Engine code info
 

Can anyone tell me anything about this engine based upon the following codes?

Casting at rear of block - 3999289
Info on engine pad - (possibly) T0213

This is the engine that's in a 1970 Corvette I am considering. I already know it's not the original engine but was wondering what can be determined by these codes?

Thanks

Re: Engine code info
 

454 CID available in 215-235-240-245-270 Horse Powers.
It came out in 1972,used in Chevelles-Corvettes-Monte Carlos-Passenger-but Trucks used this block mainly till 1978.This was the favorite CE block of many warranties.
Get the block casting date & three letter prefix after the Tona code if you can.
Is there a CON VIN stamped after it too?
T=Tonawanda plant
02=Month
13=day

Re: Engine code info
 

I'm working on getting that information from the seller. If I don't get it this week I am planning on looking at the car in person on 4/1, Is there anything I should look for? How can you tell a real big block Corvette from one that someone simply stuck a 454 in it?

Re: Engine code info
 

Rear sway bar. And look for end caps holding the half shafts to the rear end yokes. they are not u-bolts with nuts but rather caps with 3/8-16 bolts with a 9/16 hex head. Also the code on the rear is specific for big block. It is stamped on the underside of the rear housing along with the assm. date.

Re: Engine code info
 

Would you be interested in meeting me on April 1st to look at the car? I'll pay you for your time? The car is in Lewisburg, Pa.

Re: Engine code info
 

[ QUOTE ]
454 CID available in 215-235-240-245-270 Horse Powers.
It came out in 1972,used in Chevelles-Corvettes-Monte Carlos-Passenger-but Trucks used this block mainly till 1978.This was the favorite CE block of many warranties.
Get the block casting date & three letter prefix after the Tona code if you can.
Is there a CON VIN stamped after it too?
T=Tonawanda plant
02=Month
13=day

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is the complete code information from the front of the engine (pad) T0213TRK. Would the TRK refer to a truck usage or is that just coincidental?

Re: Engine code info
 

definetly truck only.

Re: Engine code info
 

Look on the backside of the block for the casting date.
It should be on the pass side bellhousing top lip.
Thats a Truck code application used on:
*1973 LS-4 454/240HP
*1978 LF-8 454/250HP
*1981 LE-8 454/210HP

Re: Engine code info
 

[ QUOTE ]
Look on the backside of the block for the casting date.
It should be on the pass side bellhousing top lip.
Thats a Truck code application used on:
*1973 LS-4 454/240HP
*1978 LF-8 454/250HP
*1981 LE-8 454/210HP

[/ QUOTE ]

Block casting 3999289

Re: Engine code info
 

That's the casting Number,and was used throughout the 1970's.
Look for the casting Date where I mentioned to narrow down it's heritage/horsepower.

Re: Engine code info
 

I'll have to wait to get that information for myself on the 1st when I go to see the car myself. Is there a book of these codes that I can bring with me to determine what is in the car? Are any of these engines worth a damn or what? I guess eventually I'd want to try and locate a correct LS5 for the car with the proper date codes and casting numbers but that's a long way off.

Re: Engine code info
 

[ QUOTE ]
That's the casting Number,and was used throughout the 1970's.
Look for the casting Date where I mentioned to narrow down it's heritage/horsepower.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are those codes easliy seen with the engine in the car? I guess I can ask the seller to try and provide them to me; he seems as anxious to find out about the engine as I am.

Re: Engine code info
 

Yes...The casting date is raised & in the same relative place as the casting number,only it's located on the passenger side of the block,near the distributor.
If he got the casting number while it's in the car,then he'll be experienced enough to find the casting date also.
It will look something like B 5 73,tell him a hand mirror,rag & light will help.

Re: Engine code info
 

[ QUOTE ]
That's the casting Number,and was used throughout the 1970's.
Look for the casting Date where I mentioned to narrow down it's heritage/horsepower.

[/ QUOTE ]

Other codes the seller found on the rear of the block:

T12 and B19 73

Re: Engine code info
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That's the casting Number,and was used throughout the 1970's.
Look for the casting Date where I mentioned to narrow down it's heritage/horsepower.

[/ QUOTE ]

Other codes the seller found on the rear of the block:

T12 and B19 73

[/ QUOTE ]

Seller also provided casting number from under the valve cover: 3964290

Re: Engine code info
 

Come on guys someone has got to be able to tell me what these numbers mean. From what I can tell, and what I have been told, the engine was built in February on the 13th or the 19th of 1973. It's a warranty replacement block that was used in truck applications.
I have no idea what the "T12" means that the seller found on the rear of the block and I have no idea about the specifics of the motor (horsepower, compression ratio; etc.)
The head casting number (3964290) shows that they are oval port, closed chamber heads used in 1969-70 on the 396, 402, 427 and 454 engines. They have 101cc combustion chambers. Could these be the original heads for the car?
Any additional information that you could provide would be appreciated; I am scheduled to go look at the car next Saturday and would like to have a better idea of what engine is in the car.

Re: Engine code info
 

Yes these heads are 101cc chamber - I would check the date codes on the heads , Also I do Believe you can use the large and small plugs on these head's if these are vette heads they are the 390hp one's, I would think you got a good shot at these being the right head presuming this was a big block car to begin with sounds like the typical blew the motor, up took off the heads, and found a smoger 454 to put them on and bump up the compression, on a low hp motor

Re: Engine code info
 

I guess that would also mean this car, could be a Ls-5 I would take the numbers on the car, maybe it might also help

Re: Engine code info
 

[ QUOTE ]
I guess that would also mean this car, could be a Ls-5 I would take the numbers on the car, maybe it might also help

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sorry for all the questions but, what numbers are you referring to? I have the VIN number and the numbers from the tag on the door. Would they help determine anything? I am almost positive this car is an original LS5 car. It has the rear sway bar and the seller has been very honest about the car so far.

BTW: thank you for the reply.

Re: Engine code info
 

Those are the heads the LS-5 Corvette would have used,not a truck.
You might want to get the dates on them as well as the intake too.
It sounds like someone put this engine block in outside of the dealership.If it was a warranty swap,it wouldn't be displaying the TRK prefix,which,with that casting date,designates this was probably in a 1973 Chevrolet Truck at one time.Totally a coincedence that is also the abbreviation for the word Truck.The letter T is the important letter here.
T12 is a casting Plant control no. and is found on another engine blocks too.
What interests me is the engine casting date of B 19 73,yet the Tona code is B 13.(Can't cast an engine after it was assembled)..I would double check that to see if there is an error,or if it is correct,then it was assembled in one of the following years.

As far as trying to determine what engine this Corvette came with originally,if you can find the Radiator two letter prefix tag on the tank,relay it to me,as I can tell you what it's engine application would have originally been.
Also relay the Rearend 3 letter prefix,and possibly the Transmission information as well.
If indeed all these 3 components are authentic to this vehicle,then listen to what they are saying.

Re: Engine code info
 

Rather than bother the seller to go crawling around for those codes would you be able to tell me what they should be for an LS5 equipped Corvette, no air, manual transmission? I am going to look at the car this coming Saturday. Are there any books that would be able to provide the correct casting codes and other numbers I should be looking for as well as locations of these codes?

Re: Engine code info
 

CORVETTE BY THE NUMBERS might help some its by Alan Colvin ISBN NUMBER IS 0-8376-0288-2

Re: Engine code info
 

Personally,I love this phase of antique car purchasing.
The pre-inspection to determine what's what,and Alans book is a good source for determining this.
Look for a radiator tag showing MJ to denote an LS-5 Manual trans. car.
Good Luck!