How to Identify a 396 Big Block
- 1). Open the hood of the engine compartment and locate the timing chain cover at the front of the engine. The timing chain cover is on the front of the engine block, above where the crank shaft connects to the drive belt pulleys, and it looks like a small dinner plate attached to the block.
- 2). Spray the top of the timing chain cover and the area of the engine block directly above it with a spray engine degreaser. Wait a minute or two for the degreaser to begin loosening the engine grime.
- 3). Wipe the degreaser off the engine block and timing chain cover with a clean rag.
- 4). Look for the engine identification stamp on the block, just above the timing chain cover. If the stamp is present and contains one of the following sequences of numbers, it is a 396 big-block engine: 3855061, 3855961, 3855962, 3866961, 3873858, 3902406, 3902466, 3916323, 3935440, 3955272, 3965440, 3965449, 3965540, or 3969854. If there is no stamp in this location, the engine is a different block size.
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