VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1965-1970 69 Caprice 427, CE codes and originality

I am curious...for those of you who have been around...

I know someone with a 69 Caprice..appearing to be all original. Marked as a 427 car...air cleaner looks like the short snout 390hp version...factory air...all original equipment. However...the code stamped on the passenger side front block is a CE code. I understand that to mean its a warranty replacement by GM (from 1969 no less). The casting number on the drivers side back tells me its a 396. So how do I find out what actually came in this car? Was is it a 427 car and GM replaced it with a 396 (despite whether the owner new about it)? Was it a 396 car with a CE 396? The VIN apparently doesn't tell me any of this information.

Any thoughts?

Welcome aboard. The only way you can be sure is if he has the original window sticker or the protect-o-plate. Watch for phonies as they make both today..Joe

Welcome aboard. The only way you can be sure is if he has the original window sticker or the protect-o-plate. Watch for phonies as they make both today..Joe


yup thanks.

No don't have those unfortunately...that would have solved it quickly.

Were there any accessories such as carb/distributor that were specific to an engine that would help me further investigate this?

For example was a specific model of Rochester only one the 396 or 427 or big block small block.

Just trying to make some sense of this.

gm made caprices here in Oshawa Ontario Canada.................if the car was made here "vintage vehicle services " has the records and can decipher the vin or firewall tag, whatever those cars have.

mike

Thanks Mike. It was built in LA. I was able to find the original build/sn tag on the Turbo400 and decoding it tells me it was a 427 390hp car.

the 390 hp with hydraulic lifters and camshaft still pulls hard. should be able to run mid grade gasoline to save some pennies. might have to turn timing back some if starts to ping.

mike

Well,

I think I can safely close this out....this is a 1969 Caprice 390 HP Car. After doing quite a bit of scouring I found the following information-

In 1969 a 396 was available but only with a two barrel carb.
Mine is a 4 barrel with the correct manifold for the 390HP 427 (correctly date coded Rochester0
Heads are 3931063 closed chamber correct for either 396 or 427
The casting number of my motor is in fact for a 396 despite having a 4 barrel and 390hp intake
The stamp code is a "CE" series which I understand to be a GM replacement of some sort (from 1969)
The air cleaner is a 390HP version with the shorter down turned snout
Everything in the engine compartment is 100% original
The transmission has the original riveted SN/Code tag on it...decoding it tells me its a 390HP/427 T400 car.


I understand there are some additional date code numbers maybe available around the starter, however I haven't pulled the starter.

The car is badged as 427 and all paper work/receipts list it as a 427.

I suspect their was a warranty claim at some point and GM replaced the long/short block.