The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop unknown engine

Here is what I have, the casting number on the rear of the block is 3849852, this should be a 1957 - 1966 283 220HP. But on the pad in front of the passenger side cylinder head the only number is 80 549915 I. there are no letters, unless that last I is a letter. By the way that last I looks like it was made with a stamp from a different set than the rest of the numbers. It is thicker and deeper than the rest, it is just a vertical line with no top or bottom crosses. I was looking for a serial number with letters and numbers but this is all thats there. can anyone tell me what it means.
Thanks
Dale

the pad number likely means it's been rebuilt [or might be a CDN number code], the block casting number is all you know except if it has the side mount bosses cast on the block it's not a 57, that started in 58 .... and don't count on the 220HP, that depends on other things .... that block is the best [58-66] IMO

Bill

Does not make sense that you are missing engine ID code on front pad? Most web sites list the cast as somewhere between 64-68. 195HP and 220HP. Again, it should have an Alpha Numeric engine ID unless replacement engine. Your does not seem to even be a serial number (VIN). Clean that pad off with a wire wheel. Now you have to get jiggy and get the head numbers, head symbol, etc.

Thanks Guys
Under some of the paint I kept thinking, hoping, I saw another number on the pad. That pad is the cleanist part of the entire truck and engine. the complete pad is stripped to bare metal and the is the only number on it.
Now, where are the head numbers located? And what do you mean by head symbol? I do know that they are PowerPack heads from the symbol on the end of the heads.
The engine came out of a 64 or 66 suburban, I don't remember which. Some guy had taken what he wanted off the truck and gave it to me for a couple hundred $$. The engine had a 350 tranny on it. I just hooked up a battery to the starter motor and put a gas can hooked up to the fuel pump and it purred like a kitten. would that tranny be stock? I don't know when they started using them. The motor looks like it could be original with all the oil and dirt and such. But I guess thats no indicator for sure.
I'm just trying to figure out what this motor originally was.
Thanks Dale

I believe the TH 350 was first used in 65 or 66, so it's possible you've got an original setup there. I've seen some "Target Master" crate engines with the number like you're describing on the front pad- - - -no regular alpha numeric ID numbers. Those were new, not reman engines sold by GM dealer parts departments. 283's and some 327's had several ID symbols cast into the end of the cylinder heads. The most common one is a rectangle shape with a pointed center, the "power Pack" head that raised the compression of the 283 engines. A rectangle shape without a pyramid in the middle is the older low compression 265/283 head
Jerry

Thanks Lincoln
The heads have the rectangle with a pointed (triangle) center on it. I went out to the shop and took the valve cover off of the passenger side. this is what I found.
Between the #2 and #4 cylinder rockers: the number 8785888, below that in large capital letters, an A at 12:00, an N at 03:00 and a D at 09:00 with an arrow pointing at the N at 03:00 A
D >N
Between the #4 and #6 cylinder rockers: CANADA
a square box then a 2 then GM
Between the #6 and #8 cylinder rockers: a circle with 12 dots and an arrow pointing at 09:00. Then C 17 5

back in the house looking at vin decoders, the 8785888 doesn't come up anywhere, maybe that first 8 is a three, but I wire brushed the heck out of it. I have no clue what: A
D >N
means.
CANADA and GM are pretty much self explained, but the square box and 2, I have no idea.
The circle with 12 dots and an arrow pointing at 09:00 could be the shift start time or the casting time, not sure. C 17 5 is March 17, 1965 I think.
Anyone know a website with a good Canadian decoder. Maybe thats why the number on the engine block tab is strange 80 549915.

Again, any help in decoding this mystery would be appreciated.

Thanks Dale

A
D >N

The A should be above the >
hopefully this makes more sense

It's a bloody Pontiac Strato-Flash!!!

Bartamos
Sorry, but whats a Pontiac Strato-flash??
Dale

The '55 Pontiacs in Canada were available with two new V-8s: the 162 hp Strato-Flash in the smaller Chevy-bodied cars, or the 180 hp Strato-Streak in those with regular Pontiac bodies.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/autohistorian/3823704226/?rb=1

The 283 Strato-Flash up thru 1966. 195 HP, The Astro-Flame 327, 279 HP, Jet-Flame 427, Available in the Parisienne, car. As said an early 180Hp Strato-Streak.
The HP is hard to pin down.
This guy seems to have a lot of info, didn't read this one. Read another one. Many names, many HP's.
http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/mobile.spark?p=topic&topic=26305684
I'm going back to Chevy world now. Blue Flame

What years did they call it Strato-Flash?
Anyone know of a website I can check serial numbers at?
John, I love looking at old vintage ads and such. Those were great, thanks.
Dale

Did some research, not substantiated. Canadian engine numbers have 9 digits, no letters. Yours does have that. The symbol on front of heads is a 283/195 HP.(it is possible you have the 220hp) 1965 seems correct. The fact that you live in Canada and the engine says "Canada" sort of says it all. You will have to find a person who has Canadian archives or write to GM Canada. But how much more do you want to know? and why?
BLOCK NUMBERS:
1816887....63......283..........Made in "Canada", GMC HD truck
3731556....57......283..........Truck, Made in Canada
3884520....60-67...283..........Some marked "Made in Canada", 60cc chamber, also used by Studebaker
3884520....62-67...327..........Some marked "Made in Canada", 60cc chamber, also used by Studebaker

Your head no.
8785888, looked at all the numbers with a second dig 7 and 4th dig 5...nothing close.

Your block cast no. is known, as said.