Hello all. I'm new to the forum and look forward to corresponding with others in the Camaro community.

I have had a 74 Z28 since last Sept. The car was originally sold (leased) at Baher Chevrolet in Northridge California. Along the way it was owned by the owner of Martin Chevrolet in Torrance CA. It has been in Ca all its life after coming from the Norwood factory.

I was thinking about selling it and was collecting all the numbers to share with any potential buyers. Here's what I've found.

Vin: 1S87T4N181473 pretty straight forward

Engine is where it gets odd.

Engine code: (the one on the pass side above the water pump) is
V1209DZ There is no partial vin code here

Casting code: 3970010 (back of block)

Cylinder heads: 3927186

Intake 3932472 (not on car but I have in garage)

Based on what I've been able to research this appers to be a 69 Z28 engine transplanted into this car. I just spoke with the current sales manager at Martin Chevrolet and he said the former owner, now deceased, liked fast cars and so did his sons. It's likely that he had the service dept drop in the engine. Looks like it?

Any input and comments are welcome!

One more number. The stock exhaust manifolds are 3958562 . Not on car, in garage as well

Engine code: (the one on the pass side above the water pump) is
V1209DZ There is no partial vin code here

Casting code: 3970010 (back of block)

Cylinder heads: 3927186

This does not add up to me. The V1209DZ date would be either a 386 or 388 casting block as the 010 block didn't come out until later in the model year. What is the cast date on the block?

Not yet sure on the date code. Still trying to figure out how to read it. I'm new at this.

A picture of the block stamp above the water pump would help also.

Jeff

Have a pic of the block stamp I'll try to post tomorrow.

In the meantime, how about the heads and intake:

Cylinder heads: 3927186

Intake 3932472

Are these 69' Z28 302 items?? Based on my research they are, but again, I new to these items.

Thanks again for the input. I'll try to have a good block stamp up tomorrow.

Neal,

The 472 intake is definately 69 Z/28. The 186 heads could be but they were carried over to 1970. They also had 186 heads with small and large valves so they may or may not be Z/28 heads.

Learned more about what I have. Greg (travlinz28) came down and looked at the car on Friday 9/10 with numbers book in hand. Here's what I know I have after he checked the date codes.

Heads- 3927186 date codes March & June 1970- Appear to be the large diameter 2.02 camel hump heads

Intake- Not sure of the exact number, (I'm sure Greg can confirm) but according to Greg it is a 1970 LT1 intake

Engine- The date code 1s C154 which is March 15 1974- This is likely the original block. For some reason someone did stamp it DZ.

Lifters- Solid lifters for sure.

Not sure if the crank and pistons were switched out to the LT1 specifications since I haven't opened it up. I'd like to look at the rods and pistons to see what's there. I assume they raised the compression.

This car was owned in late 70's by the owner of Martin Chevrolet. I spoke to the long time sales manager just last week and he said the owner, now deceased, and his sons liked fast cars and it's likely he had his service dept build a hot engine. Who knows?

Whoever built the engine knew what they were doing according to Greg. Looks like they wanted an LT1. It runs and sounds good. Not a 302 but a real good upgrade from the original 74 Z28 engine. Car will be for sale in the classifieds soon.

Greg also confirmed the intake I have (not the one on the car) is a Z28 from 68 or 69. That is also for sale and will be in classifieds. In the meantime, If you are interested in the car or intake just let me know.

Thanks a lot to Greg for helping me decode the engine.

Neal this probably doesn't help much, but back in 81 I owned both 69 Z28 and 74 Z28 at the same time. The 74 was all original with the exception of the camshaft the original owner had swapped out. I was the 2nd owner of the 74 Z.

I rebuilt the 74 Z and the L82 short bock is almost identical to the LT1 except it does not have solid lifters and used flat top forged TRW pistons with the single slot style valve relief. The L82 used the same pinked connecting rods and forged steel crank, windage tray and oil pump and pan as the LT1. So I don't think you'll find anything too surprising if you tear it down other than the difference in the pistons. The L82 also used the blue tip hardened push rods, you'll easily ID these by the blue stripe at the upper end of the push rod, guide plates, screw in studs, 2.02 and 1.60 valves, but in the huge 76 cc chamber cylinder heads. The L82 is a really solid short block that doesn't get the credit it deserves today and would make a good bottom end for a performance build if you added aftermarket heads, cam and intake to it.

SY1- Thanks for the input on the L82 block. From what you have said, I basically have an LTI engine with the addition of the intake, heads, and solid lifters. I just checked the push rods and they are the hardened ones with the blue stripe. The only question is the pistons.

The engine was built in the mid seventies by the dealership owner. Sounds like he knew what he wanted. Huge improvement over the stock 245hp Z28 from the factory while using Chevy's OEM good stuff.