I've searched through a lot of sites trying to decode the engine in my camaro.


The front pad has: T0415CSB. I think this means Tonawanda plant, April, 15th, 400.

On the curbside or right rear of the block is 5T I got this looking at a small mirror.
1VNOC
I
T

On the road side or left rear of the block is GM
30817 I think this means 400
8G

I think I have a 400 made in Tonawanda on April 15th.

Am I corerect? I'd like to know what year and that is what I am having trouble figuring out.

Another question is I thought there were 350 and 400 turbo transmissions. The trans in the car looks like a 350 turbo, but when I tried to put a chrome dipstick tube from a 350 into the trans the end was to big. I'm told this is probably a 200. What is a 200 and how much HP can they stand compared to a 350. The trans in the car does say metric on it.

Thanks for any help.

Ben Braun
racersdad04@yahoo.com

 

You have most of it, but are still missing a couple of numbers.
T=Tonawanda
04=April
15=day of month. This is the date of engine assembly.
CSB=Either a 1973 or 1976 400 small block
You're missing a number on the block casting, it should be 330817, which is correct for a 400.
Sometimes the date code for the block casting is on the passenger side at the bellhousing, or it could be on the drivers side next to the casting # but at a right angle. Look near one of the trans to block mounting bosses for the date.
You will be looking for a letter from A-L (Jan-Dec), two numbers that follow for the day, a space, and one more number for the year.

And here's some automatic transmission info. The shape of the pan will tell you what you have. Chevy Auto Transmission ID

 

[&:] ben my info verifies you have a 400 engine. the partial code CSB was used exclusively in 73,75 and 76 400 cid motors. engines with this code were mostly backed by turbo 400's. the turbo 350 has a square oil pan with one corner notched off, the 400 has a pan that i think looks a bit like texas. the turbo 200 (which ive seen very few of ) and none that ive seen behind any size v8, should appear the same as a th350 externally. the trans sounds like a newer transplant especially if it says metric on the case and not just on the pan, these models of the turbo 200 did back some of the smaller v8 cars starting in the eighties.

your engine was indeed tonawanda built on the 15 of april. the rest of your numbers and letters dont seem to fall into proper order position or sequencing, perhaps a better description or look will help. i pulled 308 out of what you gave us and ive seen that used on several 400 blocks. the th200 was not designed to handle the power its bigger bretheren were designed for, hence thier use on lesser hp motors. i dont recall if the th200 cases were designed with same internal dimensions as the 350 so as to accomodate an update at rebuild time to a 350 but i kinda doubt it. there should be a small tag above the pan of the trans, this has a code on it and should help determine what exactly you have. as for the handling of hp if it is a 200 well i dont think id push a 400 motor much past stock specs and expect a 200 to live very long, drive like granny and sure it may outlast you but we know that aint happening kurt

 

I get a better look at the numbers. I'm going to pull it out pretty soon to work on the chassis.

Thanks for the information


Ben Braun

 

I finally got it out of the car. Thanks for the information. I was missing the 3.

Thanks
ben Braun