Need Info on L-88s
 

Hi, I have an opportunity to buy two 427s and need some info. I've done searching through the site but still have more questions.

First 427 is definitely an L-88. Long block hasn't been apart. The pan was changed and confirmed to be 4 bolt mains. Block casting number is 3963512, heads are aluminum snowflake casting numbers 919842, and there is a block stamping on the pad in front of the head. The bottom 1/3 of the letters/numbers are illegible, but I believe it reads CE071714. The 7's sit a little lower than the 1s and the 4. The current owner indicated it came out of a 68 or 69 Camaro and that it was running when pulled. Currently no intake. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the date stamps on block or heads. I understand CE is crate engine, but any thoughts on the numbers after that? He asked me to make an offer on this one. I don't know what a fair price is for it.

Second 427 is a 4 bolt block and steel crank only. I wasn't able to get to it to look at casting numbers, but both have been machined, oiled, wrapped, and ready to assemble. He's asking $1100 for this one.

Any thoughts or information on the market for these would be great. Thanks!

842 heads are 396 L89 stuff.

L88 heads would be 074's. At least on the 69 stuff I'm familiar with. Need dates.

68 and 69 early Corvettes the L88 had 842 heads.

Yep, why I said dates would help.

The first character will designate the GM Division which produced the assembly.This does NOT stand for COUNTER or CRATE.
C=Chevrolet
L=Oldsmobile
K=Cadillac
B=Buick
P=Pontiac

The second character will indicate the type of unit.
E=Engine
T=Transmission

The digit following the letter will designate the year it was put into service.
8=1968
9=1969
0=1970
1=1971
2=1972

The last 5 digits specify the service replacement unit sequence number.
If the allotted series of unit sequence numbers is exhausted,the plant will start back at the beginning of the numbers again,but this time prefixing it with the letter A to indicate that.

Your example: CE071714
C=Chevrolet
E=Engine
0=1970
71714=block replacement sequence number

Thanks for all the replies. Mr70, great info. Very helpful! I'm working on getting the casting dates and will post them when I do. Here is the block casting number and pad number.

Yours was numbered fairly late too.
Tonawanda started numbering @ 50000 and went up to 79999 during that period.

Interesting, and good to know info. The L72 in my Biscayne is also a 512 block, CE071580. Not that far apart, brothers or maybe cousins? Any idea how many of these engines were made to be sold? Were warranty replacement engines also CEs? I notice the stampings are also faded the same way.