Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

4-door Chevelle · Super Poster

Decoding an engine

67ss · 1K+ Club

The date code on the block is the only other tell to determine what it is. But I would believe based on all the info you left it is a 327. I doubt someone would have taken the heads off a 69 motor and installed them on a 265.

I'm not 100% on this but I believe on a 265 motor there would be no casting on the side of the block for motor mounts. Since 1955 vehicles were all front of the block style mounts.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

4-door Chevelle wrote:
Block casting - 3956618 should be a 1969 327 or 350
V0317FB - Flint, March 17 1969 327 or 1955 265
Heads - 8927185 - 69-76 307/327/350 70cc chamber
It is suppose to be a 327 but I have been unable to confirm this for sure, is there a way to confirm this???

V0317FB is a 327 with a powerglide March 17th,1969 assembly date, Flint engine plant. FB is the suffix code that indicates it for for a 327 with a powerglide in a passenger car, not a chevelle, camaro, or chevy II.

3956618 could be a 2 or 4 bolt, 327, 350 or 302. Because of the assembly stamp it would be either a 327 or 350 two bolt. But if there were no 2 bolts in the house, they many have used a 4 bolt.

8927185 heads, I think you mean 3927185, which were used on 1969 pass/327 or (chevelle , camaro, or chevy II /307's).

I would think the bock and heads would have a casting date, like the BBc; but not sure.

I think this is information is correct, so I would say you have a 327.

4-door Chevelle · Super Poster

I agree, everything points to this being a 327 and my friend will be glad about that as that is what he was told. The web sites I read gave me an either this or that like I said. Is it common sense that gave you that answer Jim or is there other more definitive sources?

jim larson · 2K+ Club

4-door Chevelle wrote:
I agree, everything points to this being a 327 and my friend will be glad about that as that is what he was told. The web sites I read gave me an either this or that like I said. Is it common sense that gave you that answer Jim or is there other more definitive sources?

No, I got the information from some printed sources pf mine. There are other sources I could also check; but I am pretty confident that what I gave you is correct. I would think the heads are original to the block. I think you can check all the casting dates to see if they match.

4-door Chevelle · Super Poster

Very cool, I appreciate you looking this up for us!

Lost in the 60s · President

Since the block casting number comes up as a one year only, 1969, and the assembly code indicates a 327, I think you answered the question yourself...

Last year of the 327 and like Jim stated, there is a slight chance that if it was a late build, the factory may have opted for a 4 bolt block, but they are super rare. I would bet on a large journal, 2 bolt block.

Bungy L-76 · Active Member

This block is the same one used for the 350. The only difference is the stamping on the front pad. You can through a 350 crank in it and presto you have a 350. Pistons would be cheaper too, if you plan on boring it.