may have a rare motor
Hello all,
I’m trying to sort out an engine that I believe may be COPO or Baldwin-Motion related. Some numbers line up, but others don’t, and I’d appreciate the community’s input.
Car VIN: 136379G339916 (1969 Chevelle Malibu V8, Framingham, MA)
Block: 3963512 (cast March 1969)
Pad Stamp: T0325JD (Tonawanda, March 25, 1969 → decodes as L78 396/375hp, 4-spd)
Heads: 3919840, date A38 (Jan 3, 1968)
Partial VIN: Present on block, faint but matches car VIN
Owner History: Motor sat in a basement for ~20 years. Previous owner claimed it was a 396, but machine shop told him it was a 427. I bought it ~25 years ago and ran it in a ’71 Chevelle.
Specs (as given to me):
425 hp before rebuild
11:1 compression, TRW pistons
Forged steel rods, 4-bolt main
Square-port “840” heads
Questions/Confusion:
Block suffix “JD” = 396/375hp, but casting is 512 (could be 396/427/454).
Heads are correct HP 427 pieces, but dated a year earlier than block.
VIN shows Framingham assembly, while COPO Chevelles are often Baltimore/Kansas City.
Car is based out of Long Island, ~30 minutes from Baldwin Chevrolet.
What I’d like to know:
Is it possible this is a COPO 427 block restamped as a 396 L78?
Could Baldwin-Motion have built it (without paperwork)?
What else should I check (casting, etc.) to confirm?
Any insights, corrections, or leads on documentation would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Benny
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