[cbrookss]

Please help. Is this the wrong motor! need numbers expert

Here it goes...

Got this info on my motor numbers. Thanks Mike



T08IIIV--this is on the front pass pad below head. I was told...

Note-1 and I (i) were used interchangeable in the date fields only.
T - Tonawanda, NY engine mfg plant
08 - Sept
11 - Day of month
IV - 1968 396-325 hp w/TH400 trans RPO L35

18C114147 (same location) is the con vin

1 - Chevrolet Division of GM
8 - 1968
C - Final assembly in Southgate CA
114147 - Production serial number, the 14,147 full size Chervolet built in Southgate

Problem is my car is a 4 speed??

Here is my tag info that I have and thanks 67 Elky.

06D - Body assembly June, 4th week
4770001 1507342 ~ Assembly plant data processing numbers of no significance.
ST 68 (Style - 1968)
13837 - SS396 2-dr sport coupe
BF - Fremont, CA assembly plant
13132 - Fisher Body number
TR 766 - Black Imitation Leather buckets
LL - lower/upper body paint color, Teal Blue

OK, wrong motor for the car? Wrong trans in the car? I am going to really go to work on this 396 if its out of a different car. (I think it is) If its not stock I can go big and if it blows...

I do not have a build sheet on this car.

 

[AZCamino]

The IV code indicates the engine is out of a full size passenger, not a Chevelle and you already indicate the VIN on the engine is also for a full size Passenger Chevrolet. Yes, the engine is not original to your El Camino. The trim tag is not for a 67 El Camino either, it is for a 68 SS396 two door coupe. Maybe I'm confused, are you saying that tag is on a 67 El Camino? Nothing on the 68 tag indicates what transmission was installed, only that it was a big block SS396.
Bruce

 

[JWA]

The 67 Elky is reference to a TC member. Yep that isn't the original engine. Without a buildsheet the 4 speed is a lttle tougher to prove original. It takes some searching on TC but the info is here about how to do it. Might check in the transmission forum.
Got any pics of your 68? My 68 is a Baltimore built L2 (black vinyl top). Back right after high school in 84 I had a Teal Blue 68 SS396 bench 4 speed car. I almost had a chance to get it back a few months ago but I like the current one I have much better.
My 68:

I say build the heck out of that 396

 

[cbrookss]

it is a 68 ss chevelle. The block numbers are as stated. The rear casting on the block on the bellhousing lip is 3916323. can this still be a 325 hp 396? Screw it then. Going big with this motor. If it blows......I will have to go bigger. Bummer though. Thanks for the help.

 

[cbrookss]

BTW What a great pic of your 68 This looks just like mine. Not right now it is in paint. I have no vinal top though. Glad to get the pic. Thanks much

 

[AZCamino]

it is a 68 ss chevelle. The block numbers are as stated. The rear casting on the block on the bellhousing lip is 3916323. can this still be a 325 hp 396? Screw it then. Going big with this motor. If it blows......I will have to go bigger. Bummer though. Thanks for the help.

No doubt, the 3916323 is a 1968 396 block. That casting number was used on 2 bolt and 4 bolt blocks, but the IV suffix indicates your block was a 325HP and therefore should be a 2 bolt block. Still plenty stout enough for some good power.

This block was assembled on August 11, 1967 and your car has a build date of June, fourth week, in 1968. So the block is early production and your car is late production. It is a good replacement block for your car but too early if you are really interested in correct dating.

You might be better off to find a 454 block if you are interested in a big motor, though.

Bruce

 

[cbrookss]

so if I did want to go block hunting I would need the same casting numbers on the back and what on the front pad to be the correct block for this ss???
Are there any other numbers on the block that also need to be correct and that I should be looking for? I think I will build this up for street/strip and then go hunting so I would have it if I ever wanted to go stock.

 

[1966_L78]

so if I did want to go block hunting I would need the same casting numbers on the back and what on the front pad to be the correct block for this ss???

To be correct, you would need to find the block that has your VIN on it...

You could find a block cast/assembled closer to the build date of your car, but if those numbers are stamped on the front pad, then most likely the INCORRECT VIN will also be stamped there, and that would indicate it was not correct... Even if you found the engine from another 68 SS Chevelle, it wouldn't be any more "correct", except maybe the date...

 

[cbrookss]

how close can I get. What is the build-date-range to look for. 3 months? and it would need to have my actual vin from the car on the block? So the
18C114147 i have now matches the vin from that car it came out of? and I would need it to say 18c----- to match my vin. So there is no hope on any real match? what would be the next best thing? Why do some block I have seen in other chevelles not have anything on the block pad where I have all this info and they try and say this is a numbers match car. Looks like they dont really know then...right? Just trying get to what a real numbers-matching car should have. BTY I told the guy at the machine shop to go big with this one. should be more much fun this way.

 

[DaleM]

how close can I get. What is the build-date-range to look for. 3 months? and it would need to have my actual vin from the car on the block? So the
18C114147 i have now matches the vin from that car it came out of? and I would need it to say 18c----- to match my vin. So there is no hope on any real match? what would be the next best thing? Why do some block I have seen in other chevelles not have anything on the block pad where I have all this info and they try and say this is a numbers match car. Looks like they dont really know then...right? Just trying get to what a real numbers-matching car should have. BTY I told the guy at the machine shop to go big with this one. should be more much fun this way.

Blocks are 'typically' cast/assembled 1-3 months before being installed. If you restamp another block with your VIN you could (and probably would be) committing a crime. The VIN is just that, a vehicle identification number required by law to be stamped on all 68 and newer vehicles for id purposes. I've just started doing state-by-state research online about this and at least Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma have laws on the books about altering/defacing/etc. any VIN, anywhere on the car. I'd check with your DMV first before restamping anything.

 

[DaleM]

how close can I get. What is the build-date-range to look for. 3 months? and it would need to have my actual vin from the car on the block? So the
18C114147 i have now matches the vin from that car it came out of? and I would need it to say 18c----- to match my vin. So there is no hope on any real match? what would be the next best thing? Why do some block I have seen in other chevelles not have anything on the block pad where I have all this info and they try and say this is a numbers match car. Looks like they dont really know then...right? Just trying get to what a real numbers-matching car should have. BTY I told the guy at the machine shop to go big with this one. should be more much fun this way.

Blocks are 'typically' cast/assembled 1-3 months before being installed. If you restamp another block with your VIN you could (and probably would be) committing a crime. The VIN is just that, a vehicle identification number required by law to be stamped on all 68 and newer vehicles for id purposes. I've just started doing state-by-state research online about this and at least Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma have laws on the books about altering/defacing/etc. any VIN, anywhere on the car. I'd check with your DMV first before restamping anything.

Prior to 68, partial VINs were not required by law but most SS Chevelles I've seen have it stamped as well as L79s. In 1969 the VIN was stamped around the oil filter pad and some 70s were stamped by the bellhousing area so they aren't always stamped and they aren't always stamped on the front pad by the engine ID.

 

[cbrookss]

I'm not thinking a restamp. What block should I be looking for to be as close as possible. what is on the front of other 68 chevelles. I know I never will fine "the" block but it would be nice to have a real 68 chvelle 396/325hp with all the castings sans the vin. I have been told there are code exchange blocks that were warranty blocks.

 

[JWA]

IMO a date correct block only would probably influence value if the car was restored to a showroom new condition and it wouldn't add enough value for the effort it will take to find a date correct block. If you were dealing with a documented L78 car it might be different but since it isn't I still say build a nasty thumping BB and enjoy the car. It works for me Good Luck!