Hi all, dumb question time, here goes. Recently I was given a Chevy smallblock which i'd like to identify. I was told there's a way to tell the displacement by the casting numbers, some sort of sequence or something.
Is this true? If so, how does one do this?


------------------
D.R. Stevens
1984 Trans Am 305HO L69
all the usual external/free mods, original engine
1991 Firebird 305 L03
2 free mods and a K&N,
otherwise stock

I've got the casting #'s now.
At the front on the raised surface it reads
VO721TDS then smaller #'s below it--
T8A518508

At the back, on the flange where the trans mates up, it reads
40
GM 3970010

If anyone has a clue what the heck this thing is, please enlighten me so I can order the right rebuld parts. Thanx.

3970010....350...69-80...2 or 4 bolt main

Dont know what kinda car it was in, but with the first number you posted someone might know besides me.

yea, it's got a 4-bolt main. The guy who gave it to me figured it was a 350, but I needed to make sure. I WOULD like to know if it was in a car or a truck, though, if anyone can figure that out for me. Thanks Madmax.

I'm also wondering if the heads and intake that this thing came with are anything desirable (probably not, but curious anyway)
Where should I look for the right #'s to go by?

A lot of the 4 bolt 350's that I came across during my hunt for a good block were from trucks or vans. A lot of them also had the 8 inch balancer on them. Usually truck heads are crap and the intakes aren't anything special either. Don't take this as gospel, just what Ive seen.

There's part of my problem, the balancer, this engine didn't have one on it making it a little tougher to determine where it came from.
I'm about to say the hell with it, and get a new intake and heads anyway. From what I understand there's few factory intakes and heads that would be any good for a buildup.

http://www.chevymania.com/casting/index.htm

http://www.partscavengers.com/techli...astingnumbers/

Find your block above, heads are there also.

[This message has been edited by 89gta383 (edited September 22, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by 89gta383 (edited September 22, 2001).]

Thanks, I now have new sites bookmarked even though I discovered today this engine's a goner. Turns out the block had massive water jacket failure. Upon starting to pull the pistons I found a large crack in each side of the casting and another fracture inside cylinder #8 which had a LOT of rust on the walls. Someone had also put a different 75cc head on the driver's side while retaining the pass side 76cc one. Interesting.

hey i have ran into the same problem and found a site you need to find
and id your block it ishttp://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm this site should tell you what you want to know