SBC Engine ID Help

Hey guys. Picked up a 65 C10 a couple weeks ago and was told it's a 327 but I'm doubting that. The back of the block stamp is 3970010 with the googles says is 302, 327, or 350. The front pad has code CKH which I'm finding is 307 (wouldn't be with 3970010), 305, 327, or 350. The VIN on the pad is 17B529570, and I'm not finding anything about that. I think the 2nd digit being 7 means the year is either 67 or 77, but I'm not sure. Any help would be appreciated!

Pics for clicks

starting in 70 gm went to a vin based engine number

1: chevrolet

7: 1977

B: baltimore

529570 = matches vehicle it was in originally. 

ckh = 350

The thing with old school small block Chevies is that they're so modular and, by now have probably been apart multiple time, that you can't really tell what you've got without measuring the internals.  According to David Vizard's How to Rebuild Your Small-Block Chevy blocks with casting number you've got were used for '68-69 327s in Corvettes, Camaros and other high-performance applications and 4 bolt main 350s in truck and high-performance applications from '68-79. 

Both 327s and 350s have 4" bores.  It's a pretty safe bet that that's what your block has but after all this time, what it's got for a crank and other internals is anyone's guess.  You could try and measure the stroke through a spark plug hole.  A 350 will have a 3.480" stroke while a 327 will have a 3.25" stroke.

I appreciate the info guys

Best reference I have ever found is mortec.  www.mortec.com

If its a 1977 motor, then it has to be a 350, since the 302 and 327 were not offered in that year with that casting number.  As a matter of fact they were not offered past 1969, ruling out any chance it is either one of those motors.  

2 bolt or 4 bolt main isnt really worth worrying about in a putt-putt iron head motor.  

Of course it's a 327.  I'm sure the seller swore up and down it had fuelie heads and came out of a wrecked '64 Corvette from California.  Probably even the one Jan Berry wrecked.  

Anywho...cool truck

The only way it's not a 350 is if someone threw a short crank in it to make it a 327... which is possible, but strange.

A 401 CJ said:

Of course it's a 327.  I'm sure the seller swore up and down it had fuelie heads and came out of a wrecked '64 Corvette from California.  Probably even the one Jan Berry wrecked.  

 

Anywho...cool truck

Probably a DZ302.  Also "corvette" motor.  And 3/4 cam.

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

The only way it's not a 350 is if someone threw a short crank in it to make it a 327... which is possible, but strange.

IIRC there were no forged large journal 3.25" stroke cranks, so if someone DID do that then it was with a 307 crank.