Thread: Need help identifying my engine year

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I have a 1957 Chevy Belair 2 door with window posts. The engine seems like it is not stock and looks like a 350 Engine to me. When ordering parts I specify a 350 engine and seem to get parts that work that is I have ordered a starter, and freeze plug. I have a tag on the engine that says:

STOCK NO.
H007068
Rebuilt Engine
Power-Pak

I recently lost the harmonic balancer (It fell apart) and I am trying to figure out what year the engine is as most of the parts stores want to know that information. I know that the engine most likely has a serial number or casting number on the rear of the engine near the bell housing (how convenient), but I doubt that I can see it without pulling the engine. The engine runs great and has lots of power, it doesn’t smoke and the previous owner put on all sorts of chrome so it looks great. Any thoughts on how I can identify this engine’s year would be very helpful. Including figuring out how to get to the casting number without pulling the engine.

to get the casting you can use clay to imprint the casting then hold it to the mirror. That tag does mean it has been bought as a rebuilt from probably ither GM itself or a big rebuilding/ selling company, which could be anything from Napa to some large internet sites. If you can find the engine pad, which is the left side looking at the motor, and it is right under the head, it should have some numbers and letters on it along with a partial vin, it could have been machined off when rebuilt but the first 4 letter code would tell what it is if it was still there, you would need to go to www.nastyz28.com to get the conversion tho. If your alternator is on that side then it is right underneath but it should be visable, it is a flat horizontal spot approx 4" long and approx 2" deep.

Does the engine mount to the frame off the side of the block or the front? A 57 283 will look pretty much the same externally as a 350. So if it's a front mount at least it'll save you the trouble of looking up casting #'s....

Dear Matt167 and dirmadhim,

The engine mounts are to the side towards the front of the engine. The fan belt is already off, so I swung the alternator to the side to get a good view it aside didn’t find a two-inch indentation. I will look again tomorrow when I have more light and get back to you.

I was wondering if I could run without the harmonic balancer, or if that would potentially damage the crank or create other problems. Before I figured that the harmonic balancer was damaged (had become seperated) I ran for two days thinking that I had a alternator bearing starting to die. I would rather not damage this engine however, as it works reasonably well less the occasional backfire once a week or so.

By the way, I really appreciate your quick response.

Sincerely Yours,

Dwayne Brown

I'm assuming your talking about running with the ballancer's center or hub in place and the outer ring removed. The motor will run. But it will not run smoothly and if you rev it up you will experience a lot of vibration. Don't do it. If you have the hub and the ring take them to a good auto parts store. They should be able to match your parts to a ballancer in stock. Your Chevy dealer may be able to do it for you.

To do this job right you will need a harmonic ballencer puller and an installation tool. AutoZone and some others will loan you these tools if you buy the ballancer from them.

Plan on pulling the radiator.

When you replace the ballancer make sure you replace the oil seal in the timing cover. If you don't you will most certainly leak oil. This seal must be installed square and fully seated or it will work loose.

I remember last year using a web site to I.D. a small block I had using the numbers on the passenger side head. The address disappeared from my bookmark list, but it was something like muroc or murdoch or something like that. Maybe someone out there knows what I'm talking about and can post the web address for us. It turns out I need to find out what's in a car I just bought too.

casting numbers for chevy engines are at

http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm

to get specific year info for a particular casting, you have to look for the letter code on the block pad just in front of the passenger side head. There is a code that contains digits and either one, two, or three letters. The letters can be decoded to tell what the original engine was; the carb type, the transmission in the car, etc.

mike in tucson

Hey Mike, Thanks a million for the Quick reply and the web site I was looking for.