True, but looking at that setup I dont think there was much reason in parts selection
If the engine came from that vintage caprice it could even be a 267

 

Numbers on pad behind the alt , 13L104978 To8hcma , no numbers on axel tubs that I could find , number on rear end casting 1248618 , Number on right upper control arm B906R , left arm K7D6L , I have not been able to decode any of this . HELP

 

The last 3 letters CMA is the suffix code. scroll down until you get to CMA. could be either a 72 307 or a 74 350.. only way to find out which as far as I know is to pull a head and measure the bore. Or there is a casting # on the lh side of the rear top of the block where the trans bolts on to. I think you can find out thay way also

Chevy Camaro Engine Suffix Codes

 

These cast #s

 

Casting number as shown above will tell whether it is a 307 or a 350. Only 307 casting number I know ends in 020, I am in the middle of putting one of those in my plow truck.
There will be a stamping with a code on one of the axle tubes to give the gear ratio, need more pics of the front suspension to be more exact.

 

If the To8hcma could be T0850MA then this site translates it to be one of the following (except the 427 - looks like a 327):



I think that the 13L104978 is part of the VIN?
How to decode Chevy Engine Codes

The engine casting number that avf100 has pictured is a 350 from 1970-1976 with either a 2 or 4 bolt mains per mortec.com "3970014....350...70-76...2 or 4"

 

Working on getting the truck stripped , so I can see the numbers on back of motor , box and rear fenders very good , door are rust free , seat was just sitting on the floor , not bolted in . Hood is straight and no rust . Found it has electric wipers . Started on the front end , ugly . To say there was Bondo in it would be a under statement . Grill was held in with spray foam , fiber glass mat and lots of bondo . I had to use a air chisel to get it out and then the grill fell on the ground . After I removed the mess , the front fenders and air dams are in good shape . Now to find a grill and front valance . As the F-350 that came with the deal is to good to part out . Just when I thought the grill was a mess , I tackled the right rear cab corner , it was dented in about two inches , and just filled with Bondo . Right now I have named it Bondo Barb.

 

I'm never sure what to think of people who do that. Give them credit for making do with what they have or beat them with a stick for being so ??????

 

Dadburnit! you guys know your stuff.

 

so has anyone else have a bondo story?

 

I just went through the process of trying to figure out the front GM subframe on my 1950 f1. Here's some information that I copied and pasted that might help you. In the end, it was an old timer at my NAPA store that figured it out for me.
Good luck!


The 70-81 camaro/firebird and 75-79 nova/X body clones are "front steer", the box sits ahead of the crossmember, and the tie rods are in front of the spindles.

These nova/camaro/X/F body clips all have the frame rails going straight back and down. Similar front steer clips were used on Chevelles and such but they have frame rails that go out to the sides as they drop down behind the crossmember.

Look for castle nuts w/cotter pins on the inner tie rods and where the center link bolts to the idler and pittman arm..
Castle nuts/ cotter pins is 70 to 77.. @@@@@
If NO cotter pins ( just pinch nuts ) then you have a late 78 to 81 clip.
Another clue is metric lug nuts on the rotors..
Think chevelle, regal,cutlass..... they went to the "metric" chassis (smaller) in 78.
Thats when the camaro went to "metric" parts..
Not the same as the regal etc, but also not the same as 70 to 77 camaro!!
BTW, the 70 to 77 camaro uses the A6 inner brg and an A2 outer brg.. the 78 to 81 uses the A6 inner and a different outer ( a12 I think )..
The input shaft diameter on the gearbox might also help you narrow down the year further if you want to go that far. 67-76 Camaro/Firebird has a 13/16" diameter while the later (77-79) has a 3/4" input. That plus the fact that you know it is not metric should put you in the ballpark. Cesar

all of the second gen camaro/firebird clips share the same geometry.

z28, formula firechicken and Trans am get goodies-high ratio gear boxes, DAMN large sway bars, and some have these cute little braces that run from the crossmember to the frame extensions (which are rare as rocking horse poop 'cause they didn't work with headers, and had to be removed to get the starter out...and seldom got bolted back on.)
The three mounting pads that fit against the frame were never converted to metric. So regardless of the year, the Saginaw power gear box mounting pads are conventional female threads, (7/16-14 UNC, the attaching bolts are about 4 5/8 inches long.)

The things that changed through the years:

The input shaft was 13/16 diameter with 36 splines through 1976.
Starting in 1977 the input shaft was changed to 3/4 diameter with 30 splines.

The female ports in the gear were 11/16-18 UNS (pressure port), 5/8-18 UNF (return port) both with a 45 degree brass flare seat through 1979.
Starting in 1980 the two female ports were changed to 18mmX1.5 (pressure port), 16mmx1.5mm (return port) both with o-ring configuration.

 

some info to add to that..the chevelle is a full frame car so there is no part of the frame that curves down. It uses front steer with similar brakes as the 67-69 F body and 68-74 X body.

67-69 F body and 68-74 X body are rear steer with the tie rods behind the crossmember. Steering arms are bolted to the spindles where as the 2nd gen stuff the arms are cast into the spindles. I believe the track is also about 1 1/2" narrower on the early unit, the rear axles are also narrower.

78-88 G body (malibu, grand prix, cutlass, regal) used a full frame with similar front end parts as the S10 pickup. Also a full frame car.

 

Ok I have a front steer , with tie rods in front of cross member , also has castle nuts with cotter pins . so what is the best guess ?

 

1975-1979 Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo. (first letters of each model spells NOVA, cool huh? ) Camaro didnt have that style of frame horn for the bumper shocks or those side mounts on the rails.

 

Thanks I am learning a lot ,