You don't even need the VIN. All long stroke RB (raised block) engines, which include 413-426 wedge-adn 440 have a flat ID pad on the pass. side of the front of the block. This pad is a few inches to the pass side of the distributor, is parallel to the ground, and is adjacent to the clamp strip for the valley cover. Here's a rather crummy picture:


http://www.yearone.com/updatedsingle...ages/tech8.jpg

a better pix

http://www.carcraft.com/techfaq/116_.../photo_12.html

http://www.carcraft.com/techfaq/116_...de/index2.html

The short stroke B engines, generally the old 361, 383 and 400, do not have this pad