1966 Chevelle Flint & Tonawanda Date/Suffix Stamps

 

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

 

Examples of engine assembly plant ID stamped codes and engine VIN derivative stampings where applicable. Listings are in chronological order by date, 283/327 small block and I6 engines followed by 396 big block engines. It's not unusual to find the letter "I" used in lieu of the number "1" on engine date stamps and it's not uncommon to find a mixture of both on the same stamp.

 

VIN derivatives were typically hand stamped at the final assembly plant and done with individual dies, the characters are seldom uniform size and nicely aligned making it difficult to determine if one you find is original or an aftermarket restamp. These are presented as examples, you be the judge if they are correct.

Often these were done haphazardly, stamped with individual characters and sometimes the year number was omitted as in some examples shown below. The VIN derivative stamping, where applicable, used a different set of stamps than the engine plant.

 

Note: The engine ID pad was not painted when the engine left the assembly line although it is often painted when engines are rebuilt during the course of their lifetime. Painting can also hide the factory broach marks on the pad making it difficult to determine if the block has been decked and numbers re-stamped.

Although not mandated by federal law until the 1968 model year, higher horsepower engines like the 396 engines have what is called a partial, confidential or concealed VIN (CON VIN), or VIN derivative stamped next to the engine plant code. This was done at the final assembly plant and contained the model year, final assembly plant letter designation and the last six digits of the VIN sequence such as 6K121694 for the Kansas City, Missouri assembly plant.

 

These are just a few examples. For more details and photos, order my 1966 Chevelle Reference CD.

 

I6 & 283/327 V8

 

F0902DE ~ Flint Engine Plant ~ September 2, 1965 ~ DE, 283/195hp with Powerglide transmission (two different engines).

 

F1001EC ~ Flint Engine Plant ~ October 1, 1965 ~ EC, 327/275 with Powerglide transmission & Air Injection Reactor.

 

T1013EAH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant ~ October 13, 1965 ~ EAH, 327/275hp with manual transmission & Holley carburetor.

 

F1030DH ~ Flint Engine Plant ~ October 30, 1965 ~ DH, 283/220hp with Powerglide transmission.

 

F0226DA ~ Flint Engine Plant, February 26, 1966 ~ DA, 283/195hp with manual transmission.

 

F0318EE ~ Flint Engine Plant ~ March 18, 1966 ~ EE, 327/275hp with Powerglide transmission.

 

F0330DJ ~ Flint Engine Plant ~ March 30, 1966 ~ DJ, 283/195hp with Powerglide transmission & Air Injection Reactor.

 

T0407AL ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 7, 1966 ~ AL, 194/120hp with Powerglide transmission.

 

F0429ES ~ Flint Engine Plant ~ April 29, 1066 ~ ES, 327/350hp with manual transmission.

(1966 Chevrolet RPO records does not show any L79 engines being sold in Chevelles. This engine was found in an 04B Fremont car and since the engine cannot be dated later than the car itself, and since no reported ES engines were sold in 1966 Chevelles, it's highly suspect.  The ES engine code was used in 1967-1968 327/275hp engines but only in full size Chevrolets.)

 

F0701EC ~ Flint Engine Plant, July 01, 1966 ~ EC, 327/275hp with Powerglide transmission and Air Injection Reactor.

 

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396 V8

 

T1230EM ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 30, 1965 ~ EM, 396/325hp with Powerglide, Rochester, and Air Injection Reactor.

 

T0404EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 4, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

Atlanta, Georgia

 

T0304EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 4, 1966 ~ EG 396/375hp with manual transmission.

 

T0314EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 14, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T0315EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 14, 1966 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley.

 

T0502EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, May 2, 1966 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley.

 

T0513EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, May 13, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.

 

T0610EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 10, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T0623EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 23, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T0629EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 29, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T0705EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, July 6, 1066~ EK, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley, 6A215657

 

Baltimore, Maryland

 

 

T1214EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 14, 1965 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley.

 

EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, unknown month, 27th day ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.

 

T0512EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, May 12, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T0628EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 28 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

Flint, Michigan

 

T1111EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 11, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Flint "F".

 

T1123EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 23, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Flint "F". Also note the two number "8" stamps appear to be upside-down.

 

T1208EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 08, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Flint "F."

 

T1208EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 08, 1965 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Flint "F."

 

T0503EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 12, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.

 

T0607EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 7, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.
Note the VIN derivative does have the year (6) stamped preceding the Flint "F."

 

T0628EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 28, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does have the year (6) stamped preceding the Flint "F."

 

Framingham, Massachusetts

 

T1103EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 3, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Framingham "G."

 

T1124EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 24, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Framingham "G."

 

T1207EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 7, 1965 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Framingham "G."

 

T0107EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, January 7, 1966 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Framingham "G" and the digit "4" is sideways.

 

T0607EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 7, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Framingham "G".

 

Fremont, California

 

T0930EJ ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, September 30, 1965 ~ EJ, 396/360hp with manual transmission & Air Injection Reactor.

 

T1111EM ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 11, 1965 ~ EM, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission, Rochester & Air Injection Reactor.

 

T1208EJ ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 08, 1965 ~ EJ, 396/360hp with manual transmission & Air Injection Reactor.

T1120EM ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 20, 1965 ~ EM, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission, Rochester & Air Injection Reactor.

 

T1124EN ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 24, 1965 ~ EN, 396/360hp with Powerglide transmission and Air Injection Reactor.

T1126EL ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 26, 1965 ~ EL, 396/360hp with Powerglide transmission.

T1222EH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 22, 1965 ~ EH, 396/325 manual transmission, Rochester & Air Injection Reactor.

T0104EH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, January 4, 1966 ~ EH, 396/325 manual transmission, Rochester & Air Injection Reactor.
Note this sequence number is 41 units less than the one above yet the engine was built 2 weeks later.

T0207EH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, February 7, 1966 ~ EH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Air Injection Reactor/Rochester carburetor.

T0210EJ ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, February 10, 1966 ~ EJ, 396/360hp with manual transmission & Air Injection Reactor.

T0307EJ ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 07, 1966 ~ EJ, 396/360hp with manual transmission & Air Injection Reactor.
Note the VIN derivative does not have the year (6) stamped preceding the Fremont "Z".

T0323EJ ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 23, 1966 ~ EJ, 396/360hp with manual transmission & Air Injection Reactor.

T0329EM ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 07, 1966 ~ EM, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission, Rochester & Air Injection Reactor.

T0413EH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 13, 1966 ~ EH, 396/325hp with manual transmission, Rochester & Air Injection Reactor.

T0427EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 27, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.
Suspect stamping due to the sequence number of 143913 date being much later (than April 27 engine build date) than a higher sequence of 149161 dated in March. The VIN derivative stamping is probably correct but date/engine code is probably stamped to make it appear the car is a high horsepower (high value) car.

T0622EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 22, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.

 

Kansas City, Missouri

 

T1I02EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 02, 1965 ~ EKH, 396/325 with Powerglide transmission and Holley carburetor.

 

T1113EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 13, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.

 

T1201EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 1, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.

 

T1215EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 15, 1965 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T1217EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 17, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.

 

T0112EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, January 12, 1966 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley.

 

T0425EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 25, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley.

 

T0426EG ~  Tonawanda, NY, April 26, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.

 

T0531EH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, May 31, 1966 ~ EH ~ 396/325hp with manual transmission, Air Injection Reactor., & Rochester.

 

Example of a late year, 4-bolt 3855961 block.

T0630EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 6, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp with manual transmission.

 

Questionable

You be the judge. Stamper failed to notice the 1st character is the letter 'T' and not a number '1', the body date is 4th week of March (03D), and the owner still claims it's a matching numbers 360hp engine.

 

 

Note: The engine ID pad was not painted when left the assembly line although it's often painted when engines are rebuilt during the course of their lifetime. Painting can also hide the factory broach marks on the pad making it difficult to determine if the block has been decked and numbers re-stamped.

The VIN derivative (partial VIN) stamps on 1966 engines were done by hand resulting in misaligned characters.

 

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