The numbers on the front pad on the block of my 69 camaro engine read T0917DE What does the DE suffix code mean? I can't even find anything similar listed. The casting # is 3970024 and has a suffix code AFX . What does that stand for?

BJ, T0917DE is for a 307/200 (with 4 speed) installed in a 1969 Nova, Chevelle or Camaro. Yours was assembed at the Tonawanda, NY engine plant on September 17th, 1969.

Ed

on a side note by sept. 17 1969 nova and chevelle production would have been for the 1970 model year , right?

on a side note by sept. 17 1969 nova and chevelle production would have been for the 1970 model year , right?

Yes and no. You're right about the September 17th, 1969 date being correct for a 1970 model year Nova or Chevelle, but the 1970 model year cars used a three letter code for the engine suffix so this engine was installed in a EARLY 1969 Nova or Chevelle, or a LATE 1969 Camaro.

In this case, if the casting date on the block is September xx, 1968, then it would have been installed in a early 1969 Nova or Chevelle. If it's September xx, 1969, then it would have been installed in a late 1969 Camaro.

Ed

that was my point . excluding the nova and chevelle as possibilities .

that was my point . excluding the nova and chevelle as possibilities .

Almost. While it's a "given" that the engine most likely (almost positively) came from a late Camaro, you can't exclude the Nova or the Chevelle as possibilities IF you go strictly by the DE suffix code since it was also used on these two models. HOWEVER, the 3970024 block was a 1970 and later production, so usage in an early 1969 Nova or Chevelle is just about impossible. Again though, to verify the application, the casting date of the block would give positive proof (or the VIN stamp).

Ed

i don't really want this to go on too much longer but i was basing my post on the assembly date of the block . the only 69 model being built in sept 69 was the camaro . so why build an engine for a car which is now being produced as a 70 model .like you even state the 70 models had the 3 letter designations. gm always stopped yearly production in late June and resumed with the new model year in early sept . at Tarrytown we NEVER built a car after mid June and were always recalled by the first week in sept. so again there were no 69 novas and chevells being built in sept. of 69 . those plant were building 70 models by then

i was basing my post on the assembly date of the block

Mike, the assembly date stamped on the block doesn't show the year. Only the month and day. So based only on that date, it could be either September 17th, 1968, or September 17th, 1969. There's no way to know based on just that stamping.

However, as stated before, the block is a 3970024 casting, and that wasn't used in 1968, so this is a Camaro engine.

Ed

I don't believe they were building 307s in Sept 68.

I don't believe they were building 307s in Sept 68.

The 307 was produced for the 1968 model year but was not used in the Camaro.

69 Camaro production went on until the second week of November 1969. 70 Camaro production didn't start until feb or 1970. The engine is a 307 engine installed in a 69 Camaro.

69 Camaro production went on until the second week of November 1969. 70 Camaro production didn't start until feb or 1970. The engine is a 307 engine installed in a 69 Camaro. OK guys, thanks for that information but here is something else to confuse everyone. There was never a vin stamped on the front engine pad , but the other numbers look untouched and original and I'm almost certain that the engine is original to the car . The car only has 83k. miles on it and still has all of the original interior in good condition, so it looks unmolested.. Did they ever leave off a VIN# ? Now another question , The car was taken apart for a fresh restoration and thats the way I bought it. The data plate says X11 which shows SS350 - STG. and I found all of the SS emblems in the boxes of parts when I went through everything. I am not aware of an SS with a 307, correct ? Or could this have been special ordered with a 307 . The car does have rare options such as 4 speed with console gauges and tach in the dash and power top, so it seem that they did some special ordering.

x11 does not mean SS, so lets get that out in front. x11 is a style trim indicator. You need to read the CRG site info. (http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml) on how to decode. There was no 307 SS at all. The SS could only be 350 or 396

x11 does not mean SS, so lets get that out in front. x11 is a style trim indicator. You need to read the CRG site info. (http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml) on how to decode. There was no 307 SS at all. The SS could only be 350 or 396 Not important to me if it is or isn't , just trying to find out some information about the car. So what is the style trim package and what does it include. Keep in mind that I bought this car all apart so I don't know what is supposed to be there for trim etc. This car already has an SS hood so I'll probably keep it just because I like the look.

and original and I'm almost certain that the engine is original to the car . The car only has 83k. miles on it and still has all of the original interior in good condition, so it looks unmolested.. Did they ever leave off a VIN# ? Now another question , The car was taken apart for a fresh restoration and thats the way I bought it. .

Not trying to bust balls but if the car was all apart how can you tell the interior is original or correct to the car?

Also, as for the engine. It could be a longshot but the car could have had an engine failure and they happened to find a 69 camaro 307 to replace it with.

the partial vin could be at the rear of the block. This is the only way to clear up if this is the original engine anf if this is a SS car.

In the 1969 model year, the partial VIN for V8 engines was stamped in either of two locations: on the engine pad or near the oil filter (http://www.camaros.net/forums/#EngineStampLocations). The alternator was moved to the passenger side in 1969 which covered the engine stamp pad and caused the VIN stamp to be relocated by the oil filter. The block in this area is raw unmachined casting which makes this stamp difficult to see. The Norwood plant stamped the VIN on the engine pad on early cars and moved the stamp by the oil filter in the December 68 timeframe.

I just checked the numbers back by the oil filter and they match the last numbers of the VIN but were very hard to read in the rough casting . Had to use a bright light and a magnifying glass but they read as follows , 1N693183 and my VIN is 124679N693183 What is the number 1 ? Anyone know ?

The first 1 just stands for Chevrolet. It should say 19N693183. The last 6 numbers match, so this appears to be your original engine for your car.

The first 1 just stands for Chevrolet. It should say 19N693183. The last 6 numbers match, so this appears to be your original engine for your car. Thanks for confirming that. I was pretty sure it was the original engine because the car only has around 83k on it and unmolested.

Did you buy this car out of Saltsburg?
I'm not sure the car used to have gauges, I thought it had just a tach.

What's the casting date on the block?

Thanks!

Did you buy this car out of Saltsburg?
I'm not sure the car used to have gauges, I thought it had just a tach.

What's the casting date on the block?

Thanks! No, The guy lives in Sarver Pa. but he did live in the saltsburg area near Outlaw Performance , before moving to Sarver. The casting number is 3970024 . The casting date looks like Jan. 10 9 .Do you know anything about the history about this car? He did say that it used to belong to a local dentist in Sarver.

I don't have any other history on the car.
Can you take a pic of that casting date? Sounds way early for that block.
I'd also be interested if you find the trans and axle codes. :)

I dated a girl who lived in Sarver, IIRC.

Thanks!

I don't have any other history on the car.
Can you take a pic of that casting date? Sounds way early for that block.
I'd also be interested if you find the trans and axle codes. :)

I dated a girl who lived in Sarver, IIRC.

Thanks! I don't know how you post pictures on here. The casting number and information that I posted is what is on there.

You can email them to me at KurtS2@ gmail.com.

Thanks!
Kurt

I recall hearing ALOT about a strike in late 69 that postponed 70 model production until after January of 1970.
I've been told that this is why 70 Camaros are sometimes referred to as 70 1/2. I have only heard this term referring to Camaros.
I have seen threads on this board of 1969 model year cars with build dates of Dec. 1969.
I may have mis-interpreted some or all of what I have read though.
Please correct me if what I thought I knew is incorrect.
Thank-You

Incorrect.
http://www.camaros.org/geninfo.shtml#When