help decode engine number
 

hi yes i'm new to the forum and need help iv'e just bought a C3 L82 man
but belive the engine to be incorrect the stamp on the front of the block reads V1205TBD therers a number infront that reads a? hardly visable but looks like 136189 block casting is 3970010 last 3 digits on the head casting are 624 it's a 1979 model can anyone help and identify the engine
thanks andy

Welcome to the Corvette Forum.

Currently out of town but someone here can probably help you.

The block could be anything 69-79 including vette,the heads were on 71-82 vettes and most anything else. You might do a search on this site,I remember somewhere a thread that dealt with the "pad" numbers. I think the number you posted with letters in it should relate in some way to the vin number if the engine came in the car. The other number will show up in Hollander's manual and will tell you the application. There's a book out called "Catalog of Chevy V-8 engine casting numbers" everyone should have one in their library.

The info I've found makes it VERY unlikely that it is an original Vette engine.

I'm new at this and was having no luck decoding the pad code on the 350 in my 76 Stingray. The problem was that I was looking only at Vette sites and they only listed valid codes for vette engines.
Mine ends in CNN, which turns out to be a 1970 block that was 250 HP with a 2 barrel carb. Who knows what it is today, as it has a 4 barrel and a few other mods.

Anyhow, I found the info I needed via a printed block listing at a race shop.

I also found the same info online, once I knew what to search for (try "chevy 350 block code").

This site also should help you make sense of your numbers:
http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...-code-help.asp

Based on the camaro site, your block was originally in a truck. (The 3rd from last character is either C=car or T=truck... your is T) :)
Keep in mind that I have no idea personally. I'm just passing on what I've found via a couple of sources that appear credible to my rookie eyes.

Which may not be all bad as Chevy used 4-bolt blocks in most of their trucks. Does it have an 8" harmonic balancer? If so, then I think it has a forged crank.

Also, alot of the truck blocks had a higher nickle content making them more stout.