anubiscougar

Ok, my friend gave me a 350 block awhile back, 2 bolt main. I had origionally planned to let it sit for later in life, and me do my 406 project i've been wanting to do, but prices on things lately have made me realize... i just wouldn't be able to afford the gas on the 406 beast.. So, i'm thinking of doing a 388, or 383, whichever i choose at the time. I have the block now.. But.. i'm having some trouble verifiying it's specs...

The casting # on it is 3970044. I have a book for buidling sbc's and the # isn't in there, and it's not on Mortec.com... um... i've checked the # twice... 3970044 is the #. So.. ya..

I wanna make sure it's a 350 & all that hoop la, & what it was in & such, i just want the specs on it.

If anyone knows anything about the casting # of this block, or a place where i may find out some info on the block, plz tell me.

Thanks.

RB83L69

Never heard of a 044.

Seen lots of 3970014s though. I'd expect that's what it really is. A very typical late 70s block; 76-80 or something like that, some came with 2-bolt caps, some they put 4-bolt caps on.

It came in a GM vehicle, probably a Chevy. Could have been a car or truck. Probably a car if it's a 2-bolt, probably a truck if it's got 4-bolt caps installed. Could have been a 2-barrel van motor, could have been a Vette L82. Doesn't matter any more anyway since no magic emantes from the sheet metal or even the fiberglass and endows the block with mystical superior powers, so I wouldn't even bother wasting another synapse firing on that sort of spank-off.

Specs are: 4.000" bore, "large journal" mains, predates the factory's roller Frankenstein, 2-piece rear main seal, driver's side dipstick. I have no clue what "specs" there might be besides those, which are things you actually need to know for something. Again, it doesn't matter what it came in, or what HP "rating" that motor had, or any of that; it's a block, not an engine.

AJ_92RS

That's what I was gonna suggest, plus.....

There's also a 3970041 that's a small journal 327, 2 bolt main from '65-'67

Triple check those casting numbers. They can be difficult to make out sometimes.

FWIW, the book I have says the 3970014 was only cast in 1972.

Mortec shows otherwise though.

anubiscougar

um... i might just be blind... i'll take pix tomorrow or saturday, & post them on here for you guys to see..... i don't think i'm crazy or blind.. but.. i might be. who knows.

thx tho.

so.. what about roller & frankenstein? you dun think it's roller, or think it is? i honestly forgot how to tell, from the block. i was shown once, & it was like.. 11 at night, so i couldn't remember a thing.

AJ_92RS

Here's the lifter valley of a roller block.

Petes 84Z28

If there is one, post up the stamped-in number/letter combo that is just ahead of the passenger side head. We can probably then tell you more about it.

Pete

RB83L69

If it's a 014, it's not a factory roller. Don't even have to look to know that. It won't have "features from the future".

CamaroDriver

Measure stuff. That's what I do. (Read my other post)

Measure the bore, then the diameter of the mains for the crank. That will tell you if it's one of the two blocks that AJ and RB mentioned.

If it's 014, have fun.

If it's 041, sell it.

anubiscougar

why sell if 41? just curious..

AJ_92RS

It's a small journal block. Next to impossible to make a 383 from.

Besides, there's always some collector guy who'll be hard-up for a small journal block.

anubiscougar

ah, ok. why not just grind them down tho...?

AJ_92RS

Grind what down? The mains?

You can't grind those down. You have to have them resized, similar to resizing a rod. But after you enlarge them from 2.30" to 2.45", there won't be enough meat on the caps to keep a crankshaft in the block.

SOOO..... which one do you have? Are we to assume that you have a 041?

anubiscougar

checks again... brb..


rofl.. stupid block

3970044... it's not 41, it's not 14.., it's 44... rofl.

i know this because 1 doesn't look like 4 and 4 doesn't look like 1!.. it's 44.. this block is retarded.


could.... it be aftermarket? oh.. nm.. GM on it.. still tho..could it?

RB83L69

Well, not to be a jerk, but.... it's hard to believe you're the only person in the whole world with a unique mass-produced priduct. Not impossible perhaps, just highly unlikely.

I'd bet money it's a 014. I've had several myself over the years, seems like a certain 78 Z28 I had that ate cams, had that block.

Post the other numbers around it, maybe a pic of the block as a whole; those might help identify it.

Go visit www.mortec.com/castnum.htm and see if you can find it there. Maybe all of us are overlooking something, and have been for all of these years.

Keep in mind, you have no "1" to compare the 6th digit to.

anubiscougar

but a | looks alot different from a /|_ w/ a line comming from it. ya know? if i could get my freakin digital camera back, i would take a pic & post it.

AJ_92RS

Have you scrubbed the snot out of it with a metal wire brush?

I'm not saying you're wrong (well... yea I am ), but as RB said; It's HIGHLY unlikely.

I just happen to have a 014 block laying around, so I put black marker on the numbers and took a picture.

If this isn't what yours looks like then I don't know what else to tell ya except, measure.

danwaite

3970014
What motor is that?
A guy on the net is selling a "think it's a 350" with that casting number, out of a 71 chevelle.
Thanks

AJ_92RS

Use the link that RB posted and look it up.

chianesi

I want to start out by saying that I am new to this forum, I actually came across it by doing a search for my engine casting number which is also 3970044... anubiscougar, I was wondering if you ever found out any useful information?

84z28350

is yours actually 44 or 14??


Year / cast / CI / HP / MC
1970-73 / 3970014 / 350 / 200-300 / 2/4 / LA built Camaro

chianesi

44 for sure, I double checked and wire brushed the numbers... it's 3970044, the heads that are on it are 333882. I know the info on the heads but not the engine. The only inof I can figure out for sure on the block is that it was born on Mon, Feb 4th 1974 ( B 4 74) next to the casting number.

mystikkal_69

iTrader: (2)

post a pic of the casting number.

84z28350

Grab the suffix code off of the block.

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

3970044 is a VAN engine. It is a 1973-1974 chevy Van 350 w 150 HP. Usually a 2 barrel with 2 bolt mains.

chianesi

Where did you find that casting number listed...

Petes 84Z28

Hmmm
www.chevymania.com shows 3970014 to be:

Casting Number CID Years .....HP...... Comments
3970014 ...........350 68-79 200-255 car & Truck 2 & 4-Bolt

But has nothing on 3970044

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

The chevy van restoration packet that I have. 1973-1995

chianesi

My bad guys...it was a 14 not a 44 (3970014)...

Anyway I've got the suffix code and its T0206CMR, when I looked up CMR all it gave was a code "A" under the Body/Comments. Does anybody have a clue what that means. I am trying to find out as much about this motor as possible. Thx

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

"A" body = Chevelle/Malibu whatever it called itself whatever year it is from

Forget the stampings. You have the casting #s. They tell you everything you need to know. There's nothing else to be learned. Those castings retain no memory at all of the sheet metal the factory wrapped them in. Castings are REAL DUMB that way. Takes them less than a second from the time you pull them out of the sheet metal, for them to forget EVERYTHING. Now, they simply are what they are, and it no longer matters what they used to be in.

You have a typical 70s 350 block, with typical 70s smogger heads on it, and the block came from a Chevelle/Malibu. Who knows whether those are the original heads that came with that specific block, and if not, what sheet metal was around the heads; but it doesn't matter, they're 882s. That number tells you everything there is to know about them. I've paid people to come haul them off of my property before.

All of those motors would have come with severely dished pistons, for about a 8.2:1 CR. You won't have any use for that crap, if that's what it has, it'll be going in the trash. They also all came with a 929 cam; 194/204, .390"/410". Dung. But you'll be throwing that away anyway too, so it doesn't matter.

You're wasting your time "finding out about this motor". It's a 70s smogger turd. Good block maybe; bad pistons, heads & cam for sure. Assuming of course that some 30-year-old motor is still in its original state. Which is HIGHLY UNLIKELY; there's probably a 99% or higher probability that it's been "rebuilt", which means that what's inside it has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with whatever the factory put there, and those worthless stamping codes are totally unaware of any of that.

This isn't the first time, and probably won't be the last, that the van guy is going to pop up here and make up stuff all about how his van has or does something totally unlike all the other vans - and cars and trucks - Chevrolet ever made. Too bad there isn't a van forum for people who care about those.

chianesi

thx...I guess

Red Devil

I must disagree with you there sir, everyone knows that the castings (at least the 350 ones) sit and pine away the hours in fond memory of the time they spent with a corvette, didn't you know all those 350 blocks sitting around came out of factory plastic wrap?

And I must disagree with you on the pistons, they smelt rather well and make fabulous ornamental castings.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

I can just see all those old parts sitting in rocking chairs on the porch, reminiscing about the "good ole days" when they were still wrapped in fiberglass....

Seriously, don't get depressed; basically, you're in the same boat as everybody else was for more than a decade. You've got a 350; but it's crippled and nutted, as it now sits.

Keep in mind, that when the L69 - the HO 305 - came out in 1983, it made more HP than the 350s of the 70s. In fact, probably 25 more HP than the motor you have there. Pretty embarrassing if you look at it that way.

But, it's still a 350. Throw away the parts that cause the disgrace, and replace them with parts that cure its problems, and you can have yourself a good runner. On the other hand, if you think you're EVER going to make the crap that crippled it from the factory somehow un-cripple it, you're in for a BIG disappointment. So the best approach to take, is to plan starting right up front, to replace those 165 HP parts that your motor is loaded up with, and not get all wrapped up in "I thought I was going to just ring it and slap it in and go run with the Pro Stocks, and now you're telling me....".

Knowing what sheet metal it was originally wrapped in, tells you NOTHING about any of what you now need to do to it now. That's why the stamping code doesn't matter.

Get rid of the pistons, heads and cam. Those are the 165 HP parts. Replace them with 400 HP parts, and voilà - instant strong runner. The block is just a block; it doesn't have much to do with making power, except for CID. Blocks are pretty much all the same except for whatever imperfections or damage or wear they might have. None of which is reflected in the stamping code.

The general rule is, everything BELOW the head gasket except for the cam and pistons is responsible for DURABILITY, and everything ABOVE the head gasket plus the cam and pistons, is responsible for POWER.

Apply that rule of thumb to what you have, and you'll figure out right away, what's good about it and what needs to go to the dump.

chianesi

When I posted in this forum I was inquiring about an engine that was given to me. At no time did I say what I was going to do with it! Information I was requesting about the engine was merely to satisfy my curiousity. I appreciate you letting me know what the code "A" was...really, but I could care less about your opinion and your presumptions and your . I research everything knowmatter if its important or not and I dont need you in my face about it, so while I figure out what I'm going to do with this engine you can take your A** back to the SOFA.....


And by the way, I have a 78' Corvette out in the garage waiting to send guys like you back to the drawing board...

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

OK, you're the keeper of the wisdom, your :bow down: 78 Vette :worship: clearly makes you the master. I'm sorry I offended you. The :hail: 78 Vette has me completely terrified now, I'm sure lightning will be striking me dead any minute.

Forget everything I said. I'm sofakingdom I don't know anything at all. Anybody that has a :hail: 78 Vette surely knows more about what makes one motor different from another than I do. And surely, the fact that some old block was originally installed in a Chevelle instead of (for instance) a Nova or Impala or a truck or even in a :hail: 78 Vette, is THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION to "research" about it. That totally changes what the correct plan for using the block should be. I guess that's why all the motors I've built over the years were never any good: I didn't "research" the stamping codes enough.

Forgive me for being "in your face", I won't bother you with any facts any more.

Red Devil

Wow. Stick stuck somewhere? You didn't know what an A-body was, do you know what a Y-body is? How about a -gasp- F-body? Here's a twist too... a Fox-Body? Don't jump on people with more knowledge, you end up looking like an idiot.

Were I you, apparently lacking in some areas of knowledge, I would take the information offered in context and at face value. I don't recall seeing Mr. fakingdom attacking you. He was however stating the complete uselessness of those motors for anything but a granny grocery getter.

He spoke in generalities (mainly) and the only think he spoke with specifity to was the uselessness of 'researching' the stampings. You apparently weren't using it for a restoration (thirdgen site, and anyone doing restos already knows what they need on the blocks, they don't 'research' the stampings) and were focusing too much on those codes.

And most who've worked on a bunch of platforms are not really impressed with C3s. I've owned a few and I'd likely pass on another one unless it was dirt cheap, early and in good condition...

That said, you owe RB some money, I think he called it a while back in this thread.

chianesi

How about that...and yet another genius with an opinion. Taking up for your buddy, or is that you feel as if you have to put your 2 cents in to try and make yourself seem intelligent. You see, I wasnt addressing you in the last post but obviously it included you.

People come here for answers, people come here because they dont know what things are, some people come her for an opinion ...I didnt ask for an opinion! It just dosent make sense to me there devil, in your post it sounds like you just opened your mouth and a bunch of horsesh*t fell out, could it be your lack of intelligence...mabye, or could it be because your the product of too much inbreeding...getting closer... Anyway, whatever the problem was didnt involve you, but because you decided to hop in and vomit all over the forum then I guess you can kiss my a** along with sofaqueen.

I guess I didnt know who I was dealing with, you two act as if you both single handedly invented the combustion engine, I am obviously outwitted here so I will go and leave you both to pat each other on the back and jerk eachother off in celebration of your dominance, have fun ladies... FU!!

84z28350

You have some problems bud, Way to **** on someone elses thread too...

Edit:

Oh yea almost forgot,

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

Very intelligent

I made mention of the use of a particular block! It is clearly on there as a correct block casting for that year. I am not sure of any other uses but the G-series was a definate use for that casting as well as the later. It is a fact most G-series came with the rochestor 2bbl during that time and were 2 bolt main. The 3/4 ton and above generally got a 4 bbl and 4 bolt mains. Think of it, more weight, more power needed, and more stress on the bottem of the engine.

Don't recall the original poster asking your opinon of it.

Where do you come off saying I am making things up? A 9.89 @ 69.08 timeslip says that I am making some power! Better yet 15.5 @ 88.7 says it even better. Finally a Mustang Dyno says 272 RWHP through the mufflers, which is about what it would take to run that time. Run the calculation! Head Flow of 225 CFM Intake/170 Exhaust is worth in the neighborhood of 450 HP if properly taken advantage of. 224/224 @ .050 means that I have the cam to run to 6,000 RPM. I shift at 5,800 through the mufflers where I am making about 270 RWHP (270/.85=320). It is not that hard to get 1.025 HP/Cube out of a small block!(320/312).

Better yet, don't believe some of the stuff exist's, open your eyes! GM Canada built 4 bolt main 305s, FACT (Check MORTEC!!!). They came with the 929 cam, FACT. They came with 601 Heads, FACT. 795 CFM Quadrajet=Fact. Etc. My old 355 made good power at 279 RWHP, FACT. I have averaged 18 MPG over the last 8,000 miles, which is FACT. Detailed logs from the last year tell me that. I got a hair over 700 miles on a tank of 30 gallons, FACT. It worked out to just over 23 MPG. I had 5 friends that were witness to it!

In case you haven't noticed I also had a 302-6spd in a 1980 Malibu and have worked on MANY F-body's. The main reason I hang out here. I am also competent tuner of TBI and TPI engines as well as 4.3/305/350/454 Vortecs. I also build engines.

Back to your point, does it really matter what I am working on. Its still an engine. A van doesn't mysteriously change the way an engine functions. I haven't seen any scientific proof that a van makes a 305 or 350 any different than any other Chevrolet Engine. I know, the sheet metal has an inbalance!

To everyone else, sorry about the rant.

Jeremy A James

I have same block now with the casting# ending in 44 and it actually came out of a 78 camaro....dose this block comes with anything intresting

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Your 014 (NOT 44, since Chevrolet never seems to have made that) is probably the same as the 014 block that was in the other 78 Camaro mentioned above. Just yerbasic mid-late 70s smogger turd, when new.

As it came originally, NO, there was nothing at all "interesting" that came with it. It was TOTALLY a turd.

But, it's just a BLOCK. Gotta remember: this is a CHEVY SMALL BLOCK. That means, ANY block (55 - 2000) will mate with ANY heads over the same date range, ANY cam for Chevy small block (stock or otherwise) will slide right up in it, etc. The block casting number doesn't tell you what motor somebody has built out of it. Which could be anything from 0 to about 750 HP (if they're lucky).

Of course now, almost 40 yrs later, who knows.... just gotta look at whatever comes with the particular one you're looking at and see if any of it is "interesting". Could have virtually ANY crank, rods, pistons, heads, cam, etc. etc. etc. etc. associated with it. Just being a 014 casting doesn't require, or forbid, any of the above, in any manner way shape form or fashion.