engine date casting

[Laurent M.]

Hi Guys
I own an early january 70 (January 13) and the base small blockengine have no VIN stamped on it at the usual places.The casting is 3970010 and dateis I 3 69. I have no idea if it could be the original engine (decked ?)or exchange and I will probably never know that but could the casting date
If someone of you as a similar build date, could he pleasetell me the engine casting date ?
Best regards from France
Thanks
Laurent

[Terry M.]

Re: engine date casting

Hi Guys
I own an early january 70 (January 13) and the base small blockengine have no VIN stamped on it at the usual places.The casting is 3970010 and dateis I 3 69. I have no idea if it could be the original engine (decked ?)or exchange and I will probably never know that but could the casting date
If someone of you as a similar build date, could he pleasetell me the engine casting date ?
Best regards from France
Thanks
Laurent

Laurent,

Early 1970 Corvettes (the first week or so of production) had the VIN derivative stamped in the "alternate location." Look above the oil filter on the outside of the cylinder case. Your car is a little later than most we see with this "feature," so if you find the VIN stamp there I would appreciate knowing the serial number of your car. You may send that by Private Message if you are uncomfortable posting it. We try to keep track of these kinds of unusual situations to help other owners with their restorations.

[Ralph S.]

Re: engine date casting

The VIN on a January 1970 car is stamped down by the oil filter.

[Laurent M.]

Re: engine date casting

Hi Terry,
Thanks for your reply.Yes I know the other VIN location for very early january production but I did not found anything at this location .
Ralph: Not all but the very early car and my mine 400768 is too late for this VIN location...

[Terry M.]

Re: engine date casting

Hi Terry,
Thanks for your reply.Yes I know the other VIN location for very early january production but I did not found anything at this location .
Ralph: Not all but the very early car and my mine 400768 is too late for this VIN location...

I did look at the list I have of early 1970 cars and none had a cylinder case as early as yours. Most were L 10 to L 17. I will look more specifically and send you a PM, but I won't have a chance to do that until Tuesday. If you could get a picture of the stamp pad to me -- that would be helpful.

[Laurent M.]

[Roy S.]

Re: engine date casting

The stamp location down by the oil filter is rough casting not a pad and the stamp down there will be very hard to identify or see. Terry is asking for a picture of the pad surface in front of the passenger cylinder head by the water pump. Is it completely blank or just missing a vin derivative.

[Laurent M.]

[Mark E.]

Re: engine date casting

Laurent,

Early 1970 Corvettes (the first week or so of production) had the VIN derivative stamped in the "alternate location." Look above the oil filter...

Terry, why did St Louis do this?

[Terry M.]

Re: engine date casting

Terry, why did St Louis do this?

Mark
I have no evidence as to why this was done, but it is not unique to Corvettes. There must have been some message to assembly plants at the start of the 1970 model year, but we don't have a copy of that.

[Mark E.]

Re: engine date casting

Big blocks too? Or only small blocks?

And is the beginning of 1970 the only occurrence of this?

[Terry M.]

Re: engine date casting

Big blocks too? Or only small blocks?

And is the beginning of 1970 the only occurrence of this?

It was the VIN derivative that was stamped in the alternate location. Only St Louis knew what engine was going into what car, and the guy whacking the die stamp didn't care BB or SB. He hit them all the same.

There are occurrences of this at other vehicle assembly plants for early 1970 MY. I can tell you it was the only St Louis Corvette occurrence from 1970 to 1972, but those are my limits. Other folks will have to do their own research. I can tell you that the "alternate location" for stamping the VIN derivative is in a number of AIMs, so one always needs to be alert for unusual situations.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: engine date casting

1969 BB Camaros & Chevells were stamped on the side of the oil filter boss also. I guess like Corvettes they got stolen a lot.