Well, there is always that exception to the rule. No VIN on the block was the norm prior to 1960.

 

there is a number cast by the oil filter and the back of the block that look like this:
386
371

 

<a href="Login to a private Photobucket.com album" target="_blank"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a15...1/DSCN0521.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

<a href="Login to a private Photobucket.com album" target="_blank"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a15...1/DSCN0537.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

That's not it. For the VIN what you're looking for is a stamping, not a casting. If it was by the oil filter, it would be on the flat vertical area behind the filter boss, right by the bellhousing.

 

<a href="Login to a private Photobucket.com album" target="_blank"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a15...1/DSCN0519.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

yes, i know thats not it. just wasnt sure if that number meant something

 

Often referred to as a gang stamp because the partial VIN characters (or in this case a Flint engine plant stamp) was used to 'gang' the characters into one even line for stamping as opposed to each character being individually stamped.
Before a federal mandate that all engine blocks be stamped with a partial VIN, generally, only the 396 engines from 1965, 1966 & 1967 Chevelles along with the L79 engine blocks from 1965 & 1967 Chevelles were stamped with a partial VIN. These were done by hand and by individual character often resulting in some very strange looking engine pads. The partial VIN consisted of a single number representing the model year, a letter for the final assembly plant, and followed by the six-digit sequence number of the vehicle.
Beginning January 1, 1968, by federal mandate, all engine blocks would be stamped with a partial VIN consisting of a single number for the General Motors division (Chevrolet's number is "1"), followed by the same information as before; the model year, plant, and sequence number. General Motors standardized this procedure by using what's called a "gang stamp" as shown in the photo above. Each individual stamped character was placed in a holder and secured before the engine block was struck by the employee responsible for doing this task. This holder allowed for consistency in the particular characters used and assured the partial VIN stamp was uniformly done from car to car. Even though some plants elected to stamp partial VINs on other locations beside the engine pad (such as the rough cast area by the oil filter boss or on the bellhousing flange), most plants for most years did stamp the partial VIN on the engine pad next to the Flint or Tonawanda engine assembly date and ID letters.

 

Not to say mistakes weren't made as the person responsible had to insure the numbers were changed for each vehicle as necessary. The plants employed a 'blank' stamp to obliterate a mistaken stamp so the corrected stamp could be applied.
(1) There is a question as to whether this date is accurate for federal mandate that engine blocks be stamped with a partial VIN. The information has been found on numerous Ford sites such as http://428cobrajet.org/id-block.html stating, "Starting in 1967 for the 1968 model year, Ford began stamping partial VIN information on production engine blocks to meet the requirements of Title 49, United States Code, Subtitle VI, Part C, Chapter 331 (effective January 1, 1968)." Reading section 33107 "Voluntary vehicle identification number" sounds more like this was not mandated but was voluntary to comply as long as they did comply with sections 33102 and 33103. See http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/49C331.txt or search the Internet for "Title 49, United States Code, Subtitle VI, Part C, Chapter 331" for more websites with information.
MoPar forums searched seem to indicate that MoPar didn't follow the compliance until sometime midyear, 1968.

 

i cant find any other stampings on this block.