Question - Chevy Motor or a Crate

[VonDog]

Hey guys,
I have a 60 chevy K20 with a 350 as far as I was told when I bought it. The guy had an excavation company and hauled a backhoe with the truck. The motor was "farm" fit into the engine compartment as far as mounting. All else on the truck is original. The motor is old as it still has points and ram horn headers.

There are 3 hash marks an each side in front of the heads - do you think this is an old crate motor or original and how can you tell (I can't get in the back to check for numbers)??? Any info is much appreciated.

[geezer#99]

Use a mirror to find the casting number behind the drivers side head.
Also get the letters and numbers off the flat pad in front of the passenger side head.
It has newer heads on it. Has accessory mount holes in them.
Look here to find out what you have.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w..._Chevy_engines

[VonDog]

Too tight to see with a mirror and there are no numbers on the flat pad passenger side front of head.

[Sharps40]

Numbers on the flat pad are there,...just real fine lines and totally get oblitered by paint. Razor blade scraper to remove the paint followed by polish with S-paper and ye'll see the numbers.

[geezer#99]

No numbers on the pad means motor was decked. If you use the mirror then use a flashlight pointed right at it. Angle the mirror to see the numbers. The light helps a bunch.

[VonDog]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

No numbers on the pad means motor was decked. If you use the mirror then use a flashlight pointed right at it. Angle the mirror to see the numbers. The light helps a bunch.

What does "decked" mean? Cleaned the paint, used a flashlight and mirror but can't seem to see any numbers. I'll try to get my head in there with some funky magnifiers and see if I see anything.

Thanks for the help

[Captainfab]

A trick to get the casting numbers if you can't get your head back there is to take a picture with a cell phone.

[franken]

There are bolt holes in the front of the heads which means they at least are post 70 or so and probably somewhat late model. Snap a pic of the front of a head and compare the pattern on the internet.

The intake has an old style oil filler so it doesn't match the heads.

You'll need the casting number from the block as suggested.

[VonDog]

Thanks for all the info - This forum and all the guys are awesome!
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[jtrichard]

from what i have read some of the "crate" engines did not have a number stamped on the front pad look for a aluminum tag on one side i dont know which side though hope this helps