69 Z28 motor / trans authentication

[Toro Guy]

Hello, I'm looking at a 69 Z28 for sale. I'm trying to figure out if the motor and trans are original to the car.

It's a Norwood X33 car built the 3rd week of April 69. The block casting number is 3956618. The painted (should it be painted or bare?) engine pad is stamped V0411DZ. The block casting date however is D108, which is over a year before the motor was built. Seems a too big of a gap between casting and assembly. The owner can find no VIN derivative stamp either on the pad or down on the oil filter boss.

The trans Muncie code is P9A22C, January 22, 69 model year, M22.  No VIN stamp on that either. (Also, are M22s rare on Z28's? Should that raise a red flag?)

I know in the Corvette world VIN derivatives are stamped on both engine and trans, and that block casting date and assembly date gap is just too big.

So, my question is, is this motor trans original to the car or not.

Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks, Chris

[JohnZ]

Are you sure it's not D 10 9 (instead of D 10 ? Conventional wisdom says the 6618 block wasn't used until December of 1968, through April of 1969. In any event, if it began life in a car, both the block and the transmission would have the VIN derivative stamped on them. There's no way an April, 1969 car would have an April, 1968 6618 block. Got a photo of the stamp pad? A painted pad is always a red flag to me, as it hides the impressions and the pad surface characteristics.

[Toro Guy]

John, I asked the guy same question as you did...(sure the "8" is not a "9"?) He was emphatic that it's an 8.

Anyway, interesting that the 6618 block was not used until late 68.

I will contact seller with this new info and see what he says.

Thanks, Chris

[Toro Guy]

John, was the 6618 block used in any other Chevy applications besides the Z28?

Thanks, Chris

[Ericamaro]

just a quick note my 6618 block A 13 9 really looks like an 8 on first inspection but looking closer you can clearly see that it is a 9 there is just the tiniest  gap on the left side of the 9

[JohnZ]

John, was the 6618 block used in any other Chevy applications besides the Z28?

Thanks, Chris

Yes, that block was used on MANY other car and truck applications from '69-'76.

[jdv69z]

VIN stamp should be on both engine and trans if they are original to car. On trans, VIN stamp is right next to build date code.

Jimmy V.

[firstgenaddict]

The vin derivative on the engine and trans should display the same characteristics...
So if one has an inverted number or an out of line number the other should as well or if one has a 3 with a flat top... so should the other.
They were stamped one after the other with the same gang stamp.

Also I have a 618 DZ  casting date is D79 and the nine looks very much like an 8.

[KurtS]

John, was the 6618 block used in any other Chevy applications besides the Z28?

Thanks, Chris

Yes, that block was used on MANY other car and truck applications from '69-'76.

Correction, that block was used on other car and truck applications in 69. It's a 69 only block.