I have a 1970 El Camino with a 396 engine and I believe that the intake manifold is not the original. I need to know the year of the manifold as I want to put a choke kit on it and of course the part is year specific. The numbers on the manifold are 3883848. Below it is the GM logo and below that is the letter T. If you do not know, do you have a resource that you could pass along.

check the casting code for the model year.

sorry gm's comp. parts catalog only goes back to 76. the number you gave isnt good. sorry

Caleb: Thank you for the reply. the casting number that I find on the manifold is 3883848 and I do not have a clue as to where the year might be in that number string. Any help you can offer would be apprecicated.

Russell

call 800-222-1020....that is the gm customer support hotline...with a little patients and arm twisting, an operator may be able to get you a definite answer in 24 hours.....and order a free restoration packet for the vehicle too.
I don't remember the chokes on those big blocks being too different, you may want to ask how the hell the difference in the year makes em incompatable(rod,spring,type,?)...hey, they may be the same deal for a five year run...
I mean, if the motor is original, the intake should be pre egr crap, and the carbs were the same forever in the early 70's - so unless you got stuck with a school bus intake, the choke shouldn't be relatively different from year to year, unless..............it is not the original motor or a marine intake......... I remember taking a 72 2bbl heatriser and swapping it in to a 67 396, but I used the 4bbl rod off of a something laying on the ground behind a transmission shop-I wouldn't let it keep you up at night, you know how auto zone wants to know year, make, model, 4x2 or 4x4 just to fetch you a set of 350 plug wires????sounds like the same kind of deal to me...like some woman or geek setup the ordering process

if all else fails. sell me the car....I am looking for an old SS that only needs minor this and that 8-)

Hey Russell, I just broke down and bought a Chevy Casting #'s book so here's what I find init for you. I can't find the # you listed BUT I do find 3883948, pretty close eh? I've mistaken 9's for 8's before so maybe that may have happened.

Now onto the meat........
427 66-68 Passenger Cast Iron Q-Jet, Oval Port, 385,390 HP
396 66-68 Passenger, Chevelle Cast Iron Q-Jet, Oval Port
427 67 Corvette Cast Iron, 390 HP, Late '67 Oval Port
396 67-68 Camaro Cast Iron Q-Jet, Oval Port

That's pretty much word for word. Now your date should be there too. For example if it says *C128* that would break down as March 12, 1968. GM makes things pretty easy to decipher.

I have gotten the GM restoration package for a couple of different vehicles and there is a lot of usefull information and all the codes are included. When you get the GM operator just tell them that you need the restoration package for your Elky. They will transfer you to a different division and hook you up. They usually get the package to you in a week or so. Enjoy the new ride it sounds great. John

Thanks to A L and John for their assistance. I think that A L was probably right about not reading the casting numbers correctly on the manifold. They are not raised as well as they could be. I will track down that book and I won't have to bother you guys anymore. Actually, asking the questions that I have in the past has helped me learn more than what I first asked for initially. So I won't buy the book, I'll just let you guys teach me more than I already know and thats a plan! Again, and no kidding, thanks for the help, I'll be talking to you..............Russell

Glad to help Russell. Don't bother buying the book. As long as I have mine keep posting the questions, my door is always open. I just bought mine to run #'s since I have a boatload of stuff to go through. Most can be found on the internet but I prefer the "old fashioned way". Look it up in a book.

BTW, that book was $25. OUCH! Automobile books just seem to be a lot of $$. Still, it's a great addition to go in my Automotive Library.

See Ya,
Alan