I purchased a 1971 LS3 SS396 camaro from Canada. It has the GM of Canada documentation stating it is an original SS car with all the options. The dealer ship to name and address matches the protecto plate I found in the car. The engine block has the VIN stamp that matches the VIN on the dash, however the suffix is CLB, which would denote a 1972 block. The 71 396 (really 402) is supposed to have a suffix of CLD.
The car was built in May of 1971 and the engine code does show a May date. Did someone play with the block or could this be valid??

[ 08-10-2003, 03:16 PM: Message edited by: 71SSLS3 ]

71SS,
In "Chevrolet By the Numbers" (70-75) pg 59, it shows CLB as Camaro, 402, THM 400.
This code was used in 71 and 72.

HTH
Virgil

http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/spcodea.html

Mike has a very good web site over at Nastyz28.com dealing with 2nd Gen Camaro 's

Thats not a prefix, its a suffix.