In my area a gentleman is selling a factory GM JH coded motor that he says has never been ran or opened up and the heads are still welded to the block from the factory. Sure enough on the back of the motor there are small welds to the heads and block. Did GM weld its BBC heads to the blocks? I have never seen such a thing. It's a nice looking motor, no VIN, so probably a crate motor.
Were BBC heads "welded" to block from the factory?
x44d80
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Nope they never welded heads on to the block from the factory.
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612 Posts
i vote some sort of sillycone sealant 
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13,698 Posts
I guess, in a change-over casting situation, it 'might' have been possible or happened, but ... normally the plant would attempt to use the incoming castings via FIFO procedure before changing to newer units ...
I've worked on a lot of these engines for many years - and never seen 'mixed' castings on original assemblies.
The casting dates (which of course he doesn't list
) would have to be very exact matches to the assembly date normalities for me to even consider buying it ... Same for the Intake ...
Pictures didn't load for me.
Try the link again. Here it is. It loads fine for me.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=11383350&cat=&lpid=&search=camaro
Just to clarify this a bit, IN ALMOST ALL CASES, if it was a CE block it only received that stamping. Something like CE960005. If it was a regular JH block, it got code something like T0711JH.
I have heard of one EXTREMELY RARE cases where an engine had both. That was apparently when an engine failed at the factory still during assembly or somewhere still at the plant. But I don't have any details and I don't understand why it would have both stampings.
Maybe John knows about this and could elaborate?
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If this engine is a 396 375 the push rods should be 7/16" and they do not look as though they are in the photos.
I would run away from this deal.
I would run away from this deal.
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1,463 Posts
First off,that little blob on the back of one head cant be a weld,and second off,the amont of heat required to weld cast iron and the long amount of time that it would need to be applied for would destroy the gasket and probably destroy the block and head. To weld cast iron you need to get it hot and keep it hot for a while,and when you are done,all machined surfaces of the part will be warped and need remachining. So you couldnt really weld the heads to a block.
And what is the date on the engine,July of 68 or July of 69? They only give the stamped date not the casting date.
And what is the date on the engine,July of 68 or July of 69? They only give the stamped date not the casting date.
Has to be a 69 casting date. I missed that part. The 854 block was not released until late 69.
Casting dates on all components would help.
No matter what, I think it is WAY overpriced.
I thought all 396 used 3/8" rods. I thought 7/16 were LS6 and 427/430, and I think, ZL1.
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1,463 Posts
L78's used 7/16 rods and full floating wrist pins as far as I know. The engine was designed to make power at 7000+ rpm. Should have a nitrided steel crank and 11:1 forged pistons too.
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3,652 Posts
Obviously a hodge podge of parts.
Factory welds?
However, I have seen one small block that had mixed heads from the factory. January 1969 Caprice 300 hp 350 had a 186 head on one side and an 041 head on the other side from the factory. Don't know if it was a Flint or Tonawanda engine.
Factory welds?
However, I have seen one small block that had mixed heads from the factory. January 1969 Caprice 300 hp 350 had a 186 head on one side and an 041 head on the other side from the factory. Don't know if it was a Flint or Tonawanda engine.
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