1970 Nova engine VIN

Vern B · #1 11-05-2008, 04:07 AM

Could someone tell me if there is a VIN stamped on a Nova block (396/402) like the Camaro's and it's location? By the oil filter, or on the flange where trans. bolts up?

I'm looking at a car to purchase and know how to decode pretty much everything, but not sure if there was a VIN stamped on the engine and where.

Allen · #2 11-05-2008, 04:42 AM

For the Nova, I've only seen them up on the pad by the engine code in front of the passenger side head.

Vern B · #3 11-05-2008, 06:18 PM

Allen

Thank's for the info.

Vern Bauer

Als 70 L78 Nova · #4 11-06-2008, 02:37 AM

I have a 1970 L78 Nova SS, 4-speed car if you need any photos or help.

Vern B · #5 11-06-2008, 03:05 AM

Thank's for the info and help. I looked at the car tonite and pretty much everything checks out, but not sure about the engine stamp.

The build date of the car is 02C.......3rd week of Feb.
The engine stamp is T0616CKO which seems too far off from the build date. Not sure if it could possibly be 06 of 69?

Also, the 6 digit VIN is there slightly to the right and lower than the engine stamp and matches the cars VIN, but I did not see the 10W in front of it like yours. Not sure if they stamped that all the time or sometime just the 6 digit VIN? I may have missed it also, as it was getting dark and a little difficult to look around the alt.

Als 70 L78 Nova · #6 11-06-2008, 03:57 AM

With a 3rd week of Feb build date, that would put the engine build date 8 months prior to the car. Don't believe that would ever happen.

Als 70 L78 Nova · #7 11-06-2008, 04:05 AM

Here is an old photo showing how they were laid out on my pad.

Vern B · #8 11-06-2008, 04:07 AM

My thoughts also. Ca'nt understand why someone would go to the effort of re stamping an engine and not make it correct.
Why restamp it 8 months prior to the build date of the car or 4 months after the build date if it is a 1970 built engine?

I know the two previous owners that have owned the car back to 1993 and ownership is known back to 1973. All previous owners say this is the original engine, not a replacement.
Wonder if anyone was restamping blocks prior to 1973?

Vern B · #9 11-06-2008, 04:10 AM

That's pretty much like this one except the 10W is not there, or I missed it. The numbers are a little smaller than the engine stamping.

Als 70 L78 Nova · #10 11-06-2008, 04:26 AM

Check the build date on the block. That could answer it.