your thoughts on date code 302

[wolfie]

Hi all
Ihave a x77 built first week of may.
I would like opinions, I have access to a late febuary dated complete 302.
Do you think that is to big of a time span or a resonable date.
Thank's for your opinion

[firstgenaddict]

Possible Yes... Plausible No

[LT12NV]

Probably too early.....The most i've ever seen is about 3 weeks from engine assembly date to car build date

[dab67]

The casting date of an engine is typically within 30 days of the buid date of the engine and normally not more than 90 days before that build date. In my opinion if those dates are all within reason and your car was completed the first week of May, I don't see a problem with  using it as a "numbers matching" but not original engine. My opinion.

dab67

[william]

I have a small db of DZ engine dates relative to VIN. February is not even close to correct for an 05A car.

[x77-69z28]

i have an o5A x77 car. the casting date is d49. feb is also too early. there were three different blocks used on 69 302's. feb would be a 618 block. 05A would be an 010 block.

[jdv69z]

I have 10B build date Z; Engine assy date is Sept; Block casting date is I 23 8 - Aug; Only about 6 weeks from block casting to assembled Camaro.

Jimmy V

[dab67]

So wolfe, what is the casting number of the block??? based on x77, it should be a 618. 3 different blocks to chose from in 69, who knows what is right.

dab67

[JohnZ]

I have 10B build date Z; Engine assy date is Sept; Block casting date is I 23 8 - Aug; Only about 6 weeks from block casting to assembled Camaro.

Jimmy V

I 23 8 is September 23rd, not August.

[jdv69z]

OOPS! My mistake. Then from block casting to final assembled Camaro is only about 3 weeks.

Jimmy V

[wolfie]

Hi everyone thanks for your input.
hopefully I can find a closer dated block some day.
Sorry dab67 I can't remember the casting # ,it's been a month or so since I looked at the block.
I guess it would have helped to write all the info down.
While i am at it any thoughts on the trans #"s I should be looking for. It was originaly built with an M21close ratio
Thanks again
Wolfie

[tyrfryrtom]

Hi all
Ihave a x77 built first week of may.
I would like opinions, I have access to a late febuary dated complete 302.
Do you think that is to big of a time span or a resonable date.
Thank's for your opinion

What is the vin# stamped by the oil filter housing?

[Flowjoe]

My friend's Z is a norwood car also built 05A.  His block appeared to be original as it had a vaild build date of 0425 and a cast date of D89 and block casting number of 3932388 (as well as other tell-tale signs of correctness).  The VIN was stamped by the oil filter (although very hard to see).  My Z is also an 05A norwood car but unfortunately it has a CE block from before I owned it (I bought it in '84) so I can't add any data from there.

[firstgenaddict]

That block has been cut.
There are no broach marks at all.

[Flowjoe]

I tried to include other pictures showing the pertinent numbers but they didn't attach...here is the VIN stamping.

I'm no expert on broach marks so you could be right about the lack of broach marks. Although it didn't have the look of a block that had been entirely surfaced nor have the "fakey" broach marks added.  Besides the casting date of the block jiving with the car I thought the location of the VIN stamp (by the oil filter) was more legit.  Or put another way, if someone were to go to the trouble to locate a date correct block, surface and stamp a plausable build date why not stamp the partial VIN next to the build date as well?  (instead of hidden down on the oil filter boss)... Perhaps someone else will chime in with an opinion.

the car did have a plausible date on the carb,   a proper intake, wrong heads (dart heads originally now 186's) but a correct bottom end as well.  So at least someone went to great lengths to fake the car if it is fake...he bought it 6 or 7 years ago so before teh market went totally insane (BTW it does have an X-33 code on the trim tag)

PS I realize the VIN is nearly impossible to see in the photo but  in "real life" one can make out the numbers