I have a block in my car, the casting number is 3789817. unless I read something wrong, this could be either a 283 or 327. How will I know? I am droping this engine soon anyway, so will I have to wit untill then to find out for sure? Thanks.

 

That would be in the stroke of the crank. The block could be for a 265,283,302 or 327. Was yours the rusted block in the oic with the road draft tube? Does it have an oil fill hole in the front of the block? Is it a 4 bolt main? Do you have the crank? Hows the weather?

 

lol, the weather is fine, cold in northern VA. The block in question is assembled and in the car. The rusty one may be the one I go with if this one turns out to be smaller or unserviceable. It sprunk a heck of leak today on a test run, I am thinking its the front seal or near the mech fuel pump.There were 3 cranks with the car, one is for a 327.A little machine work and it will be good to go. 4 bolt main? oil fillhole? still learning. Yes that was the block by the way.

 

There is a book by John Lingenfelter that may help you on learning to identify small block parts and stuff. You can look for it at www.motorbooks.com
There a 3 different crank jornal sizes also so depending on what block you have your crank may or may not work. I got the book and constanly look in it because I forget a lot of things[&o]

 

need the code off pad by water pump pass. side right under headshould be 2or 3 letters chc or something that will tell ya everything