Identifying Small Block Chevy Engines
The Small Block Chevrolet engine is one of, if not the most successful engines of all times. Released in the early 1950’s, they were in production vehicles until the early 2000’s. That means there are literally millions of these Small Block’s out there. Over the course of 50 years there were many different versions made. Some had better heads, more compression, or even more cubic inches.
Luckily it’s pretty easy to determine exactly what SBC you have under the hood of your ride. There are two sets of numbers that will help determine this. The first is a set of Casting Numbers, the second is a set of Stamped Numbers.
As the names imply, Casting Numbers are cast into the block when it was made. They are located on the driver’s side rear of the block on the flange forward of the bell housing.
These will tell you general information about the engine. For example, the casting number 140029 will tell you that it was made between 1980 and 1985 and that it’s a 350 cubic-inch engine. If you want more specific information, you have to look at the Stamped Numbers.
Stamped Numbers are a set of numbers literally stamped into the block. These numbers are stamped into a machined pad in front of the passenger side cylinder head – more than not it’s covered up by the alternator. These numbers will tell you where the engine was assembled, production date, and the suffix code.
These numbers are often machined off when they deck a block. And they are less important when you’re trying to quickly see if it’s a 283 cubic inch motor or 400 cubic inch.
Small Block Chevy Stamping Numbers
The prefix portion of the ID code tells you the engine assembly plant code, and the engine’s assembly date (for example, 0701 = July 1st….no year is indicated). The suffix portion tells you the original application, vehicle model, engine RPO/ transmission / horsepower, etc… (for example, CTY = 1970 396 Camaro, 375 hp, 11.0:1, TH400).
The engine assembly date must precede the car build date (often by a few days), 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 |
For a complete list and breakdown of Small Block Chevrolet Suffix Codes, visit Nastyz28.com
Small Block Chevy Casting Numbers
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
| Years | Casting | CID | Low Power | High Power | Main Caps | ||
| 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 |
