Engine 68-04548

[John C.]

I am a new member looking for info on a motor I have. I want to locate the car this motor is out of, if possible. I have done some research and it looks like this block a late 67 (oct 18 67 ) so it would be a 1968. It is a 435 hp L71/ and with the alum heads could be a l89. It was in a convertible with a 4 spd with 3/2 set up. Here are the numbers:
Block # 3916321 / J187/ T1031IU Vin # on block is 18S404548. I dont have the alum heads, and the heads are off a later model. they are rect. port #3964291. I also have an alum 4 bbl intake and single 780 holley with spacer.
This is a complete dismantled motor, pistons,dimple rods, new crank ( spun bearring ) sat since the 70s. It was taken to a machine shop and they cleaned and tanked it. It is a standard bore, no heli coils, in great shape, and have the paper work to prove it.
Not sure of the birthday, I think is was the 548th car, built. Maybe you can tell me how to figure that out. I listed the bell housing on here also. I dont know if they are from the same car. I thought this motor was a (Over the counter motor), but I am not sure.
I am sorry for the length of this. I am just excited to do this search. Any help will be great. Peace...

[Leif A.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

John,
First, welcome to the Forum. A nice clear, crisp picture of the stamp pad on the right front of the block would be a great help for any one here wanting to give you insightful information. Also, pics of the other casting numbers and date stamps.

[John C.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

Thanks for your response. I think having the information looked at is a good Idea. I would like to have a expert do that. Who would you suggest? Is a photo good enough, or is there a qualified vin reader in my area that could look at them on the block?

[Leif A.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

Thanks for your response. I think having the information looked at is a good Idea. I would like to have a expert do that. Who would you suggest? Is a photo good enough, or is there a qualified vin reader in my area that could look at them on the block?

Again, let's start with a clear, crisp photo of the stamp pad and the other casting numbers on the block and heads. Here is the approximate birthday of your car according to the C3 registry...Approximate birthday 194378S404548: November 15, 1967

And, here is how your VIN decodes in order:
1 - Chevrolet
9 - Corvette
4 - V8
37 - Coupe
8 - model year
S - St. Louis build
4 - simply a place holder
- build sequence number

[Michael W.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

That's an interesting find. The engine is from a 1968 model year car as witnessed by the first 8 in the VIN derivative 18S404548. The S designates a car built in the St. Louis MO assembly plant. The following 4 designates a V* engine, leaving the car serial number of 04548. The full VIN for the car would have been 19437S404548 if it was a coupe or 19467S404548 if it was a convertible.

The casting date of J187 means October 18 19767. The T1031IU on the pad translates to an engine built in the Tonawanda NY engine plant on October 31 and was indeed an L89 (L71 with aluminum heads).

This car was assembled around November 15th-17th 1967 so the casting and assembly date of the engine lines up well with the car.

It might all be legit. If so, (et voila) here is the car it came from

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1968-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-CONVERTIBLE-91077

The present owner of the car may/may not be thrilled to hear from you. The car appears to have been sold in 2010 as 'numbers matching' .

Please let us know if you are successful in reuniting the engine with the car.


If the engine was removed and set aside in 1970, it is unlikely that anyone would have restamped it. Maybe post a good close up pic of the pad just to double check.

[John C.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

OK here are some photos of the stamped block, and date codes. Hope this helps.

[Leif A.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

OK here are some photos of the stamped block, and date codes. Hope this helps.

John,
If my eyes are not deceiving me, I believe I'm seeing a re-stamp vin on that last picture. Look closely and you can see numbers to the left and underneath the current, more visible numbers.

[Michael W.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

The VIN derivative looks like a typical factory-style grind out and restamp to me. I haven't seen enough original L89s to know if the droopy IU at the end of the assembly code are typical

[John C.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

The vin has been redone, no doubt. I am hoping that it is from the factory. Is it possible that it was a over the counter motor? \
I am not sure where the gentlemen I got it from got it. He used it for drag racing in the late 60s in so cal. and gave me some trophies he had won. One of which is from the first drag race at Erwindale in so cal. 1965, before this motor. The name plate is missing but is a cool trophy.

[Michael W.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

Over the counter engines rarely came with any stamps on the pad and were instead identified with part numbers on their crates. The probability of an engine having the correct casting number, casting date, assembly date and code, VIN derivative and end up not being the original engine for a given car is almost zero. I can't think of any scenarios.

[John C.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

I am told Mr Al Grenning is the man to talk with on this question. I see he is involved with the drive line magazine somehow? Is there a way to contact him, and show him these photos, or some better ones? Thank you.

[Rick A.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

check the following web site for contact info

http://ccas4vettes.com/

[John C.]

Re: Late 67-early 68 427 looking for original car

I was asked to include more photos, Here they are. I am still trying to find a way to check the stamp. It sounds like It may be expensive to do. I am trying to find a way to do this and not go broke doing it. Suggestions? Thanks.

[Michael W.]

Re: 68-04548

John,

The best you'll get from this or any website with viewers simply looking at pictures is their particular opinion- which is worth what you've paid for it . My own thoughts about the block's originality have not changed. If you want more free opinions, this particular section of the forum does not get much attention as compared to the main technical board. Maybe post over there with a link?

Something else to consider is that there's only one other person that has much interest in this particular block, that being the owner of the car it belongs to. To everybody else, it's 'just another' 312 block. No matter what opinions or certification you get for the block, the car owner may want to do their own due diligence in determining if it's the real deal. Whatever money you might spend yourself might be wasted in other words.

[John C.]

Re: 68-04548

Understood, Thanks Mr. Ward.