what year is my engine?

[Doober]

The 12 B10 9 is the date code. 12 I'm not sure of, B would be February, 10 would be the date, and 9 is the last number of the year... probably '69.

Looks like they are fairly run of the mill heads, nothing very performance oriented. The searching I did showed they have 1.72 intakes, which are a bit on the small side far as performance goes. It doesn't really indicate what the motor is, you really need to get to the casting # on the block.

Hopefully this will give an idea where it's at.

Driver's side rear. You may need to get back there with some degreaser & a brush or something to clean it off to see the numbers though.

 

[cutty]

if you look on the passenger side where the water pump bolts to, might have to clean it up a little, look for the stamping there and report back

 

[beermonkey9417]

according to the chart my block was built in december 16 1971? so in turn that would mean my block has a 2 piece rms. well thats what i needed to know. now i can buy the gasket kit for the engine. and since im here i need to get new headers. i seafoamed it and i found leaks in the headers. my car is a emmitions delete car and i want some with a 3" collecter. whats good and would allow me to get access to the spark plugs, cuz there a b*tch to get to, the passenger side one closest to the firewall is the worst!

 

[beermonkey9417]

ok so i finnally went and brought a proper flashlight to see the numbers. i did need a wire brush but i didnt have one so i used my ice scraper brush thing to get some of the flaking paint and rust off. so the number i got was: 3970024....307(size!?)...69-73(year)...2(main bolts)
man was i swindled! the guy said the engine was a 350! its a 307? son of a b*tch! well now i know i gotta pull that thing out and get a 350 block. can this be right? is this an olds engine? it had GM stamped near the numbers.
i am soo getting rid of this engine and building a 350. now to start saving for the pick and pull. ****kk!

 

[kustomkyle]

It's probably not and Olds, they look nothing like a Chevy other than they are both V8's. They didn't make the 307 Olds until 1980. It is likely a 200HP Chevy 307 if it is from a 71' car. It isn't a bad engine, there was a person in the Popular Hot Rodding Engine Builder's Challenge who used a Chevy 307 block that ended up blown/supercharged if I remember correctly.

 

[beermonkey9417]

well i want nothing to do with it now. i have to get it running proper this sumer so i can drive the damn thing but after that im gonna start building a 350 and swap it out. this really pisses me off to a point im going to have to quit drinking so i can save up for this pos and build and swap the motor. the worst part is i have no place to do the work and my hours at work ave been cut, so i only work 4 days a week for $9/hour. this, my friends, is some BULLSHIT!!!

 

[DrRansom442]

Chevy 307 ... maybe an improvement if it WAS the Olds - kidding. They were alright if memory serves essentially a destroked 327.

 

[beermonkey9417]

i have no clue, but ive decided to quit smoking and drinking so i can save enought money to start building a 350 or 383. this has got me so worked up that im shaking right now. im sitting here on craigslist looking for donor blocks and kicking myself in the *ss. this just shows i have much to learn when it comes to cars. i thought i knew enough to get by but now im doubting myself and thats a very uncomfortable feeling. and on an other note, where can i find gasket kits for this engine? will a 305 kit werk?

 

[beermonkey9417]

well i went to the lee auto parts next to my work and they said i could get all the topend gaskets for around $50. thats the next plan, just gotta find a place to do it.

 

[Doober]

I'm not sure on a kit for a 305... check out this page:
http://www.northernautoparts.com/Produc ... ductId=627

As far as finding a 350, don't beat yourself up too much. With a cam/intake/headers the 307 will still be a decent runner, just won't make as much power as a 350/383. You'll spend a good deal more on the 383 because you need to get the machine work done for it. Plus you'll have to get 383 pistons, or get a set of 400 rods and run them with 350 pistons. If you're on a budget, you can build a solid 350 with a set of stock Vortecs & matching intake, and a good hydraulic cam.