1966 engine decoding

[Mike Beavers]

Hi folks, I'm new here. This was the only place I could think of that might get my question answered correctly. I recently bought a few big block chevy engines from a guy here in my town. One of the engines had a '68 tri-power intake & carbs on it. When I got it home, I checked the casting date which read: B196.
I know that is Feb. 19, 1966. The suffix code is IF and it has the last 7 digits of a VIN. From what I can find, the IF code is a 425hp 396, but everything shows that to be a 1965 engine. I understand corvettes stamped their last 7 VIN digits in all of their blocks. I am a chevelle restorer and all of chevy's passenger cars didn't start this until late '67. The guy I bought the engines from said it was a vette engine, he said he run the engine in a drag car @ 20 years ago. Well, to get to the point, I understand corvette went with the 427 in 1966 and dropped the 396. Did a few early '66 models slip out the door with a 396? If so, how rare or uncommon is it to have a 396 with these stampings? I appreciate any responses I get.

[Verle R.]

Re: 1966 engine decoding

Mike,

Please post the casting number and casting date on the block.

Look at the pad carefully and verify the last letter of the build code. Is it clearely an F or could it be another letter or could it be an overstamp?

Thank you,

Verle

[Loren L.]

It could be a service replacement, cast in 1976 *NM*

[Terry M.]

Re: It could be a service replacement, cast in 197

By 1976 Tonawanda was using a two digit date code, i.e. B1976.

[Mike Beavers]

Re: 1966 engine decoding

Thanks for the response. The casting #'s are 3855762, which is a 65-66 4 bolt 396, and the date code is B196. The suffix on the pad on the front of the engine is clearly IF. Thanks

[Michael H.]

Re: 1966 engine decoding

Mike,

Is it possible that the casting date is actually B195 and not B196? Many times, the characters are difficult to read because of casting run over and I have to wonder if that's what may have happened with the "5". Also, take another look at the seven digit casting number to see if it's accurate.

What are the numbers on the ID pad? Should be two sets of seven numbers. The first number in the smaller set of numbers will designate the model year.

[Mike Beavers]

Re: 1966 engine decoding

The casting # is accurate. On the id pad, I've decoded the assymbly date and the engine code suffix. As far as the other 7 digit number, it starts with a 5. So, I guess the casting date on the block is really a 5 and not a 6. I got 4 other people to look at it today to see if they thought it was a 5 or a 6. They all said 6. I appreciate all the help and responses I got. I knew there was a ton of knowledge to be found here!