Just purchased a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 and on the cowl tag just below the trim code 751 there is a 7B and just below that an 8, also to the right of this is a a L205760 can anyone tell me what this means?
Also where are the stamping numbers on a 396 so I can identify the year and model of the engine ? Thanks Denny

Hi There! This is the 1912-1928 four cylinder forum. For a better response regarding your 1969 you might want to post your question in the 1965-1970 forum on this site instead.

I see that a site moderator moved the above posting to the correct forum. Cool!

I thought it was a late night on your part! Ha Ha Ha

Nope, sure wasn't since the initial posting regarding the 1969 was in the 1912-1928 forum. When the site moderator moved the above posting to the correct forum he probably should have deleted my posting regarding the wrong forum at the same time to avoid any confusion.

L205760 L is Los Angeles built 205760 is the unit number off the line.
The engine number should be stamped into the block on the head mounting surface on the passenger side at the front. It should include a suffix. There should also be a casting date at the rear of the engine near the block casting number. The cylinder heads also have date castings under the rocker covers.

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsinglepages/Id_info/decoding_body_tags.htm

Hi Denny,
Congrats on your purchase! I like the '69 Chevelle SS 396 cars,even though I do not own one :)

I show the trim code 751 as a black vinyl bench seat interior.
The 7B is body build date.This car was a VERY late built car for '69.Second week of July.The L205760 is the body plant sequence number.Usually by '69 this number would start at 100001,so your car was the 105759th car built at that assembly plant for that model year.The number 8 down low on the trim tag is usually an option accessory code.Does your SS have a vinyl roof?
The right front engine pad just below the cylinder head should have 2 sets of numbers.One will have the last 6 of the vin,the other will have engine suffix code and build date.Check to be sure you have a 12 bolt rear end with both upper control arms and front disc brakes as this was standard on SS396.In '69 it became an RPO code option package(Z25) versus earlier SS396's which were separate models.What are the first 5 digits of your vin? Hope this helps,Jim

Jim, yes it has a 12 bolt Posi and a Turbo 400.There was no vinyl top and it is a radio delete car and belive it has a 136849 start to the vin # All the SS badging and trim is original to the car.
There is also a data tag on the inside of the drivers side inner fender Thanks Denny

Jack, this was a Baltimore built SS and what I believe to be a truee SS, FRONT DISC,12 BOLT POSI,TURBO 400 and RADIO DELETE

Hi PapaDenny,
So your VIN number has a letter B in numbers then for Baltimore?

Jack, 136379B403353

Hi Denny,
The vin# of an original '69 SS Chevelle will start with one of these 4 body style model numbers: 13427,13437,13537,13667. Jim

Jim, checked my Vin,# 136379B403353 and you have been a great help and I truly Thank You

Oops...and yes 13637! Jim

Jim, what do you make of the data tag on the inner fender well drivers side? How is the weather holding in Chicago?

Denny,
I thought your car was an LA built car by reading your initial post here.The fact that it is a BAL built car changes the L205760 meaning.If the location of these is in the lower right of the cowl tag(below paint code)those are Fisher Body specific plant codes.Same for the number 8 you mention.Are you sure about the trim code being 751?I show that as a black cloth bench seat.
Sounds like a good find! Jim

Jim, I just checked the tag again and the trim code is 755 and just below that was the 7B AND JUST BELOW THAT WAS THE 8.The vehicle was sold 07/28/69 in Virginia so it looks to be a RPO Code car and I believe the 8 is the radio delete option

The weather here has been ok.Just finally started getting nice over last week or so.
I have never heard of or seen a cowl(trim)tag riveted to an inner fender well!Only to the firewall in this era of car.That is wild stuff if it was originally put there.I did some more digging and found your trim code 751 for black vinyl bench on base sport coupe model.
I'd love to see a good pic of the cowl tag.I've seen mis- stamped 69-70 cowl tag occasionally as well.I've also noticed when comparing same 2 cars side by side,one built very early in model year vs one built very end of model year there are some noticeable differences.Definitely some odd ball original stuff on cars out there.Did you find a build sheet or body broadcast sheet? Jim

Makes more sense with the 755 trim code.The 8 could be the plant code for radio delete.
That's the million dollar info that everybody wants....the GM plant option codes.But,most plants used whatever system they wanted and didn't keep good records.No real consistancy of cowl tag RPO coding from plant to plant or region to region.In hind sight,probably a good thing for the hobby.Makes it harder to fake a car.

Jim, it has a 396/450 and I want to return it to the 375hp that it came with, do you have any idea what carberator came on the 69 Chevelle ss 396 as far as make and cfm?

This may be the carb. and maybe not.
My carb. book says 1969 Chevelle 396 with Auto. trans.325hp.
carb. 7029200.Rochester 4bbl.
350 hp. auto.trans. 7029204-Rochester 4bbl.
Neil

Niel, Thank You so very much, do you know of a good supplier?

Wish I did, sorry.
Incidentally, it lists 7029204 also for 1969 Corvette and Camaro that have the same engine as the Chevelle.
Neil

Hi Denny,
All the factory L78(375hp) Chevelles in '69 ran the non double pumper Holley#4150 carb.The L78 cars are quite rare. Jim

Thanks Jim and I just purchased the Qudrajet that was recomended so I hope that with not starve it? Checked the heads and they are 3964291 castings correct for 69 396 but the stamping numbers on the block are gone because of decking and there is no casting numbers behind the manifold so not sure where to check, let me now on the carb. please