Thread: SBC Identification Numbers Decifer Help

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The casting number is 3970010 which puts it as either a 68' 327 or 69'-79' 350, however my id numbers are getting difficult to decifer. from left to right the first alpha numeric number on the deck plate behind the alternator reads: 1SB167145 then a second set of numbers are stamped KI1 04 C .
The best i can come up with is its a mckinnon block assembled in canada november 4th, but the C code shows as a 57' chevy 265 or 283?? Im pulling the motor to either drop into my 75' camaro so i can install a built 327 into the 57' GMC. but i always check a motor prior to installation or sale. The date codes that are supposed to be on the back of the motor are not present, the area where they are supposed to be a big letter "K" is there and then there is also a large number "2" stamped on the back of the block. any help would be appreciated. i can take pics if you need to see what im looking at. im usually able to take a quick look at a motor and i know what it is, but the way these codes read its not really making much sense unless it was a motor assembled in canada then shipped to the states and restamped during its installation into the model on the assembly line

The 3970010 is a casting number for a 69-79 350 cubic inch (and also a 69 302) motor. The single letter C indicates a 57 265 OR a 58 thru 64 283. This should be really easy to sort out......could the "C" possibly have another letter or two more letters?.....but there is no two-letter code beginning with C that indicates a 350. Is the pan off? If so, if it is a 4 bolt main, you have your answer. Is the block drilled along the top edge (just under the head surface) for the plug wire looms? Does the engine have a road draft tube in the valley? Pull the pan and look....the bore will give it away.

mike in tucson

IMG_20110722_172333.jpgIMG_20110722_172418.jpgIMG_20110722_172511.jpgIMG_20110722_172432.jpgi came up with the same info, the vin id plate is as it reads im putting pics up to show exactly what i see, i did pull the passenger side exhaust to get to the date codes, i know so far its a saginaw plant motor given the clock stamp and then there is a bunch of other codes stamped in as well. hopefully the pics will help speed this along.

Canadian blocks all have "EH?" codes everywhere

McKinnon, Canada is noted by the letter K, ive seen others with the KI1 code which was said to be Mckinnon built on a chevelle forum site in an older manual. its the rest of the codes that arent making much sense, not unless it's a saginaw built motor? the date stamps im still looking up along with the codes stamped next to the saginaw clock i found on the side of the motor on the passenger side.

IMG_20110722_182900.jpgIMG_20110722_182855.jpgIMG_20110722_182848.jpgnot that the heads are helping my quest to find out what exactly this is sitting under the hood (albeit coming out for a motor i built) but here is what i found.

So any help on deciphering the block would be great as I'm now officially stuck as I've spent hours going through web sites all with the same generic decoding jargon with the vin id stamp starting with the letter V there must be another resource out there with the numbers stamped on this engine

Feb 28, 1968 on the head casting, the other head will be a bit different date

Casting 3911032 is a 68-70 307 or 327 with 69.6 cc chambers and 1.72/1.5 valves

Yeah I got the same numbers from the heads. Its the block I'm trying to figure out with its vin/id numbers

Block date code is on bellhousing stub out behind distributor (horizontal surface). Stuff on side of block is strange, looks like it says Nov 31 1975 but that cannot be....that date didnt exist.
Stuff on pad at front is VIN plus some other stuff.....K11 04 C isnt a format that is familiar. In my reference MSA-1 book, the
K means Canada, the 11 means November but the 04 might mean 1974 or 1964.....but the C is strange...BUT the single digit suffix codes were last used in 1964 so it could jive. IF so, this means somebody cobbled together a 1964 Impala 283 L32 (2bbl) block with some 307 heads.

yup, and thats why im having so much trouble with this motor, the block date code is not where it is supposed to be, in fact the only stampings on the rear bellhousing section is the cast number and then next to that behind the distributor on the flat portion is the letter K and also a number 2, those two are not stamped together, the VIN is really stumping me but the vin code is either : 1SB167145, 16B467145 or 1SB467145, the "S" and "1" are really hard to make out, as far as the suffix code?? the ones that are clear are KI1 04 C, if anything was stamped after the C, i doubt it since there is nothing that would indicate that to me, i did spray black paint into the pad and slowly wiped away trying to enhance the letter/numbers. but with the block cast number being at minimum 1968(327) the C suffix isnt making any sense to me since the letter C by itself is 1957 265/283 CID engine, and the KI1 is impala/and some chevelle applications?? with the date codes on the side of the engine with the saginaw clock its making it even more difficult to try and nail this thing down since 1. the casting number ranges from 1968-1979, the suffix code shows as a 1957, and yes the date stamp on the side of the block is undetermined given the date doesnt exist. The last is the obvious possibility that the heads are from another motor since the motor is not all original given its edelbrock intake so im sure it is a mix match motor, but solving or rather resolving what the motor is exactly would be great before i go dumping into a car to sell. just in case the motor is worth more to someone restoring a specific car or truck. but i really do appreciate the help so far in trying to figure this out. i will attempt to see if there is any other casting marks on the motor itself but so far ive seen nothing where there should be markings

you didnt read my post #2 above.....the C is listed as a 283 up THRU 1964....that jives with the casting date.
The date behind the distributor is NOT stamped, it is cast into the block. There are no stampings on blocks that are not on a machined surface.

ok so im really looking hard at the second digit which i posted as either a letter S or 6, if that is actaully and 8, then the whole thing would make a lot more sense, given 1=Chevrolet 8=1968 B=Baltimore and then the 6 digits for the production line. any thoughts from the pics i provided if that 6/S could be an 8. i only mention it since 1968/69 engine vins were in a different format. but what then would the suffix code go to??

By the way, to answer your question about the engine being "worth more to someone restoring a specific car", the unfortunate answer is that this combination is about as undesirable as it gets.....not a 55 265 block (restorer desirable) nor a 327 block and the heads are only good to melt to make sewer pipe (cast iron). Which they do melt them in Tyler Texas to make pipe. Sorry.

sorry robot i meant cast not stamped. and 283 does not jive with the cast number of the block since 3970010 was used on 1968 327 and 1969-1979 350 and 1968/69 302, and if that S/6 (second vin digit) is an 8, it would make the whole thing go together really well, since 1968 would be a 327 and the heads are 1968 307/327 motors. any thoughts on the second vin/id digit??