67 Corvette L88 engine

**Rixls6** · #1 10-20-2006, 12:09 AM

I'd like to get opinions on an engine I recently bought. It has a stamped code of T0609IT, casting number 3904351, dated E-5-7.
It came with 3904392 Aluminum heads dated 2-16-67 and 3-3-67 and they have several other stampings on them.

Does the engine code look like an original, and do any of the extra stampings on the heads mean anything? (See Pics)

This all came out of a 72 RS camaro from the Chicago area that had been sitting with this engine in it since 1986, and was purchased that way in 1984.
Anybody hear about this car years ago?

**Rixls6** · #2 10-20-2006, 12:11 AM

Sorry about the messy looking post. I just wanted to get all the thumbnails on at one time.

Rick

**Rixls6** · #3 10-21-2006, 01:11 AM

No opinions on the engine pad stamp?

Any thoughts abouts the "extra" stampings on the alumium heads?

**scuncio** · #4 10-21-2006, 07:32 PM

I'm not a stamp expert so I'll defer that question. I did have a 67 dated pair of 392 heads a few years ago that I do not remember having those type of stamps. Wish I could be more helpful; looks like a super cool find, though.

nuch_ss396 · #5 10-22-2006, 01:46 AM

I remember that shops used to put identifying stamp marks
on the heads they rebuilt. I wonder if that explains these
marks.

**Rixls6** · #6 10-22-2006, 02:42 AM

Some of the stampings on the heads could be from a rebuilder. I also think that some of them may be from original assembly at the Tonowanda plant, but I really don't know.

The heads appear to have been rebuilt once, or at least shaved once. The block is still standard bore, and doesn't appear to have been redone ever.

I'd be surprised if an engine rebuilder would put that many stamps on each head on a rebuild.

I'm trying to trace the history of the engine to determine how much has been done to it.

Verne_Frantz · #7 10-22-2006, 04:27 AM

There's no VIN on the deck, so it's a service assembly. Worth BIG money to a Vette guy with a hammer (and all the docs he can buy).................

**427king** · #8 10-22-2006, 07:40 AM

I believe the triangle stamp on the end of one head meant that that particular head came on a motor assembly and was not bought over the counter in boxes .For some reason the 392 heads but not 842s followed this rule.At least that theory has held true for 4 or 5 motors that i have that were known original assemblys[1 real L88, 1 real L89, and 3 OTC assemblies that were never taken apart.that is a good pool of engines i believe based on production of L88s at 20 and L89s at 16]],you dont usually find unassemebled 67 L88 or L89s with known factory installed heads anymore so finding any more examples is very difficult. I also have 3 sets of NOS 1967 392s and none have the triangle,which may further serve as proof.

**Rixls6** · #9 10-22-2006, 01:38 PM

Thanks for the responses.
I would hope that if anyone were to use this engine in a "Real" 67 L88 Vette, they would leave the stamp pad alone and just use it as is and be happy to find a correct replacement engine.

At least it would be better than a "CE", right?

King, thanks for letting me know about the other "392"s you have had with the "triangle" stamp.

I didn't post a picture of the other head stamp that is on the valve cover rail. It is similar to the triangle one on the end of the head. That all helps me believe that these heads are the originals to this engine.
I'll post some pics of the other head stamping.
Rick

**Hotrodpaul** · #10 10-22-2006, 06:13 PM

These low mile 842 3/69 and 5/69 dated L89 heads have very similar stamps. I always wondered what the H C and triangle stamps meant.

Paul

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