3970010 Block Information

[Jeffrey M.]

I recently pulled the motor out of my father's 1966 convertible. He was in the process of replacing it with the 3858174 block that was original to the car. The block being replaced has part code 3970010, date code B169 and V0299800 Stamp.

From what I have read, the 3970010 blocks were only produced from 1968 thru 1979. Does anyone know if that is correct ? If it is correct, how do you know if the date stamp is for 1969 or 1979 ?

I read on another posting that the V0299800 stamp "is a 1979 GM service TargerMaster 350 GM service parts engine. There is no advertised HP that I have ever found but its safe to say they are not intended to be high performance engines, just generic 350 replacements." Can anyone verify that?

The block is a 4 bolt and the dipstick is on the driver's side.

If so, any idea of value?

Thank you for your knowledge.

Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: 3970010 Block Information

I recently pulled the motor out of my father's 1966 convertible. He was in the process of replacing it with the 3858174 block that was original to the car. The block being replaced has part code 3970010, date code B169 and V0299800 Stamp.

From what I have read, the 3970010 blocks were only produced from 1968 thru 1979. Does anyone know if that is correct ? If it is correct, how do you know if the date stamp is for 1969 or 1979 ?

I read on another posting that the V0299800 stamp "is a 1979 GM service TargerMaster 350 GM service parts engine. There is no advertised HP that I have ever found but its safe to say they are not intended to be high performance engines, just generic 350 replacements." Can anyone verify that?

If so, any idea of value?

Thank you for your knowledge.

Jeff

Jeff------


The 3970010 was produced from 1969 to 1979 for use in PRODUCTION. I don't think it was produced during any part of 1968 but I wouldn't absolutely rule it out. However, it's possible it was even produced after 1979 for SERVICE engines. Sometimes, GM's Saginaw foundry would use a 2 digit year code after a casting was produced for over 10 years. However, I don't know if they did in the case of the 3970010. In this case, the "B169" casting date would indicate February 16, 1969. I don't think the 3970010 was being produced this early but, if it was, you would have one of the earliest 3970010 blocks ever cast.

I don't know what your engine assembly code stamping decodes to. It could be a SERVICE engine code of some sort. However, if it is I'd say it's definitely 1979 vintage. I don't think that sort of coding would have been used for any engine in 1969. It's possible it's a TargetMaster SERVICE engine. However, I believe most, if not all, TargetMaster engines were manufactured in Mexico. In that case, the assembly code would have an "M" prefix. The "V" code on yours indicates it was manufactured at Flint, MI.

TargetMaster engines were lower performance SERVICE engines intended as replacements for cars and trucks. They were generally an "economy" type engine intended to compete with rebuilt engines in the aftermarket. Of course, we don't know that yours started life as a TargetMaster engine.

3970010 blocks are pretty common so I don't think it has high value. Some were 2 bolt main and some were 4 bolt main. The 4 bolt versions are worth a bit more than the 2 bolt.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 3970010 Block Information

What color is it painted? or what color is underneath its current paint?
I would assume (!) that a 1979 block would be blue and later than 1979 would be black as I doubt service blocks were painted any different than production blocks.

Patrick

[Michael W.]

Re: 3970010 Block Information

One quick way of telling a 1969 casting from a 1979 is by the shape of the stamp pad. The 1969 will have a rectangular pad as seen from the top whereas as the '79 pad will be almost square. The change over in shape occurred in '77-78ish I think.

The stamping V0299800 seems to be a standardized code which appears fairly consistently on late '70s GM Targetmaster crate engines.