MNQ engine stamp

**WorkinProgress** · #1 12-29-2012, 07:20 PM

Here are some pictures I took (in the fall of '97) of an engine that started out destined for a '69 COPO Camaro back in 1969 but ended up in a '69 Chevelle. You can see on the front pad the T0528MNQ. The first factory stamping would have been T0528MN.

There was an attempt to remove the N from the deck as there are punch marks disfiguring it. The lower half of the Q stamped next to the N is very deep. Probably due to the cylinder head being installed they did not get the font (metal punch) square to the deck.

The Chevelle VIN 19B403448 is also stamped on the deck pad.

Block is a '512 casting with a date J22 8. The cylinder heads were '840s cast C25 9, and C26 9.

Makes you wonder whether there was a shortage of MQ engines at that time, or maybe the MN engine was shipped to the Baltimore plant in error and they just improvised.

Chris White from Massachusetts had the '72 Z/28 this engine came out of back in the fall of '97.

**scuncio** · #2 12-30-2012, 01:20 AM

Interesting. The assembly date also seems early for a 403xxx Baltimore car which was probably built the 1st week of July.

**Charley Lillard** · #3 12-30-2012, 02:05 AM

I wonder if that Chevelle exists. That would be fun to put back together.

jannes_z-28 · #4 01-06-2013, 08:01 AM

If it were factory mounted in a Camaro it would have a Norwood VIN by the oilfilter. If it does have that then the other is a restamp.

Jan

**Ls6 Ragtop** · #5 01-06-2013, 09:40 PM

Jan,
That motor never had a Camaro vin down by the oil filter. It was very bizarre when I first saw it and at the time I owned it the engine was installed in a 72 Pro-street Camaro. I called my friend Warren to tell him what I found which is how these pics still exist as this was before I had a digital camera (I can't take a good picture to save my life). The sad part is I never did find the Chevelle that this engine came out of and it eventually was sold through an add I placed in Hemmings motor news listing it for sale.
Chris

camaromb · #6 01-06-2013, 11:34 PM

The engine plant definitely made too many MQ engines in late June '69, there have been a few over the years that have surfaced with no vins. Nice factory screwup on that engine pad. Nice to see Warren is alive and well!

**BLACKLS5** · #7 07-30-2020, 12:34 PM

To revive an old thread, I recently was talking cars with a gentleman that said he bought a COPO engine at an estate sale. He sent me a picture of the pad stamping and it also looks to be a MN with a Q added later. Thoughts on this engine?

Mike · #8 07-31-2020, 03:36 AM

That Vin is in the Registry...it would be great to reunite that engine with the car.

m22mike · #9 07-31-2020, 02:33 PM

Another MN over stamped Q

**BLACKLS5** · #10 07-31-2020, 02:40 PM

Same assembly date...

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