If you plan on keeping the car for a long time, I would build it more for pleasure, and less for investment. While I would always keep my eyes open for a correct block, I wouldn't dwell on it too much. Buy a 502 and put it in the car. A 502 will not necessarily lower the value when it comes time to sell it, and you could always dress it to look like a 396 of the era. I stuck the 'little' 502 HO engine in my 65 (only 450 horse, only). Even with 3.31 gears, it scares all of my friends, but is mild enough to go get groceries when you need to.
Charles www.65ss.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Chevelle Mailing List" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 10:34 PM Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Date coded engine for your car > Finding the correct numbers matching engine for your car would be next to > impossible unless you have an extensive history on the car. Then it would > only be extremely difficult. The reason why is that in 69 the engine had the > last digits of the cars VIN stamped on the block. To find the correct date > code you would want to find an engine with a date within about 2 months > prior to the build date on the car with the suffix that matched the engine > and tranny combo that was meant to be in the car (i.e. A 69 Chevelle with a > build date of third week of Feb. 69 with a 350 hp 396 and 4 speed manual > would have an engine stamped something like T0115JC ******) > > > T= Tonawanda Plant > 0115= Build date Jan. 15 > JC= 350 hp 396 w/ manual trans. > *******= VIN number > > An engine that would have the correct build date and suffix for your car > could be found but they are getting harder and harder to locate. > > Good luck, > Trooper > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peter Hnat" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:36 PM > Subject: [Chevelle-list] (no subject) > > > Recently picked up a ' 69 Chevelle SS in excellent condition inside and out > .The motor is from a '72 Chevelle as best I can tell from the number on the > engine block ( made on March 20 at the Tonawanda plant ). Would like to find > out what would be involved to locate the correct date code 396 engine . I > plan on keeping the car for a very long time due to waiting 36 years to get > one .My neighbor / "big brother " bought one back in May of ' 69 and I fell > in love with it then . I would say it was worth the wait to finally get my > own . I'm also a lucky guy because my wife also shares the same passion for > that car. > > Pete Hnat > > > >
