[66SScora]

I've been to various sites and still don't get it i have been able to say that the engine is of the era that the car was built in so its a 1966 impala ss my vin is dd 168376c14xxxx and the numbers that are on the engine are
FO426hf in front of the 2nd piston and where the gear drive goes it says 174 under that 362 g28.
and then at the back of the motor behind the cylinder head says GM 3858174
and then at the back of the motor but behing the flywheel it says h4 852 hb 174.
And thats most or all of the numbers that i could find and yes the engine is out of the car if not wouldn't have been easy.
Oh and how much horsepower is this engine meant to pump out?
And also whats a nice upgrade that can be done to it but keeping it as stock as possible ?
any help would be greatly appriciated .

Thanks andrew.

 

[77Impala]

I hope this helps:
From: http://www.impalaforums.com/resource-center/238822-history-of-the-chevrolet-impala-1958-2011-a.html
By 1966, the Impala SS was beginning to lose its luster. The Caprice became the new top of the line Chevrolet, stealing the Impala's luxury image while the SS was becoming more of an appearance package rather than a performance one. (Impala SS engine options included the 250ci 155hp I-6, 283ci 195hp V-8, 283ci 4 bbl 220hp V-8, 327ci 4 bbl 275hp V-8, 396ci 4 bbl 325 V-8, 427ci 4 bbl 390hp V-8 and the 427ci 4 bbl 425hp V-8.) The Impala also lost its signature six round taillights, which had been an Impala trademark since 1958. New large rectangular ones replaced them along with a more massively styled front end. The Mark IV 396 continued, but a larger 427 version was introduced. It was rated at 390 bhp, while the "special performance" version was rated at 425 bhp due to solid lifters, four-barrel carb with aluminum manifold and heavy duty four bolt main block. The 427 was available with a special performance, extra rugged, extra noisy, four speed manual transmission, called the "rock-crusher." The Impala SS sales were down by more than 50% to 119,312 due to lost sales to the Caprice and smaller midsize performance muscle cars. Prices ranged from $2,684-$3,199. Weights were approximately 3,430-4,005 lbs.

The following should help you determin which engine Number you have.
http://www.mortec.com/location.htm

Now if looking for to be sure that the engine and frame were sent from the factory line together, I am not sure how to find that out. Even Chevrolet does not have that info anymore.

 

[kul70]

to check for #s matching engine:Looking at front of engine if you run your finger down the front of the right head you will hit a ledge where the head meets the block.The top of that ledge should have a number stamped on it.If it is the original engine that number will match your cars VIN number.Hope that helps

 

[SSKIDMARKSS]

to check for #s matching engine:Looking at front of engine if you run your finger down the front of the right head you will hit a ledge where the head meets the block.The top of that ledge should have a number stamped on it.If it is the original engine that number will match your cars VIN number.Hope that helps

I don't think that became a uniform practice till around 1960 on the corvette and 1968 on passenger cars.

The hf stamping indicates 327 ci 275 hp powerglide transmission with A.I.R.

as long as the casting date of the block and other hard parts are 3 months to a week or so before the build of the car and the stamping info is correct you are good to go.

Someone with better knowledge than me may correct me.

 

[65impSS]

going off your block casting number 3858174 you have a 64-67 327 small journal that came in the impala, chevelle, and camaro.

 

[kjosker]

Misinformed Quote

From http://www.goissca.org/imp_hist.htm,
By 1966, the Impala SS was beginning to lose its luster.

I have previously seen that quote on the internet, and I am left wondering what the author was thinking. And please don't interpret what follows as a criticism of 77Impala, as he only posted and clearly identified the source.

A case can be made that the '66 Impala was the pinnacle of the Impala 3rd generation; it certainly offered more than any 2nd generation Impala, and positively out horse-powered the 1970 LS4 and LS5 454's (345 and 390 HP, respectively).

In fact the '66 was the last year the Impala was available with the largest Corvette engine of the same year, and the last year a full size Chevy ever had a solid lifter engine.

More engine options than anything before or after (250/150, 283/195. 283/220, 327/275. 396/325, 427/390, and 427/425), more transmission options than anything before or after (3-spd, 3-spd w/OD, 4-spd, Powerglide, and Turbo Hydramatic).

More body series than ever before or after: Caprice, Impala, Bel Air and Biscayne. Plus the Impala SS option, which as an option rather a body series, thwarted insurance rates.

Caprice's were available as coupes, sedans and station wagons; Impala's were available as coupes, sedans, convertibles, and station wagons; Bel Airs and Biscaynes were available as coupes, sedans and station wagons. And the 427/425 was available on every one of them.

Losing luster? I think not.

 

[dintymoore]

GM sales hype

My take on "loosing it's luster" is that in '66 the Imp wasn't top dog anymore, that's all.

GM had this b.s. routine where in '53 they brought out a deluxe version of their regular Chevy and called it the Bel Air.
Then in '58 it became the second in line when the Impala was introduced as the top model and then in '66 the Caprice became the top model...
It was, I imagine, supposed to entice buyers: what you bought last year wasn't the best anymore.

But it was largely a silly routine because just about any car could be ordered with about anything... an Impala could have more options than a Caprice, although in general you'll find more luxury stuff on Caprices because most cars weren't ordered, GM just put together what they thought would sell and sent them out to the dealers.

I'm not surprised that they chose "Impala" to be the top car in the 90's since the name is better and Caprice always sounded like a chic's name to me, because, well, it is.

 

[Zachary]

My 1967 impala had my partial body number stamped alongside the engine number. Is that common

 

[rjjaxx]

Number Match

Hello
Just joined the site to see what is required to see if a car is truely a number match? When someone says it was never touched and totally original. how hard is it verify? One site said to go to a members site for a particular car so I am.

 

[Osborn F. Enready]

kjosker said:
Losing luster? I think not.

I think they were implying that since Impala was a big car... it was losing its luster in comparison to the models that were smaller with the same size/performance engines in them... AKA MUSCLE cars.

Don't get me wrong.... I love big cars, and I LOVE big power.... but to a buyer who was looking for quick, speedy transport that had the most potential to go faster... lighter is better in that equation.

Dintymoore said:
I'm not surprised that they chose "Impala" to be the top car in the 90's since the name is better and Caprice always sounded like a chic's name to me, because, well, it is.

Funny you say that...

I know everytime I hear the word "Caprice" I think of the word "Capricious".... which never seemed like a good label to stick to something you want to exhibit RELIABILITY.

 

[Zachary]

anyone?

 

[jnyboy]

I think "SSKIDMARKSS" hit the nail on the head....Except for the Vette, all GM car motors didn't have the vin, until 68'....Therefore pre-68' cars will generally comment that the motor is "Period Correct"....That includes my 66 GTO,... 442s, Gran Sports, Chevelles, Camaros, ETC.