I just pulled the heads off my car and i am getting ready to pull the rest out tomorrow and put it on a stand to rebuild it. I have been hearing that in the front left side of my motor there is a flat surface which will have numbers that match my vin. I have found that surface but there is no numbers to be found is this common ? my motor is a 350 with a four barrel intake.any thoughts, it looks like the motor was never changed by the looks of the bolts and the grease and rust. I was hopeing for matching numbers...
take care
Mark

 

If that pad is blank that would indicate a warranty engine (usually). From what I have heard the mechanic was supposed to stamp that block with the identifying numbers, but most didn't. I could be way off on the though.

 

Interesting thanks for the info.

 

Sometimes the numbers weren't struck in very deeply, and become essentially invisible under paint, rust and grease.
If you give the surface a good cleaning, and look at the right angle, often they appear.

Post up a photo so we can be sure.

- Eric

 

I am pulling the motor out today I will let you know what I find.

 

Or..the block has been decked?

 

This isn't a Chevy. The pad for the VIN derivative stamp is WELL below the area that would be decked and not even in the same plane.