Engine replacement

[Don M.]

I have just purchased a 1969 Car that was originally equipped with a 327-300hp, in 1989 the previous owner replaced his original motor with a 350 cu in. I believe he bought a motor through GM parts. It is a 3970010 Block, the engine number makes no sense to me . It looks like V0221TZH , I assume VO221 is Flint, Feb, 21 , TZH doesn't make sense to me! Is it a Corvette replacement block?? is it a Camaro, is it a truck?? What the heck is it> There is another # under the engine #, on the pad, it looks like C60124610

[Gregory G.]

Re: Engine replacement

It is a 1975 or 1978 350 van or bus engine. Here are two links.

http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/spcode9.html

http://www.brianesser.com/info/numbers_3.html

[GL Anderson]

Re: Engine replacement

TZH indicates either a 1975 or 1978 4 bolt main 350 for a van or a bus. Don't know what the other numbers mean. A guess because of the C60 at the begining, it may indicate a C60 series bus chassis, but that is only a guess. GL

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine replacement

Don-----

First of all, no 1969 Corvette was ever originally equipped with a 327 cid engine. ALL 1969 small blocks were 350 cid. 1968 was the last year for the use of the 327 small block in a Corvette.

The 3970010 block is a very common 350 cid block. It was used from later 1969 right through most of the 1979 model year. It was used across the Chevrolet line, including all cars and trucks, too. Some 3970010 blocks are configured with 4 bolt mains while others are 2 bolt. There's no way to tell without removing the pan to inspect.

Given the engine suffix code, your engine was originally installed in a 1975 or 1978 Chevrolet truck with 4 barrel carb and either 160 hp (1975) or 165 hp (1978). It's also slightly possible that it was a SERVICE engine for one of these applications, but that wouldn't really mean anything.

[John H.]

Re: Engine replacement

The VIN derivative says it's out of a 1976 Chevy truck built at the GM Truck plant in Pontiac, Michigan.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Engine replacement

Joe beat me to the punch about the 327. I had to stop and think about that for a minute. 69 and 327 didnt compute in my head. I was probaly a 350/300 that was in the car.

Jeff