Block ID Help

[Mark H.]

The story I'm told is a 1970 Corvette engine in a 1971 coupe. I don't think so. I don't have the engine casting number yet, but the pad reads:

11B528245 K09 28 CTL.

Assuming it is a 1970 block, I decipher K09 28 as a block from the Quebec plant, dated September 28, with CTL meaning 350/300HP. Can anyone confirm? Also, I am at a loss to understand the first sequence. I thought it should be the VIN derivative, but the number of characters and the "B" have me confused. Thoughts? Thanks much.

Mark

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Block ID Help

No not a Corvette. The partial VIN is a giveaway. 11B is Chevrolet, 1971, Baltimore.

K - McKinnon Industries (whoever that is)
09 - Sept
28 - 28th day
CTL - Chevelle Camaro or Nova 350, Turbo Hydramatic L-65

Don't think Camaro was built in Baltimore. :-)

[Mark H.]

Re: Block ID Help

I don't think it is a 1971 engine because the engine code (CTL) was used in 1970, but not in 1971.

Or, could it be a 1971 replacement engine made in Canada for a car/truck built in Baltimore?

I'm confused.

[Terry M.]

Re: Block ID Help

CTL was reused in the later 1970s for another application. I have a tendency to look things up now days, having NCRS disease

A search reveals: 1978 CTL 305 LG3, a/t. Vin code U, 145 hp, 2 barrel carburetor B-body (full size Chevrolet). This link has been posted here before.

I'll go out on a limb here, without looking it up: I believe Baltimore made full size Chevrolets.




Chevrolet engine codes on-line

[Dan A.]

[Rick S.]

Re: Block ID Help

Dan,
Sounds like you are suffering from frostbite of the brain! I bet you reversed those numbers from 08 to 80. You better go inside before you get sunburned.
Rick

[Mike Cobine]

Teh VIN is the key

The first number being 1 is Chevy, the second number being 1 is the year, '61, '71, '81, etc.

The '78 CTL doesn't hit those. The CTL wasn't in a '61 lineup but CT was as a 283. However, '61 never had a VIN such as 11Bxxxxxx but only as 1xxxxxx (no factory stamp). Can't find CTL or CT anything in '81.

So it has to be '71.

[John H.]

Re: Block ID Help

'71 Chevelle, built at Baltimore, McKinnon engine. Baltimore built Chevelles in those days.

[Terry M.]

Re: The VIN is the key

I looked right past that second 1, Mike. You are right. See my follow-on to John's post below.

[Terry M.]

Re: Block ID Help

John,
Puzzling thing is that no CTL code shows up in any of the documents I have -- not that I have all of theml. The McKinnon Industries build may be the kicker, but the 1971 Dealer Service Information Bulletin which lists all the 1971 codes for cars and trucks shows no CTL suffix in either the original issue (Oct. 14, 1970) nor the re-issue (May 28, 1971). It does show a CLT, however, for full size car.

[John H.]

Re: Block ID Help

Terry -

Baltimore also had a truck line back then that built pickups and chassis-cabs; might have been one of those - trucks used some weird codes. I don't have the VIN starting character differences between Baltimore Chevelles and trucks for those years to further refine the answer

[Mark H.]

Re: Block ID Help

Thanks everyone!