my friend just gave me a 350 for free. it has the numbers 3956618 and A69 on it. i checked a website and it said its a 1969 block. should i rebuild this block or is it too old.

 

first buy your friend a 12 pack and then drop that block off at the machine shop. a free 350 is better than no 350 at all and it is certainly worth using.

 

If the block is in good condition and hasn't been bored out to the max then there should be nothing wrong with it.

That casting number is for a 4" bore block. In 1969 it could have been a 302, 327 or 350 and it could be a 2 bolt or 4 bolt mains. Get the suffix code off the pad in front of the passenger side head. It will tell you more about the engine.

 

Hmmm, does it have factory 4 bolt mains?

If it has them, that block may be worth a lot of money to somebody with an engineless '69 Z28.

Might be enough to buy another (less valuable) 4" block, and have money left over for goodies.

Assuming you don't mind making a little money off of your friends samartanism.

 

never too old to rebuild. i have a 289 on one of my engine stands now out of a 65 mustang. it was locked up, broke pistions driving them out, used 24" pipe wrench on the distributor to get it to turn, broke it too. it's worth the cost to the guy that owns the mustang to have a numbers matching car with the original engine.

if you have a z/28 block it'll be a dz or cna casting, doubt if you do, but you might get lucky. it's be worth some big bucks to someone restoring a z/28.

 

An old engine case is usually more desireable than a new one since the casting is far more stable. After a few years of use, any internal stresses should be gone and machining for rebuild will generally not reveal any surprises. Fortunately for you, the engine has a better chance of having a forged or cast nodular iron crank.

 

i took the pan off and it is a 2 bolt. i am decided to rebuild this one or just buy the crate gm 350. its only $2200. so i dont know if building this one will be cheaper or paying maybe a little more for the crate would be better.

 

A 1969 block is a good block. The best is a 1971 because of the metal they used in the casting. I think it is nickle. If the block has no crack in it and is in rebuildable condition I would go for it. And about the 2 bolt main, I haven't heard about anybody bolwing out the bottom of the block. But if you still have doubts about the 2 bolt, have it splaided(sp). That would make it stronger than a 4 bolt splaid or not. It should be pre emissions so the heads are better. I would put 3K into the motor and end up with a mean street stomper!! Just keep in mind about your tranny and rearend. Make sure they are strong enough to handle the power you put infront of it. And all the power in the world will do nothing if you cant get it to the ground. Good luck.