[johnta1]

Yes, the early engines also had the VIN on the blocks.
From 1960 to 63, I think?

[Ram Air IV Jack]

[/B]

Originally Posted by pmdclassics

I have seen a ram air block that actually had the VIN stamped on it twice, one in the correct location and the second stamp just up and to the left about 2 inches from the correct location.

I was examing a WS 70 Judge block today that had two VIN's. The first VIN had about 6 or 7 letters of the car VIN and the second VIN, right under it, was stamped lighter and I could only read 3 numbers. The fonts were the same and the VIN's were located on the rightside of the block near the timing cover as expected.

The owner contacted the GTOAA and someone told him that this is correct. Since we never say never here, maybe it is correct. The owner told me the car was made in Canada. I have never seen this but Pontiac has done some strange things that we have all spoken about here.

[johnta1]

A possibility is that the 1st stamping wasn't legible, and they stamped it again.
The Fed law required legible VIN on the engine.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Ram Air IV Jack

[/B]

I was examing a WS 70 Judge block today that had two VIN's. The first VIN had about 6 or 7 letters of the car VIN and the second VIN, right under it, was stamped lighter and I could only read 3 numbers. The fonts were the same and the VIN's were located on the rightside of the block near the timing cover as expected.

The owner contacted the GTOAA and someone told him that this is correct. Since we never say never here, maybe it is correct. The owner told me the car was made in Canada. I have never seen this but Pontiac has done some strange things that we have all spoken about here.

Were the two VINs the same? (ie, or did the sequence number increment to the next number?)

Originally Posted by johnta1

A possibility is that the 1st stamping wasn't legible, and they stamped it again.
The Fed law required legible VIN on the engine.

...or the machine could have just "double hit" (two stampings based on one trigger).

If it was anything like the frame VIN stamp from when I worked in the plant it was a big, bulky machine that was difficult to maneuver. It would be easy to imagine missing the location or getting a double hit/shadow.

K

[NoMoCEO]

I had a Chevy factory replacement block. It had no VIN. It was properly cast at the back below the intake.

[bajagold70]

One of my Oshawa built '70's has a EUN that matches the protecto plate, GM Canada
historical report lists the matching EUN also, vin # stamped one didgit off. Ran the report that one and it is a 400 automatic Lemans, not a WS R/A 400 4spd !! Wierd !
Do my numbers match... well no they don't . Is it the original motor..yes it is !!
If it wasn't for GM Canada recording the EUN I would have a hard time explaining this to someone.... my 2 cents.

[slowgto]

The 400 casting on the side of 400 blocks began in 1970. not 1971 as people have posted here. Some early 1970 blocks do not have it. 428s had it earlier.

[Karfever]

Originally Posted by Guilty

I just checked my block for vin number and it was under passenger side head but it was stamped upside down. Car was also built in Fremont Ca.

Here are some photos of my early Atlanta 69. The VIN is stanmped upsidedown just under the right head.

[John V.]

Originally Posted by slowgto

I don't think the raised 400 letters started until 1971.

428s got it starting 1968.

455s got it starting 1970.

Slowgto, have you uncovered something new since you posted the above 2 years ago?

I'm not much into the later models, but had not known of the '70 400 block getting the CID identifiers.

It would be useful if the cast p/n was identified to be sure we aren't being misled.

What is considered the '70 400 block is cast with p/n 9799914 on the rear ledge. It actually was first cast by the Foundry starting in June, '69 and was used initially in a number of late production '69 engines for the big car, GTO, & Firebird.

I had not known of a 400 casting with the CID identifiers until the '71 p/n 481988. Of course, this block casting was being cast in Calendar Year 1970. I don't know when the Foundry started casting it, but wouldn't be surprised if it was used in some late production '70 engines. Certainly an awful lot of them were cast with '70 cast dates as the '71 Model Year production began months before the '70 Calendar Year ended.

If you have documented the 9799914 casting with the "400" CID identifiers, do you know the cast date on it?

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by John V.

If you have documented the 9799914 casting with the "400" CID identifiers, do you know the cast date on it?

John,

I have an early '70 (Gxx9) block with no 400 cast. And, an Axx0 and a Dxx0 (both used in '70 MY vehicles) with the 400 cast.

[north]

I have a bunch of Fremont blocks from the 69 model run, two early ones do not have VINs in them (CAREFULLY checked everywhere) both were from early cars (sept-oct68) and the datecodes on the engine matched the cars so they are not SR`s.

My july 69 (Fremont) vert has the 69 part number block but a 70 intake (all dates match)

[John V.]

HFR, good to know. I guess that places the addition of the CID identifiers on the 9799914 Block at least as early as January '70.

North, continues to amaze me that partial VINs didn't get stamped sometimes. Sounds like Fremont had the most trouble doing this properly from anecdotal evidence. Maybe they assigned the task to a guy who really hated his job or had some "issues"??!!

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by John V.

Sounds like Fremont had the most trouble doing this properly from anecdotal evidence. Maybe they assigned the task to a guy who really hated his job or had some "issues"??!!

Uh, huh!

Wacky 'backy!!!

[hobi]

Originally Posted by north

I have a bunch of Fremont blocks from the 69 model run, two early ones do not have VINs in them (CAREFULLY checked everywhere) both were from early cars (sept-oct68) and the datecodes on the engine matched the cars so they are not SR`s.

My july 69 (Fremont) vert has the 69 part number block but a 70 intake (all dates match)

I just bought a Freemont convertible no numbers on the block also.