c3 68 engine number

[Harry S.]

My 68 coupe has the L79 engine, the engine number is V0322 CKW. I know that the V is for Flint MI and that the 322 is for March 22nd. What is the CKW??

[Edward J.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Harry, if you have a Corvette black book, it says CKW was used in 72 with manual transmission.

[Michael W.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

My 68 coupe has the L79 engine, the engine number is V0322 CKW. I know that the V is for Flint MI and that the 322 is for March 22nd. What is the CKW??

CKW was used in various years, for sedans and Corvette. What is the casting date on the block?

[Harry S.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Where is the casting number located?

[Harry S.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

I just found out that it also shows up in 1976 with the manual trans.

[Michael W.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Where is the casting number located?

It's the casting date in question, not so much as the casting number. Both numbers are located at the rear of the block just in front of the bell housing attachment flange and are visible from above.

[Harry S.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Mike: Here is the numbers on the casting 27GM 3970010

[Edward J.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Harry the casting date should be on the other side- rear, generally a letter and a few numbers.

[Michael W.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Mike: Here is the numbers on the casting 27GM 3970010

That's the casting number for the block, you will find the casting date closer to the passenger side. The format will be a single letter followed by two digits, followed by one more digits.

Ex. A 01 1

[Harry S.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Ok Found it C 51 5 but what does it tell me? It doesn't look like a date. It was on the bell housing on the passenger side.

[Ralph S.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Is anything else stamped on the pad next to the V0322CKW ?

[Harry S.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

yes, 12S517577 looking at these numbers with a remote tv camera but these are clear so they should be accurate. However, on this latest look the CKW may be SKW can't be sure.

[Joe L.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Ok Found it C 51 5 but what does it tell me? It doesn't look like a date. It was on the bell housing on the passenger side.

Harry------

I don't think the first "5" is correct. You may be reading it incorrectly which is easy to do with casting numbers. However, assuming the "C" and the last "5" are correct, you have a block that was cast in March, 1975. It has to be 1975 since the 3970010 block was not being cast in 1965 and was out-of-production by 1985. So, it's a 350 cid block cast in March, 1975.

[Joe L.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

yes there is, inn large print 27GM

Harry------


The "27GM" indicates that pattern #27 was used to make the sand mold for your block. The fact that you have a pattern number as high as 27 would imply that the block was cast well into the production period of the 3970010 block. That block was first released in mid 1969 and was manufactured through about 1980.

[Michael W.]

Re: c3 68 engine number

Ok Found it C 51 5 but what does it tell me? It doesn't look like a date. It was on the bell housing on the passenger side.

It's probably C 21 5 which would be March 21 1975, the day before the engine was assembled.

yes, 12S517577 looking at these numbers with a remote tv camera but these are clear so they should be accurate. However, on this latest look the CKW may be SKW can't be sure.

If it was a 1975 Corvette engine the VIN derivative 12S517577 would make sense for car serial number 17577- but that car was built around March 5 and the code CKW was not used in 1975.

CKW was used in 1976 Corvettes, but the VIN derivative does not fit nor would the casting and assembly dates, being way too early.

GM did not use a 3 character engine code starting with S as far as I know.