307 identification help

[LARRY SPENCER]

recently got a 307 i am trying to find out what it came out of but when i vin check it nothing pops up anywhere, all i can find is it was made in flint michigan on november 27 and its a 69-73 307 please help, this is the numbers on the pad 131446080VI127CHA THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

[techinspector1]

CHA was used on several models, could be a 305, 307 or 350. Please post the casting number off the back driver's side of the block....
http://www.speednik.com/files/2013/0...asylum-com.jpg

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[LARRY SPENCER]

Ok will do when i have a chance, i know its a 73 model because of the suffix

[LARRY SPENCER]

What numbers would tell what it is out of?

[techinspector1]

Read through this from nasty z28...
How to decode Chevy Engine Codes

[LARRY SPENCER]

Ok that article helps a little thank you, so i undetstand this is a flint michigan plant motor. Now my question is what did the flint plant produce with the 307 in 1973? I think it might be chevelle, the decoding the first part if,the vin is what gets me,because nothing pops up when i enter it inba search

[rspears]

Ok that article helps a little thank you, so i undetstand this is a flint michigan plant motor. Now my question is what did the flint plant produce with the 307 in 1973? I think it might be chevelle, the decoding the first part if,the vin is what gets me,because nothing pops up when i enter it inba search

Larry,
If you go down into the details in the NastyZ28 link that Tech posted it shows you that in 1973 the codes for "CHA" were Body Styles "F, B & X". Code F was for any Camaro, Camaro LT, or Camaro Berlinetta; Code B was Biscayne, Bel Aire, or Impala; and Code Z was Nova, Nova Custom, or Citation. I don't know of any way to home in on the model from the data you posted, but you can say that it was not in a Chevelle.

Welcome to CHR, BTW.

[glennsexton]

Welcome to CHR!

I think that the “131446” is the serial number (matches the VIN of the original car)
Maybe it’s:
V = Flint
11=November
27 = 27th day
CHA = could be a lot of combinations. As mentioned, it could be a 1973 - 307, or it could be a 1975/1980 – 350, or a 1980/1988 – 305. This code was used in any number of Camaro, Monte Carlo, Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, Caprice and possible a 1975 Corvette as well as some Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobiles.

Do you have the complete engine? If it has the original manifold, a 2 barrel would make it a 307 from the F/X/B model cars, a 4 barrel could be a ’75 -350 Corvette or a 1980 305/350 from a Camaro or a Monte Carlo. If it’s TPI it is from a 1988 Firebird

Complicated to be sure – but the real question is what do you want to do with this engine? Pull a head and measure the bore (assuming its stock) and we can tell real quickly what you’ve got.
305 = 3.736"
307 = 3.875" (shared with the 283)
350 = 4.000"

Do you want to rebuild it for a particular car? It’s probably not the base you’d want to use for any significant build as 350 roller blocks are still pretty plentiful from boneyards. I wouldn't put a lot of money in any non-roller block.

Let us know
Glenn

[LARRY SPENCER]

Ok guys here is what i have the other cide that is just in front of the trans confirms it is a 68-73 307, now i know it is,from one of the previously mentioned cars, it has the .194 heads on it and it has an aftermarket intake and carb on it 4 barrell edelbrock the motor is 100% ready to drop into anything includes trans. It was rebuilt and,has 25,000 miles on it. I dont plan on making it a beefy motor just a nice mellow cruiser or re selling it. I picked it up for $200 so i couldnt pass it up. Im trying to add a picture of it but dont know how lol

[rspears]

I'm trying to add a picture of it but dont know how lol

Here's a primer on pictures - http://www.clubhotrod.com/shop-talk/...es-thread.html

Like Glenn said, a flat tappet anything is not a very desirable engine for long term reliability, given that today's oils have been stripped of both phosphorus and zinc which provided necessary high pressure point lobe lubrication on pre-roller engines, which were also pre-catalytic converter engines. 25,000 miles may not sound like much, but if the engine was run with regular, over the counter oil it's more than enough to flatten cam lobes if a lifter stops rotating in the bore. Running it with a good high zinc racing oil like Brad Penn's or Joe Gibbs Racing Oil will extend it's life, but a flat tappet cam in today's world is risky at best.

[LARRY SPENCER]

Man and i thought i got a good deal lol

[JeffB2]

307's have always been a "red-headed stepchild" to many folks,I bought a new '69 Chevelle Malibu 307 with 3 on the tree and 3:73 gears a year later I was going through a divorce the guy I sold it to held an NHRA record in J/Stock for nine months. So for $200 maybe not a bad deal after all for a street cruiser just use the good oil and STP has a ZDDP formula at Wal-Mart for under $4 bucks you can add in.

[rspears]

Be careful. Too much zinc can actually be as bad as not enough, causing build up on high pressure surfaces and spalling, especially on bearings. If it's in a vehicle running CAT's zinc and phosphorus will cause pre-mature failure of the catalyst. You can read more than you want to know on the good oil forums, like Bob's The Oil Guy.