I just picked up a SBC 3970010 4-bolt block. Mortech lists this as a 69 327 or a 69-80 350. I'm ***uming it's the latter, but how do I unequivacally rule out the 69 327, journal size? Thanks....
Here is a list of casting numbers for ya: http://www.hotrodsandcl***ics.net/usefulinformation/chevblocknumbers.htm
Sorry, that's what I meant..... and the Mortec page mentions the same but mention both the 327 and 350 using the 3970100.....
Until you take the pan off, don't ***ume its a 4 bolt just because of the casting number... been burned by that issue myself. Got a 77 3/4 ton van... was original, and a 3970010. Got it home, cut the van apart around it, put it on the stand. Started to dis***emble it for the rebuild and found it was a 2 bolt. So I forked out a lil extra and put on splayed 4 bolt caps. That engine is now in my bud's Stude pickup, and what has led me here to the HAMB... so I guess it all worked out I guess all you can do on the mains is measure them.
Just double checked my AERA casting book [much more acurate than my memory ] that casting number is strictly 350 available as 2 or 4 bolt , 327 and 302 used diferent casting numbers .
You need to check the suffix code from the land at the front of the #2 cylinder. The last two or three letters may nail the engine size better. If it came with a crankshaft you can run the numbers on that to see if it is for a 350. If it is a cast crank if probably has the last three numbers as 442. That will be a cast 350 crank.
you can run the "pad" numbers and it will tell you what it was in and what year it was. the pad is on the pasenger side front of the engine..just where the front of the head comes into contact with the block. run thise numbers..edit!//Houston beat me too it..^^ Squirrel on here has alot of SBC knowledge the following statement may not be true..but its what i had been told by someone..there were no 4 bolt 327's..anyone out there care to confirm this? i would like to know if i was getting smoke blown up my A$$ or not
thats the same number on the block im using, its a 4-bolt main, mine is a 350, great block, im running the bigger camel humps on it, its in its second hot rod, i had to punch it out to .60 over to reuse it, i have about 2000 miles on it and no problems so far.......good luck
just check the casting date , if it was cast after 1969 it's probably a 350 the casting date is on the p***enger side of the block right were it bolts to the ******, something like this: A231.....that means January 23rd 1971
Sorry Gregg, I knew you meant 4-bolt mains, the phone rang and I didn't get to finish, what I meant to say was the 4-bolt mains mean't it wasn't a 327. Is it going in your 37?
Possibly, I'd really like to put a crate 383 in it, but for now this will act as my mock up block. We'll see.....