engine vin #'s

[Mr. T]

I am currently helping a buddy of mine rebuild his engine from a 69 Camaro. I have located the engine code numbers on the engine pad with no problem. They read VO8I4FL, which tells me that this car should have a Turbo 350 behind it, which it does.
Unfortunatley this car was built past the midway point for 69 Camaro's, when they moved the alternator from the drivers side to the passenger side. In doing this, they had to move the vin# from the engine pad to the rough casting located by the oil filer, so they could stamp it.
This is all dandy, except that I can in no way read the numbers stamped on that rough casting. Has anyone had this problem, and if so, is there any easy way to get these numbers.
Just because the engine code says that this engine belongs in front of a Turbo 350, doesn't mean that it is the orginal engine for this car. It could have been in another vehicle with a Turbo 350. Aside from 69 Camaro's, where there any other Chevrolet models that had this FL engine code? Just want to make sure before I tear this engine down for him that the Vin # on the engine matches the vin on the car. Any advice? Yes [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img] or No [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

I jacked the front of my car up and took some 00 steel wool and rubbed the area very well, the numbers showed up pretty good and were easy to read. ( I needed a good flashlight) I think it depended on who stamped the numbers, I'm sure some were put in deeper than others. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[Mr. T]

T Billigen

Thanks for the reply! We have already cherry-picked the engine out of the 69, so it will be easy to use the steel wool affect. The numbers are really small and I think you are right with the depth of the numbers, it really depended on who stamped them. Whoever it was, must of been a weakling... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif[/img] because they are not very deep. What were your numbers if you don't mind me asking? I can pick out a number or two but that is about it. Thanks again! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

They were on the flat spot near the oil filter and the numbers are very small!

[T Billigen]

WOOPS misread your post! N613759 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Mr. T]

T Billigen

You car must be a Norwood car, correct? The one I am working on is a (LOS) car. For the life of me I can't see a L on the rough casting. Time to take another look! Thanks again! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[JoeC]

try some white paint and some sanding to bring out the number.

[Mr. T]

JoeC

Thanks for the tip! So you are saying to lightly paint the vin # area with white paint and then sand it down lightly, right? Damn, these particular numbers are a bugger! I have never seen this kind of problem. I have been lucky in the past when the vin #'s were on the engine pad, (pre mid-production) 69's. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[JoeC]

yes it's worth a try. a Magnifying Glass may help also

[Salvatore]

The engine vin's were stamped in the oil filter area starting around January of 1969. (Norwood) Some vin's have been found in the front pad area of the LA. cars as late as April of 1969. They are not sure if LA. followed the stamping procedures as Norwood did. I think all 69 camaros had the alternator on the passenger side from the beginning of production. Try to see your casting date in the back of the block by the distributor. Your casting date should give you some help to identify the year and month of the engine to the car. Good luck! Sam [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]