I'm in the process of rebuilding the engine that came out of my car that was not original to it. I've found that its a rare casting (3932388) and I will try to get as much as I can out of it to pay for parts I need that are going to cost me an arm and a leg too. But my main goal would be to try and find if the car this came out of is still around. I am giving the numbers off of this engine and hopefully the word will get out and if the car is still around I would like it to go back in the car if possible. 9L529817 V0407DZ. If this isn't the right place for this please let me know if there is a more appropriate place for this. Of course I would like to find my original motor if possible as well a V0506MO. I will not give the vin as someone already tried to tell me they had it and now they are in jail! :p

Nope, nothing on that VIN in the database.
The 388 block is not rare, it's as common as the 386 block.
Can I get a picture of the engine pad? :)

Thanks!

I guess I should have added that its a 302. I was lead to believe that was not a common casting for 302. There was a discussion lately about one for sale on E-bay that went for over $5k as a bare block, anyway.... I will get a picture as soon as it comes back from the machine shop. Then I will need some help on how to do that. Thanks.

Harv, Kurt and the CRG folks know that block well. There has been much discussion about that block in here too, since awhile ago, some books called it 'rare'. In the last few years it seems the ...388 block has finally been recognized as being as common as the ...386 block. Old papers and articles and websites have not updated or kept up with it. It was used in a wide variety of chev cars from the camaro to the Impala. It was used in Z's and SS cars and a large number of 69 Pace Cars have it too. Dont let anyone tell you its 'rare' anymore. Its not. :)
If someone sold one on ebay claiming its a rare block, they either had old info. or were hoping the buyer didnt do his homework.