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'57 Bel Air

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Bel Air 1957 4 doors
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello,

I am new with American cars and excuse me for this new question on this subject.

I know the engine number topic has been covered many times, but I need help because I can't find it.
I think I have read all the threads and documentation but I can't find it. I must be a fool :cautious:

I know my '57 was restored in the USA prior to import to France.
I have the number of the intake pipe, it is from a camaro between 1982 and 1992. It must be this number
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Is the engine number is under the valve cover ?
I would like to know what is my V8 engine

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Thanks in advance for your help

Stéphane
 
The engine suffix code is located on the front "pad" on the passenger side of the car. See example below, but unless it's a later engine, it won't have a partial VIN stamp. Just the suffix code as shown in the red box. Post a picture and we can tell you what you have.

Ed

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Discussion starter · #3 ·
The engine suffix code is located on the front "pad" on the passenger side of the car. See example below, but unless it's a later engine, it won't have a partial VIN stamp. Just the suffix code as shown in the red box. Post a picture and we can tell you what you have.

Ed

View attachment 383479
Thanks for your answer Ed but i don't understand the scheme. Is it below or above the engine ?
can you make a mark on the photo of my engine ?
 
It's right behind your glass fuel filter and under the head where it attaches to the engine (see the arrow). Move the fuel filter out of the way to see it better and take a picture. You may have to remove some paint to see it. DON'T use sand paper. That will mess things up. Use paint remover or something similar.

Ed

Image
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
It's right behind your glass fuel filter and under the head where it attaches to the engine (see the arrow). Move the fuel filter out of the way to see it better and take a picture. You may have to remove some paint to see it. DON'T use sand paper. That will mess things up. Use paint remover or something similar.

Ed

View attachment 383492
Thanks again Ed. I will have a look tomorrow, it's the night here now ;)
 
The intake manifold has an EGR pad so it's at least a 1972 intake manifold. The way the alternator is mounted is not very efficient because the belt doesn't wrap around the water pump pulley enough to get a good grip by the belt. This may indicate a much later engine, as the later 70's engines mounted the alternator on the front of the head rather than on the exhaust manifold like a 57 did. It's more probably a 305 or 350 engine, same external dimensions as the original 57 V8. Need more input for a better identification.
 
The HC could be a 1965 327 or 1969 350 the heads certainly are 1969 or newer as is the intake as mentioned with egr valve.To be more accurate you need the casting numbers at the rear of the block which is hard to see in the car.Sometimes you can get a photo with a cell phone.The V in the front of the block made me think it was a 60s something block I'm not sure what year that the blocks casting changed eliminating the V in the casting.
 
The HC code gives the two different options Nasty z28 has a lot of good information,someplace I used to have some good books on casting & stamping numbers for Chevrolet engines transmission & rear axles Chevrolet by the numbers I think was the title I'm sure it's someplace around here yet.Probably like a lot a mismatch of parts & years casting numbers tells the story.I'd guess 69 also on the block.
 
Starting in 71 most pass blocks I have seen start with the letter C followed by two more letters like CKU and trucks a T like TAX.

From that style EGR valve my guess on intake is aluminum 305.

A 1969 model 350 would likely have either 441, 041 or 186 castings on heads if I remember correctly. The 441s were on 2 barrel 350s, which explains the intake swap.
 
HC was used in 1965 (327/250 with a 4BBL carb and Powerglide from a full size car), 1966, 1967 and 1968 (327/275 with a 4BBL carb and Powerglide from a full size car) and 1969 (350/250 with a 2BBL carb and manual transmission from either a Nova, Chevelle or Camaro).

As already stated by stoveboltgeek, 1969 would have the partial VIN stamped on the pad. One caveat to that however was the 1969 Camaro. These had the partial VIN stamped either on the pad or down by the rough area just above the oil filter. So... it's from either a 1965, 1966, 1967 full size car, or a 1969 Camaro. (Note that 1968 also had the partial VIN stamped on the pad so we can rule that out).

We'll need the casting number and date code on the block to narrow it down.

Ed
 
Discussion starter · #18 · (Edited)
Hi, thanks to all for your answers.
It's difficult to see the other numbers without lift or pit.
I have tried with my phone in different positions.

I see a number seems be N34 above the oil filter. May be it can help
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I will try to access to a lift

Here the number on the intake pipe
😂😂😂😂😂
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This engine is a puzzle 😂🤣🤣
 
The block may be a 1965 since it has the HC stamping & appears to have a oil filter adapter for spin on filter supposedly chevy changed to the spin on filters around 1968 on most cars so if it was a 1969 with HC stamping it would not have the adapter for spin on filter it.Or at least that appears to be the case. Only the casting & date code can pinpoint the year.
 
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