283 Chevy Engine Serial Number Location

283 Chevy Engine Serial Number Location 1941 Packard 110 Coupe
283 Chevy Engine Serial Number Location 1948 Ford F1 Pickup

Small Block Chevy Engine Block Identification

Finding the block numbers on my old chevy v8 first gen.

The Chevy 283 V8 was introduced in 1957 and used up through 1961. GM developed the engine by increasing the bore of the Chevy 265 V8 which was first produced in 1955. The 283 was manufactured with several different carburetor setups such as a single 2 barrel, a 4 barrel, a 2 x 4 barrel setup and an impressive fuel injected model.
The suffix code for 6 cylinder engines can be found stamped on a pad near the distributor. Suffix codes for small block V8's are stamped on a pad located on the front of the passenger side cylinder head as shown in this example.
SBC engine casting numbers. Small-Block Chevy V8 Casting numbers by Mortec Chevy BB and SB casting number 'go-to' site from outintheshop.com Smallblock info from nastyz28.com SBC ID from www.73-87.com SBC casting numbers from classictruckshop.com Chevelle-specific block casting number info Inline engine casting numbers from inliners.org.

General Decoding Information
This topic can be somewhat confusing, especially with the amount of information available and the interpretation of it. The primary pieces of information you'll decode are the Engine Code and Partial VIN. You can decode the casting number. And you can check dates. The engine code and partial vin # will accurately nail down whatever the thing is rather quickly, and the other information will fall into line with that.

To QUICKLY IDENTIFY A CHEVY ENGINE CLICK HERE - for decoding engine codes.

This page has basic information on it, but it's a portion of the Small Block Chevy numbers information. The Engine Code page is where this topic is further detailed.

'Numbers Matching'
This is my opinion, and the generally accepted norm:
When people say 'It's numbers matching' - what they mean is the engine (or other component, i.e the transmission) can be MATCHED to the vehicle it was originally used in. This match is done via the PARTIAL VIN stamp on the component. The partial VIN will match the vehicles VIN. If it does - it's 'numbers matching', otherwise - it's not. done. end of story.
Some folks use these terms loosely, or will say 'numbers correct' or something to that effect. But numbers correct is not numbers matching. Again, it either matches or it doesn't. If it doesn't match - is it correct?
Numbers matching is important when you're trying to decode a Z28 or Super Sport where the VIN won't identify the vehicle as such. You need to decode the engine and see if it matches the vehicle, and if the code signifies Z28 or SS equipment.
Lastly, in extreme cases, you'll want to verify the numbers stamped onto the component were the ones stamped into it originally and aren't restamped.
The point of this article is to help you figure out how to decode stuff.

Engine Code Stamping Numbers
All engines are stamped with an engine ID code, consisting of assembly plant code, production date and suffix code. V8 codes are stamped on a pad just forward of the right side (passenger) cylinder head. 6 cylinder engines are stamped on the passenger side of the block behind the distributor.
Click here for Chevy Engine Code Listings

The engine date must precede the car build date, otherwise something is amiss. Some engine machining operations (decking) will obliterate the engine ID.

Engine ID Code Example: V0101CLJ - (V = Plant, 01 = Month, 01 = Day, CLJ = Engine Suffix Code)
Another example: T0830CTY - (T = Tonawanda, 08 = August, 30 = 30th day, CTY = 1970 396 Camaro, 375 hp, 11.0:1, TH400)

Code	Engine Plant	Code	Engine Plant
F	Flint (Motor)	S	Saginaw Service
H	Hydramatic	T	Tonawanda
K	St. Catherines, Ontario	V	Flint (Engine)
(McKinnon Industries Canada)
M	GM of Mexico

VIN Code Format
The vin code format is stamped onto most engines. The format consists of divisional identification number, model year, assembly plant designation and vehicle serial or sequence number.
In 68-69 model cars, the serial (VIN) number of the car the engine was installed in is stamped next to, or under the engine code ID.
Starting in 1970, the serial number is stamped either above the oil filter, somewhere on the block pad (in front of the cylinder head), or on the transmission flange somewhere. Chevrolet issued technical service bulletins to indicate which engines were to recieve a vin stamp, so who knows what could have happend (or not happened).

VIN code format Example: 13N100001
(1 = Chevrolet, 3 = 1973, N = Norwood, 100001 = Production sequence of vehicle VIN)

For a list of assembly plants, click here.

Casting Clock
On some Saginaw blocks, intakes and exhausts a 'clock' was cast into the block. The clock is a circle of 10 dots, one dot for each hour of a shift (usually 10 hour shifts). An arrow points to the beginning of the shift an another dot outside the circle indicates what time of day the cast part was made. Anyways, that's what that circle thing is (if you happen to see it on something). Casting Date
Small block casting date is located on driver side rear of block on flange forward of bellhousing. Big block on the right side of engine above the oil pan rails.

Casting Date Example: E038 - (E = Month, 03 = Day, 8 = Last digit of model year (1978)).

Month: A = Jan, B = Feb, C = Mar, D = Apr, E = May, F = Jun, G = July, H = Aug, I = Sep, J = Oct, K = Nov, L = Dec

General Engine Block Specifications
While 6 different bore size blocks have been produced, the small block engine can be classified into 3 bore sizes and 3 main bearing sizes. 283 blocks (3.875' bore, 2.3' main), 302/327/350 blocks (4' bore, 2.3' or 2.45' mains), and 400 blocks (4.126', 2.65' mains). In 1968 the main bearing saddles were increased in size from 2.3' to 2.45'.

CID	Year	Bore	Main Cap
262	1975	3.671	2 bolt ONLY
267	1979 - 81	3.500	2 bolt ONLY
305	1976 - 96	3.736	2 bolt ONLY
307	1968 - 73	3.875	2 bolt ONLY
327	1968-69	4.001 (2.3' main)	2 bolt
350	1968-88	4.001 (2.3' main)	2 bolt
265	1994	4.001 (2.45' main)	2 bolt
302	1968-69	4.001 (2.45' main)	4 bolt
350	1968-96	4.001 (2.45' main)	4 bolt
400	1970-72	4.126 (2.65' main)	4 bolt
400	1973-80	4.126 (2.65' main)	2 bolt

Notes: 2 bolt ONLY means just that,. otherwise 2 or 4 bolt can mean either design...

Chevy Small Block - Engine Block Casting Numbers

Notes (for below): 'High Power' is the maximum rate HP this block was used for, 'Low Power' is the lowest rated horsepower RPO engine the block was used in. 'Main Caps' is the number of bolts holding the cap. A 'two-bolt' main, or a four-bolt main. Four bolt main blocks are desirable in high performance applications because the extra strength of the additional bolts keeps the bottom end rigid and less prone to failure. However, a properly prepared 2 bolt main engine will work just fine (often times you'll lose a rod bolt before you break a crank because it's 'only' a 2 bolt main).

Years	Casting	CID	Low Power	High Power	Main Caps	Comments
	1980-85	140029	350	-	-	2	car
	1973-80	330817	400	150	180	2	car, truck
	1975	355909	262	110	110	2	car, truck
	1976-85	355909	305	-	-	2	A
	1975	360851	262	-	-	2	Monza
	1976-79	361979	305	-	-	2	car, truck
	1978-86	366245	350	-	-	-	car
	1982-86	366286	350	-	-	4	Chevrolet, siamese
	1982	366299	350	-	-	4	Chevrolet, aluminium
	1956-67	383810	283	-	-	2	-
	1967-68	389257	302	-	-	2	Z-28
	1968-73	391436	307	-	-	2	-
	1965-67	393288	283	-	-	2	car, truck
	1976-79	460776	305	-	-	2	car, truck
	1976-79	460777	305	-	-	2	car
	1978-79	460778	305	-	-	2	car, truck
	1979-82	471511	267	-	-	2	car, truck
	1976-85	581671	305	-	-	2	A
	1985-94	1489363	350	-	-	2	-
	1979-82	2135412	267	-	-	2	-
	1979-82	2404929	267	-	-	2
	1973-76	3030817	400	-	-	2	car, truck
	1958-61	3556519	283	-	-	2	car, truck
	1955	3703524	265	195	_	2	car, no filter
	1955-56	3720991	265	195	225	2	car, truck
	1957	3731548	283	220	283	2	-
	1956-67	3736935	283	-	-	2	-
	1957-59	3737739	283	220	290	2	car, truck
	1958-62	3756519	283	170	315	2	car, truck
	1956-67	3756935	283	-	-	2	-
	1962-65	3782870	327	250	375	2	car, truck
	1956-67	3789187	283	-	-	2	-
	1962-67	3789817	327	210	275	2	car, truck
	1961-62	3789935	283	170	315	2	Late 61 car & vette
	1962-67	3790721	283	170	220	2	Chevy II
	1964-67	3791362	327	250	300	2	Replaced 3790721
	1958-63	3794226	283	170	195	2	Car & truck
	1968-69	3794460	327	250	250	2	truck
	1968-69	3814660	327	-	-	2	F A
	1968-69	3814660	302	-	-	4	Camaro, Z-28
	1963	3830944	327	-	300	2	-
	1956-67	3832338	283	-	-	2	-
	1964-66	3834810	283	195	220	2	Car, truck & marine
	1962-63	3834812	283	170	195	2	car & truck
	1958-62	3837739	283	-	-	2	-
	1964-68	3849852	283	195	220	2	car & truck
	1956-67	3849859	283	-	-	2	-
	1956-67	3849935	283	-	-	2	-
	1964-67	3858174	327	-	-	2	car, truck
	1968-76	3855961	350	-	-	2	car
	1964-67	3858174	327	275	350	2	Full, A & Y
	1964-67	3858180	327	250	300	2	-
	1962-67	3858190	327	-	-	2	-
	1965-67	3862194	283	195	220	2	Chevy II
	1962-66	3864812	283	230	-	2	car, truck
	1964-67	3868657	327	300	-	2
	1962-67	3876132	327	-	-	2
	1963	3889935	283	-	-	2	truck
	1967	3892657	302	290	290	2	Z-28, small journal
	1967	3892657	327	210	350	2	car & truck
	1967	3892657	350	295	295	2	Camaro
	1968-69	3892659	327	210	-	2
	1967	3896944	283	195	195	2	replaced by 307 in 68
	1967	3896948	283	195	195	2	identical to 3834810
1967	3903352	327	210	350	2	cars only
1969-80	3911460	350	-	-	2	A
1968-73	3914635	307	-	-	2	car
1968	3914636	307	200	200	2	car & truck
1968-69	3914638	327	-	-	2
1968-73	3914653	307	-	-	2	A
1968	3914660	327	210	300	2	cars
1968	3914678	302	290	290	2/4	Camaro, Z-28
1968	3914678	327	210	350	2	car & truck
1968	3914678	350	295	295	2	Camaro/ChevyII
1965-67	3932288	283	-	-	2	A
1956-67	3932338	283	-	-	2
1974-75	3932368	350	-	-	2
1969-73	3932371	307	-	-	2	car,truck
1969-73	3932373	307	-	-	2	car,truck
1969	3932386	302	290	290	4	Camaro Z28
1969	3932386	327	210	210	2	Camaro
1969	3932386	350	300	350	4
1969	3932388	302	290	290	4	Z28
1969	3932388	350	300	300	4	cars
1968-69	3933100	327	-	-	2
1968-69	3933180	327	-	-	2
1968	3941174	307	-	-	2	truck
1956-67	3949852	283	-	-	2
1970-80	3951509	400	150	265	2/4	car,truck
1970-73	3951511	400	255	265	4	B & G body
1962-67	3953512	327	-	-	2
1968-69	3955618	327	-	-	4	A,F,Vette
1969	3956618	302	290	290	4	Z28
1969	3956618	327	235	235	2	fullsize
1969	3956618	350	250	350	2/4	cars
1969	3956632	307	200	200	2	car & truck
1969-76	3958618	350	-	-	2	A
1962-63	3959512	327	250	-	2
1956-67	3959532	283	-	-	2
1968	3970010	327	-	-	2	A
1969-79	3970010	350	185	370	2 or 4	car, truck, Vette
1970-73	3970014	350	200	300	2/4	LA built Camaro
1969-73	3970020	307	115	200	2	car,truck
1969-72	3970024	307	130	200	2	A,F,X
1968-76	6259425	350	-	-	-	car,truck
1980-84	14010201	305	-	-	2	car,truck
1980-84	14010202	305	-	-	2	car,truck
1980-84	14010203	305	-	-	2	car, truck
1980-82	14010205	267	-	-	2	-
1980-85	14010207	350	-	-	4	truck
1980-85	14010209	350	-	-	4	truck
1978-86	14010231	305	-	-	2	-
1979-82	14010280	267	-	-	2	car
1982	14011064	350	-	-	4	Chevrolet, high tin
1979-82	14016375	267	-	-	2	-
1979-82	14016376	267	-	-	2	car
1978-85	14016379	350	-	-	-	car, truck
1980-84	14016381	305	-	-	2	car, truck
1978-88	14016383	305	-	-	2	-
1979-82	14040205	267	-	-	2	-
1978-86	14049047	305	-	-	2
1986-94	14079287	350	-	-	-
1987	14088526	350	-	-	2	Camaro
1986-94	14088548	350	-	-	-	-
1986-92	14088551	305	-	-	2	-
1988-94	14093627	305	-	-	2	-
1986-94	14093638	350	-	-	-
1988-94	14094766	305	-	-	2
1986-94	14101148	350	-	-	-
1987-88	14102058	305	-	-	2
1969-85	14316379	350	-	-	2

Camaro Engine Code Stamping Numbers
Dropbox contains Camaro engine suffix codes for year selected.

283 Chevy Engine Serial Number Location 1941 Packard 110 Coupe

283 Chevy Engine Serial Number Location 1948 Ford F1 Pickup

Last updated: 9/14/2012
Author: MadMike Maciolek

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