Found 1969 DZ Block Dated April 1969 NO VIN?

[Jeff L]

Hello,

I just purchased a 1962 corvette from my wife's uncle's estate in Iowa, the car showed up with a running 302 DZ block & Intake.  The block is 39700100  D3Z  D29 9 April 29, 1969 the front pad reads VO0506DZ  there is no VIN.  The shop I had the car shipped to in PA insists that this block was not altered in any way and was purchased from GM hence it was not stamped "CE"

The intake is 3932472 and heads unfortunately are not correct.   I'm interested in finding out anything I can about this engine and perhaps letting it go to a restoration.

I have traced the history back to 1975 before the trail when cold.  Will post more pictures tomorrow when I visit the shop but this was taken before the car was shipped from Iowa.

Any info appreciated.

Jeff
 

[Kelley W King]

There was a Maroon 62 in NC a friend had about 73 that had a 302 in it. The guy who had was named Butch Chambers. I remember riding in it and it was fast. I don,t recall seeing it here since then.

[Jeff L]

Here are the pictures of the front pad and more close up's from the back.  You can clearly see that the VIN has not been removed and is a DZ block that was never stamped???

Could this be some sort of privateer race engine that came from GM

[Jeff L]

And some more pictures

[bertfam]

Jeff, the VIN will be stamped down by the oil filter. HERE'S a drawing showing where to look. It's a very rough surface, so it may be difficult to make out.

Ed

[Jeff L]

Hi Ed, thanks for the help.  I took these pictures at the Shop on Friday, as you can see there was NO VIN stamped in the alternate location.   It was very difficult to get my phone in the spot so a couple turned out fuzzy but are clear enought to tell that there was no VIN. 

It would seem that I have an unstamped DZ block dated April 29 1969.

Jeff

[lynnbilodeau]

I have a December 68 DZ block.  The vin derivitive stamp is so faint, I cannot get any character to show in any photo, even after enhancing the photos.  With a jeweler's lupe, I can make out the "N" and a possible trace of either a "7" or a "1".  The "N" is the only reason I know the attempt to stamp was even made.  The guy I bought the block from swore there was no vin derivitive stamp at all.  Turned out there was, but ever so slight.

You might try looking with high magnification.  There is a chance you will see at least some evidence of stamping, just like I did.

[Jeff L]

Thanks, a Jewlers loop might show something, but I did take the pictures of the top of the pad with a Nikon D80 in RAW format, zooming in there appears to be nothing stamped.

Could someone have purchsed a 302 DZ from GM in 1969 to go racing, hence no VIN would have been stamped on the engine?  Or were there privateer teams that might have gotten an engine out the back door.  If so there must be other examples of non stamped engines out there, perhaps in historic race cars, museums, private collections?

Anyone have any ideas, assuming of course that my block was never stamped with a VIN.

Thanks,

Jeff

[x77-69z28]

it would not have been stamped DZ if it was an over the counter engine. my vin stamp is very clear, but my friends january built dz block is not. i guess it dependede on who stamped it.

[william]

Or were there privateer teams that might have gotten an engine out the back door.

If you really want to know what racing a Chevrolet product was like back in the day I recommend the following books:

"Chevrolet = Racing?" by Paul Van Valkenburgh
"Best Damn Garage In Town" by Smokey Yunick
"the unfair advantage" by Mark Donohue

Very, very few racers got anything substantial out of Chevrolet.

[firstgenaddict]

There are 5-7 DZ blocks I know about dated Early April-Early May that have no VINs, I purchased a low mile std bore 618 V0409DZ a few years back with no indication of vin ever anywhere... at that time started receiving emails about other Z's with real DZ's and no VIN's in the April May time frame.

Firebird production was being phased into Norwood from Lordstown at this time (April May) along with the introduction of the Trans Am. I am not at all familiar with how the firebirds and camaros were separated for assembly after the body build at Fisher Norwood, so anything I stated would be speculation at best... I bet it was a wild time...Firebirds being phased in, Trans Ams, Pace Cars...being there would have been interesting to say the least!

[69Z28-RS]

The VINs stamped by the oil filter are EXTREMELY difficult to see (much less read).    I finally removed my engine and disassembled it and took the block out in bright sunlight..  cleaned it... penciled it..  chalked it..  etc..  trying to see if there was a VIN on it..  Finally, when the bright light is *just right*..    you pick up ONE character..  and then you can begin to make out the rest.    Taking a photograph of it is extremely difficult even in the best of circumstances, even if you know it's there..  and where it is. . etc...   so I'd guess that this engine has a VIN on the cast surface, but the owner just hasn't looked in the perfect circumstances yet. .

[firstgenaddict]

The possibility does exist that there is no VIN stamp, however with the engine in the vehicle it is virtually impossible to make a positive determination as to whether or not there is anything there. Out of focus pics do nothing to help the case... The only way to be sure is to pull it and post pics using different lighting etc.

I used a tripod, macro lens, and lighting from every different angle and could not find any trace of any letter number or etc on the DZ I had.