what year is my engine?

beermonkey9417

Royal Smart Person

Apr 8, 2007

2,443

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des plaines, il

• Feb 27, 2009

• #1

in wanna find out what years, post or pre 87, by looking at the heads. it it possible? i cant seem to get the block # because its hiding between the firewall and the block and i cant seem to get a mirror back there and get the #'s. any other way to figure this out?

 

O. D. Showtime

Comic Book Super Hero

Feb 6, 2009

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Regina Sask. Canada

• Feb 27, 2009

• #2

You could pop the valve covers and look at the head casting #'s or you could try the #'s on the RH side front of block (behind alternator) there is a pad with some stamped #'s might help you out.

 

Doober

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Apr 8, 2007

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Swartz Creek, MI/Tucson, AZ

www.maliburacing.com

• Feb 27, 2009

• #3

Quick way to tell (if it's a stock motor anyway) is whether or not the valve covers are center-bolt or perimeter-bolt. '87+ is preferable because they have provisions the pre-'87 motors don't (1-piece oil pan seal, 1-piece rms, provisions for factory roller cam, etc.).
Centerbolt

Perimeter bolt

 

beermonkey9417

Royal Smart Person

Apr 8, 2007

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• Feb 28, 2009

• #4

well its not the orignal motor, its outa a suburban and its not center bolt. are all chevy motors like that?

 

Doober

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Apr 8, 2007

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Swartz Creek, MI/Tucson, AZ

www.maliburacing.com

• Feb 28, 2009

• #5

Traditional SBC (non-LS) motors are, yes.

 

beermonkey9417

Royal Smart Person

Apr 8, 2007

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des plaines, il

• Mar 1, 2009

• #6

so i can say my motor is a post 87 block with a 2 piece rear main?

 

Doober

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Apr 8, 2007

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Swartz Creek, MI/Tucson, AZ

www.maliburacing.com

• Mar 1, 2009

• #7

It is a pre-'87 motor with a 2-piece rear main seal, unless different heads were put on. The only way to know for sure is by looking at the casting number on the block. I have Vortec heads on my engine, so someone taking a glance at it, even looking at the casting numbers of the heads would say it's a '9x Vortec motor, but the block is an '88, heads are '96 or later. Odds are though if it's a bone-stock motor from a Suburban like you said it's likely not an '87+ if it doesn't have centerbolt heads.

I should've been a little clearer in my last post.

1955-1986 = perimeter bolt valve covers, 2-piece rms
1987-1995 = TBI (mostly, some had carburetors), center-bolt valve covers, 1-piece rms
1996+ = Vortec, center-bolt valve covers, 1-piece rms.

 

beermonkey9417

Royal Smart Person

Apr 8, 2007

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des plaines, il

• Mar 2, 2009

• #8

i think i need to take off the heads so i can get at the damn block #. there are some #'s on the block stamped by where the fuel pump went. does that do anything?

 

Doober

Royal Smart Person

Apr 8, 2007

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Swartz Creek, MI/Tucson, AZ

www.maliburacing.com

• Mar 2, 2009

• #9

I've never looked at any numbers cast in that area, so I'm not sure what it could mean.

 

beermonkey9417

Royal Smart Person

Apr 8, 2007

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des plaines, il

• Mar 24, 2009

• #10

well i took off the valve covers and i got some #'s off the heads and the block right by where the trans bolts up to the block. heads # are:
3927185 gm 12 B10 9 and a clock looking thing at 3 o'clock.
motor: L16 71 and the clock looking thing at 3 o'clock. so, does this help finding my block year so i can FINNALLY order a gasket kit for this thing?

i just looked up some head cast #'s and it might be this:
3927185 307, 327, 69cc, 69-70
can this be right for the heads?
and i also got this:
3927185 1968-76 307-327-350 70cc chambers