MYSTERY Small Block Chevy Engine Identified (we got lucky!)
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Published 2022-06-03
I waited until I got the engine home to start running the numbers and decoding this small block Chevy engine. I immediately saw that it had double hump heads, which was a great sign that this engine has potential. But with Small Block Chevy's, there are LOTS of variables. From a glance, it could've been a 262, 267, 302, 305, 307, 327 or 350 (not to mention the earlier small blocks like the 265 or 283). It truly could've been anything with a set of double hump heads bolted onto it.
Buying an engine is a gamble, but when it's FREE, I can't resist. This small block Chevy was an add-in on a package deal that I got with my crusty 1978 Nova, which you may have seen in my three-part video series on rescuing the car, getting it running and cleaning it up for the first time in 24 years. The suspense was killing me so I started running the numbers and decoded the engine block casting numbers, engine suffix codes, date codes, crankshaft casting numbers, cylinder head casting numbers and even the intake manifold casting numbers. It's amazing what you can find out about the history of an engine by running those numbers and narrowing it down.
#hotrodhoarders #mysterymotor #smallblockchevy
00:00 Remember the Crusty Nova?
00:29 First Impressions
00:52 SBC Block Casting Numbers
01:43 SBC Suffix Codes
03:00 SBC Crankshaft Casting Numbers
04:26 Double Hump Head Identification
04:54 SBC Cylinder Head Casting Numbers
05:15 SBC Date Codes Explained
06:00 Press In Rocker Stud Issues
06:58 SBC Intake Manifold Casting Numbers
07:48 Extra Parts that Were Included (there are a bunch)
All Comments (21)
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I'm having an easier time getting old SBC components. Everybody wants an LS in their rod. Practically giving away the old stuff. And I'm real happy to take it off their hands.
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Great find. I had a 350 that the studs were pulling out like that. I pulled then all replaced with screw in & worked like a champ.
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Somewhere a stock eliminator racer is drooling over this engine. 😄👍🏻
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As a self titled chevy parts hoarder....I say you did an excellent job of tracking down the heritage of this 350. If the block, heads, crank are usable, you have a good haul. I have done this casting/code dive many times, and I find it fun when you can still locate some old school gems.
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I’m pretty sure the “O” & “X” casting connecting rods were both used in the performance engines and were known as the “Pink” rods. So the best old school factory rod.
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Additionally, up until the plug-size changes ('68-'69) all SBC'also had forged steel cranks which you can verify by the wider parting line and cast iron having a more pronounced, thinner parting line. (cast cranks make the best boat anchors...)
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I had a set of those "186" heads on my 74' 350 I built for my 68' Nova, traded a 71' Nova for them from a machine shop, they did a valve job and PINNED the rocker studs because they like to pull out of the heads. They worked well in stock form. In this day and age, I think the casting date is what will bring the value for those heads, performance wise you would be way better off with late 90's Vortec heads,.
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Great find on that engine. Especially if someone wants to build an older, nostalgic older Chevy vehicle. ✌️😎
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Video was a lot of fun. I hoard bolts now and strip them off before I scrap old parts. Bolts are now dollars each. That was a great find!
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Cool find out about the engine, still together after all those years. Keep us updated on what you are going to do with it.
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Definitely a great engine to rebuild. Great it was included in the Nova buy.
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Your so lucky to run into one fine engine, Damm miss them old engines mine were the 283'-327 pre-sixty eight had the oil filter canister type filtering
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Great video. Just a couple of tips from an old General Motors mechanic. First, I knew it wasn't a 327 without you ever reading the numbers. 1) 327's did not use a pcv valve, (nor did 265's,283's, 302's,or 307's)they had closed/sealed valve covers. They used an internal ventilator can mounted under the intake manifold that then fed to a tube on the back of the block. They didn't start with the pcv valves until they started making 350's.Also 327's never came with 4 bolt mains. Not even the 327/375 hp engine. So even though the 375 hp/327 was the highest horsepower rated SBC. It is usually less desirable than the lesser 370hp LT1 engine (Corvette only) only because the LT1 engine was a 4 bolt main block. I was lucky enough to own a 1970 Corvette 350/370hp LT1, And a 1957 Chevy with a 1965 327/375hp Corvette engine. And trust me, both would smoke the tires for a country mile. Also Chevrolet used the 2 letter suffix code until 1969, in 1970 they went to a 3 letter suffix code ie. CTX. Hope this helps. Thanks for the video
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Dang man, you got a good deal on that engine, how rare. As you said, that it is so unusual to find one these days original. Great break down of all the numbers as well, don't think anyone else has done that Indepth of an overview before.
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Very nice that it wasn't pieced together from different engines. I've never been able to decode the numbers and letters on the front pad but I'll keep working on that.
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In my opinion, for your average 300hp street runner a factory dual plane intake is hard to beat. Until some head work gets you into the higher RPMs the single planes don't show much advantage.
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You can also check the flange on the back of the crankshaft, there is a chart that shows the different shape of the sbc flanges for each engine size.
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Awesome find. Very desirable 350. I just built a .060 350 for a friend of mine for his truck for a 1978 454 out of a winnebago with 70,000 miles 👍🏻
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It's so awesome that the engine has stayed together all these years. Can't wait to see what you drop it into.
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Very nice! It may have been in a Nova...or maybe an Impala. Can't wait to see it running again 👍 Thanks for sharing!
