72 350
Block casting code 3970010 or 3970040
Stamp pad is 12S500560 V0812ckx or
V08120kx

Any help would be appreciated
hope no body ate toooo much
Thanks
Al

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Block casting code should be 3970010- This block was used in the 350 200 hp and 255 hp.

Stamp pad:

the 12s500560 is the part of the vin number of the vette. it would have been the 560th vette made that year. The 1 is probably a K meaning 350 200 hp.

CKX means 350ci , 200hp with auto.

I am not sure about the Vo812 in the begining of the code.

Thanks Larry that helps
Al

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Try this web site http://www.mortec.com/

It means the engine was assembled August 12th

I think the block casting number 3970010 was used for all GM 350 HD and HP applications. I kept an engine from a 75 Chevy Van with this same casting number. It has a 4 bolt main and 882 casting heads. My 69 coupe has the same cast block. I do not know what year they changed the casting number.

Just for a little trivial pursuit here. The block casting # 3970010 covers the 350 SB from '69-'79.
HP within this # was 185hp-370hp. 2 or 4 bolt mains
and was in cars, trucks and vette's.
Sarge

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

Hey Sarge, I have an 80 vette 350/330hp that I bought from Pace Performance. I notice that you have the same engine , I think , if so you say that you have the true dual exhaust on yours, could you tell me i f it's the one from Mid America , because I bought the same one but havn't installed it yet due to CT. emissions. I have to wait until May 04 to install it . Question is do you still have the stock exhaust manifolds on it and was it as easy as Mid America says it is to install, and if you don't have the stock manifolds on it what kind of headers did you put on and was that pretty straight forward. Your input would be appreciated.

Thanks Tom

8ty vette said: Hey Sarge, I have an 80 vette 350/330hp that I bought from Pace Performance. I notice that you have the same engine , I think , if so you say that you have the true dual exhaust on yours, could you tell me i f it's the one from Mid America , because I bought the same one but havn't installed it yet due to CT. emissions. I have to wait until May 04 to install it . Question is do you still have the stock exhaust manifolds on it and was it as easy as Mid America says it is to install, and if you don't have the stock manifolds on it what kind of headers did you put on and was that pretty straight forward. Your input would be appreciated. Thanks Tom

Hi Tom, mine is also a GMPP 350 H.O. crate engine. And yes, the exhaust is from Mid-America. I just removed the manifolds a few days ago and put in a set of FlowTech ceramic coated headers. When I first put the duals on everything went well until I tried to get the mufflers in. I ended up taking it to a muffler shop to have the pipes "tweaked" a little and fit the mufflers in. Cost me $50. The car will have to go back to the muffler shop to have the pipes "tweaked" again to properly match up the the header collectors. I cut the turn downs off, and noticed that there is no way that the collector to pipe will match up. And I did leave the pipes cut a little on the long side, so after they do some bending they won't end up to short. It is a nice system, and it does pick up the performance, but don't be surprized if you have to take a trip to the local muffler shop. Hopefully you'll be lucky and get a good fitting system.

BTW- Car Craft (Feb issue) is doing a "build-up" on our particular engine! 1st test was done with stock restrictive manifolds, they got 320hp/354ft.lbs. 2nd test with headers, they got 341hp/383ft.lbs.(March issue) will have part 2 of the build-up!
Sarge

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

Hi Sarge, Thanks for the reply, when you say you had to have the pipes tweaked do you mean the exhaust pipes had to be bent slightly to fit the mufflers so they fit nice on the car like if you were looking at the stock set-up. Now lets talk headers! The Flow Tech ceramics that you bought, were they a bitch to put in, and where did you get them and if you don't mind me asking, what was the cost for them? By the way, our crate engine is a far cry with the performance then the stock dog that came with it. I put the Edelbrock Performer intake with the Holley 670 Street Avenger on and it goes like a bat out of hell. I also changed the rear diff gears from the stock 3.08 to 3.55 that to made a big differance. I kind of wish I went to the 3.36 instead though. With the 3.55 it's turning 3200/3500 @ 75mph which is what I like to drive at ( even faster if I can ) but none the less it's a sweet set-up, glad I made the change. Good luck with the new install.

Keep it under a 100mph

Thanks again Tom

Hi Tom, my term "tweaked" does mean bent slightly. I got my headers on Ebay for $247- brand new. The hardest part of the installation was removing and reinstalling the "Z-bar" or known as clutch linkage. Everything else was pretty straight forward. Talk to later!
Sarge

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.