Hey gang-

Info gathered from front corner of block. Need to know what year vehicle this mutha came out of so I can get the proper flywheel for it. I bought a flywheel for a GM350 this weekend and it no fitty...bolt pattern too large.

The info:

V1209FLL
131403

Note that in the bottom row of numbers, the 1's were slanted to the right, so they may not be 1's but /'s rather....who knows?

Can you help a poor brotha out??? :smokin:

BTW, I need a flywheel (& a dust shield) so I can install my SM465.

-Chris :rasta:

i am no expert but isnt there only 2 bolt patterns for SBC
depending on rear main seal it is either 1 piece (new) or 2 piece (old)

Are you sure of the numbers?Can't find that suffix code.Is it a 1 piece or 2 piece rear seal?Blazin:rasta:

Are you sure of the numbers?Can't find that suffix code.Is it a 1 piece or 2 piece rear seal?

How can I tell if it's 1 or 2 piece without tearing into it? I know it is a newer style, because I picked up an older style flywheel and it no fitty. But just so I know what I have, I'd like to know what year this puppy is.

Did a comp. check on it today too.....real bad.....gonna have ta tear into it. Here are my results (dry test)...

#1 = 60
#2 = 60
#3 = 80
#4 = 70
#5 = 65
#6 = 40
#7 = 70
#8 = 30

1 piece cranks will have a 3" diameter bolt pattern for the flywheel/flexplate, and you can easily see the seal housing (it bolts to the block).

Charly

Then yes, I have a 1 piece rear main seal as I remember seeing the seal housing you are refering too.

Still, what year is this thing?

-Chris

Well if it is a 1 piece seal,than it is an 86 or newer(I think?).Check the suffix code again.I looked all over and couldn't find that code.The suffix code is the last 2 or 3 letters in your first number.This will tell you what year or years it could be.

1 piece rear seals started in 85, I got one in my garage out of an 85 van.:skull:

Hey ranger, GM did not go to the 1 piece rear main until "86". They went with roller cams in the cars in "87". They also went center bolt valve covers in "87". Also the 2 center intake bolts changed to a different angle starting in "87".

I just went through the same situation with my 85 K5 which has a later engine when I converted from auto to stick. I just went to the parts store and bought a flywheel for an 87 chevy truck and it only cost about 80 bucks.
On Chevy trucks, they don't start listing parts for one piece rear seals until 87.

This is strange! :skull:

I found the suffix code!! FLL is a 350 CID (VIN code M) out of a 85 3/4 ton! I hope this helps

I found the suffix code!! FLL is a 350 CID (VIN code M) out of a 85 3/4 ton! I hope this helps

That can't be true. Owner says it's the orig engine out of an 87 1ton van. Besides, it has a 1 piece rear main seal...which began production in 86. Could it be possible that the same code was used in later engines?

Chris

Ok, just got off the phone with the orig owner. It wasn't a G30, but a C30. AND I got the VIN# from him. So he says it came from a 1987 C30, and that it's the orig engine.

Thanks for all the help gain. I'd still be interested in knowing if the FLL code matched what I say it came from.

-Chris

You may already know this trick but if not.....

Do another compression check but take an old squirt style oil can and put a few shots of oil in each cylinder before you do the check. If your compression come up you need rings if it doesn't change you need a valve job.

If you find you need rings try running a can of 5 minute flush trough the engine and then see if the compression comes up. You may just have stuck rings from either sitting or lack of oil changes.

Years back when I worked at a dealership one of the mechanics sold a customer on a new longblock because of bad compression and it was burning oil badly (1/2 ton w/90k on it). When he was switching the heads he noticed the cylinders didn't even have a slight lip at the top. He pulled a piston and the rings were stuck solid with varnish. Come to find out this was a target engine that was only 2 years old. Luckily the guy just bought the truck off a used car lot that has a shady rep. so the mechanic could cover his ass and no the customer never saw the old block (if I remember right the mechanic ended up soaking all the pistons in carb cleaner and taking it home). We all agreed that a can of engine flush would have fixed the problem.