico. The back of the Mexican blocks have Hencho in Mexico , while the USA blocks usually had the engine designation, such as 350, in your case, on the back of the block where the transmission or bellhousing bolts on. They were budget engines, with 882 or 993 smog heads. I had a friend who always bought them up, added a L-79 cam, some 492 OTC heads, an aluminum intake and headers. They really woke up the engine.

 

[DaleM]

Wonder if the "K" could stand for McKinnon Industries in Canada?

 

[Mike]

OK,now it makes sense as a Targetmaster.
K code ,small stamp pad ,9800 = 1979 ,the 030 should be month & day but might be McKinnon used a different format- ie: julian date?

 

[Doug Garland]

That was what I was thinking, Julian date instead of date code.