Hello everyone,
I am trying to find out what my engine size is for my 67 "numbers matching car". The guy I purchased the car from stated its a 400 and an early one at that. Indeed I have the ..86133 on the distributer pad along with L146 but when I look at the front of the block it looks as if the WZ or whatever code was supposed to be there was either ground/worn off. All I can see are the production numbers 05678. It looks like a 400 but my mechanic "old pontiac guy" states the it isn't. How can I verify? Is it safe to assume the number on the dist pad is enough? Thanks!!

Crawl underneath and look on the block, driver's side, between the header and the motor mount and you'll see a pretty large "350" if it's a Pontiac 350.

Since you cannot read the code, the only way to know for sure is to get your PHS documentation and compare the serial number you provided above.

Doesn't look good though, the block codes don't really 'wear' off.

Thanks Gentlemen. Regarding the PHS docs, any ideas on where/how I can get them?

Pontiac Historical Society:

PHS home page

Jon.

What are the head codes from the center exhaust port? 140, 141 etc. would be 326 heads... which would have tipped off your Mechanic. He didn't tell you what lead him to believe it was not a 400 motor? Being an old Pontiac guy, I would think he would explain this?

Being an old Mechanic... he could be getting things confused? I hope for your sake!

Here is a list of casting numbers that may help in the mean time?
http://www.teufert.net/pontiac/bloccast.htm
http://www.teufert.net/identify/identify.htm

Keep us posted!
Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

Your block is a 400 block from 1967.

In 1967 they were not stamping VIN numbers on blocks, and the two-letter block code will be all you have to go by. If you can read the engine production number you should also be able to read the block code right below it.

The casting number at the back of the block by the distributor ending in "33" was all you needed to confirm it is a 400.

The cast date code should be within 5 weeks of the trim tag week to narrow down the search. L 14 6 is Dec 14, 1966. That would imply that your car would have to have been one of the first produced. If the body number on the trim tag is very low ... like less than 400 or so ... then it might be pretty close.

Thanks PMI...Based on my research I knew that early model 400s had the stamp on the Dist pad until mid year so I was thinking the seller was right. Unfortunately the vin tells me it was in the 9000s regarding production so chances are it's not the original engine. I have taken the earlier advice and have ordered the info on the car from PHS. I guess we'll see. Again, thanks so much for your help!

I have compiled an extensive data of '67 VINs and body tags...if you'd like to send via PM or email to yellowbird@thefirstgensite.com I will compare it to the database and verify your VIN/body sequence are in agreement, and confirm the build date.

The odds of the WZ wearing off the front of the block naturally are pretty slim. Unless previous owners were using steel wool to clean the block on an annual basis. Looks like Vikki and Q have squared this question away.

Hi Everyone,
I received my packed from PHS and I wanted to let you know what I came up with. My 67 did come with a 400 (YT). Unfortunately for me I think the news is not what I had hoped. Although the engine in the car was made Dec. 14th 1966 and the body was made the 3rd week in Feb 1967, the engine codes do not match. 05678 is the number I am able to make out on the left front side (passenger side)of the engine. My Engine unit number on my billing history from PHS shows 376031. Clearly not the same number. Still love my bird though...;-).Thank all of you for your help with my delimma.

Mike... we still want to know why the Mechanic told you he didn't "think" it was a 400?

Did he say why he thought otherwise? And better yet... have you mentioned to him that it IS a 400?

Still at least the right year and close date code etc... 2 out of 3 isn't too bad...

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

Hi Brett,
Yes, He told me that my fuel line was running up the wrong side (passenger)and that it was indicative of the 6 cylinders. The guy I bought the car from stated that this was the 3rd one (V8) he had and that all of them were the same.
As far as going back and proving it... I decided to drop it. If he can't recognize my engine...I don't want him messing with it...;-).

Ahhh. He's a Camaro guy. That would explain his misconceptions about the fuel line. I would stay away from him. I would be worried he would swap in a Chevy 400!

I believe PHS has at times given out an engine unit number (or had them available for some cars), but I believed that was very rare. Are you sure that they gave you the Engine Unit No? I have the Car Billing History for my 68, and it has zeros in the Engine Unit No box. I also thought the number was a six digit number if I remember correctly. You are giving a 5 digit number for your engine unit number.

Is there a lot of engine paint causing the code/number to be hard to read? The dates for the engine/car sure seem corrrect!

Hi Betwinner....sorry for the delay in a response. Yes I only have 5 numbers on my engine and the paint has been completely stripped in that area (by my former mechanic). I think I would have jumped for joy had my engine unit number box from PHS had just zeros. I am certain of the numbers in the PHS documentation are the engine unit number. I agree that the date of the engine corresponds almost too well to the manufacture date of the body. At this point I suppose it could be anybody's guess. Thanks for insight!

My PHS also came with the engine unit number and matches what is in my car. Well, in the corner of my garage anyway.

My PHS docs for my 67 has an engine unit number. Too bad the original motor is long gone. I though 68's and up had the partial VIN on the block? Could that be why there's 0's for the engine unit number on 68 docs?