[1966_L78]

When I picked up my 66 SS way back in 1985, I was told the original motor went into a boat, and a crate LS7 went into the Chevelle in the 70's (more power)... By the time I got it, the LS7 was blown (with many pieces stored in the trunk), a bunch of paperwork, and a running "327" in front (I recall that turned out to be a 283). It had been raced, but not really cut up (Hurst shifter, console removed, fiberglass racing bucket seats, heater/radio removed, trunk-mount battery).

I didn't even know about matching numbers, correct SS VINs, L78/LS6, etc... It was just a 66 with a 4-speed and a 12-bolt/373 posi...

After owning it a few years, I started to learn more about Chevelles, and found (by the paperwork included with the car) that it was an original L78 car (M22 too, as I recall)... Of course, over the ensuing years, the paperwork has been lost (moved several times). I have spent years trying to track down the previous owners to try and find the engine, but no luck yet (but I have pretty much given up).

Maybe someday I will find that engine...

 

[Mr69]

bcice,
I was trying to imitate chevyboy.
I thought his post was pretty funny. No periods, just a long, ongoing sentence, that's very hard to decipher.

Maybe he was drunk ?

Nate

 

[fast67vellen2o]

i have someone's 69 Camaro SS 350 horse 396 engine in my 67 Chevelle

 

[gigem]

Somewhere there is a 1990 Chevy truck rusting into the ground, wishing that the 454 in my 72 convertible was still under it's hood.

Or maybe it got crushed, melted down and made into coat hangers. And maybe part of it is hanging in my closet right now

I do wonder whatever happened to the original 350 that came in this car though...

 

[mr]

Hey,Mike(L7870-cortez) supposedly the engine was swapped/traded at Eddie Hunt Performance in Ft.Smith by a car dealer(Twin City Motors) in 1984.This means it was probably bored and possibly decked and could be blown up or wore out by now.Realistically i am doubtful it is still around,but it could be sitting in a basement somewhere collecting dust!! I won't hold my breath.If you run across it sometime,please let me know!! thanks

 

[Terry krook]

Originally posted by SS3964N8:
bcice,
I was trying to imitate chevyboy.
I thought his post was pretty funny. No periods, just a long, ongoing sentence, that's very hard to decipher.

Maybe he was drunk ?

Nate

Jeepers Nate! Don't do that to an old guy! I did not know when I was allowed to come up for air and almost had a jammer!

 

[mark2002]

I may have someone's golden egg here.....I have a complete short block sitting in my garage for years GM casting 3969854 and a 10W236740 stamp on it. Could be a 396 or 402? Match anyone's VIN?

 

[wrencheadblues]

my extra 396 325hp 1966 reads T0208 EDH 1900-8 couldn't make out second too last number , its a suffix of edh for a 396 325hp stick 1966 , complete and stock and holley, let me know if it belongs to your car - marko- chevy1930@netzero.net

 

[vintageracer]

I once has a 67 Corvette Coupe 427/435 HP purchased new by Porter Wagoner, the country music star. The third owner of the car removed the engine and installed in Camaro for drag racing. He told me the town and type of car it was installed in however I was never able to track in down.

One day the phone rings, the caller asks for me and wants to know if I own a 67 Corvette 427 car. I say yes and he says he has the original engine. I say really???? Where did he find it and what kind of car was it last in. He told me a Camaro and the correct city! I then calmly asked him for the casting number, casting date and block stamping. Of course he told the information. I already knew the stamping as I had the original protecto-plate which lists this information. It matched! I asked him how much he wanted for the shortblock? He calmly told me $10,000!

I immediately told the caller "I PASS, NOT INTERESTED"! He then began to tell me how foolish I was since this engine would add more than $10K to the price of the car. I told him I agree! I also told him that this engine was worth more to me than ANYONE in the world and I would not pay $10K. I politely told him that market value for what he had on the open market was $3,000. Given it was "THE" original engine for my car I would pay $4K. NO MORE!

I also thanked him for telling me the correct numbers to "RESTAMP" the other 67 427 correct dated block I had sitting in my garage!!!! Since I NOW had the proper information, MY block would become the "original block" and HE would have just another "4351" block to sell on the open market for less money! Of course, I already knew the correct block stamp since I had the original protecto-plate. The block in my garage was dated only 2 days different from the original. Pretty good guess on my part! Needless to say, he WAS NOT HAPPY with my response!!!!

I told him when he decided to get in the REAL world to call me! What he did not know was that I had recently sold the car to a good friend in NC. He was excited to hear the block existed however he also exercised restraint. He received a HUGE offer for the car from Pro-Team and was in the process of selling the car.

End result was that the ORIGINAL ENGINE DID GET REUNITED WITH THE CAR! Terry Michaelis at Pro-Team did buy the original shortlock and paid $4000 for it. He also got the "ready to be stamped but never stamped" restoration block that I am sure he sold or used in another car.

Last I heard, Bob Scorsone, a dealer in NY had the car for sale.

Patience also paid off for the search for the original engine for my 70SS 454 Convertible. After 10 years of ownership, I was able to find it in a barn in KY in the hands of a previous owner.

ALWAYS KEEP LOOKING! You never know!!!!!

 

[ccarney69]

Is anyone looking for this one, it came from the Memphis area and is out of a 68 4 speed chevelle I was told.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ccarney69/396375enginepad1.jpg

 

[Chris R]

You know guys. I wonder if this post may be on to something here.

What if there was a "engine search" forum or something? Many are long shots. But perhaps this may be something to consider for another forum for guys that find an old block out of a Chevelle and post it for others that may be searching for thier motor.

Im sure in all of our travels in the paper, online, E Bay. Someone may find an engine thats original for another members car.

Chris.

 

[mr]

Chris R, I agree,something more chevelle oriented than the EBAY classifieds,(www.wantitnow.ebay.com/) but that reaches lots of homes and it is FREE!!..The post lasts 30 days.It might be a great place to sell your extra parts and possibly buy that(needle in a haystack) long shot...........Don

 

[KEN67RAT]

Originally posted by 1966_L78:
When I picked up my 66 SS way back in 1985, I was told the original motor went into a boat...

You know, I bought a 66 L78 block from a guy locally. When I bought it, he told me the guy he bought it from had it in a boat.
You have about a 1 in 3000 chance

. I don't have the VIN handy, but do remember it was built at ATL.