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Re: determing engine block numbers
Most seller's claims of "numbers matching" are full of something beside honesty. To know for sure would require a tear down inspection of a known documented engine. Anything less is a guess
from a very confident, expert informed external inspection to a WAG for ad copy.
Since GM did not VIN stamp these blocks you cannot say 100% this is it. However you can come close with the engine number. It tells us the plant build date and intended application of the engine.
So yours is:
V Flint engine plant
01 January
21 21st day of the month
TDJ conventional cab with auto trans. 175hp 4bbl carb.
Now the problem is TDJ was also used in 1980 in a similar 155 hp application. To verify yours is a '72 you would need to check the casting number and the casting date. These numbers will precede the build date but the range varies greatly. The other dated parts to check would be the heads, intake, carb, distributor and exhaust manifolds. These will all give you clues about how original an engine is or how bad someone wanted it to look original.
The little ray of sunshine here is the protecto plate has the engine number on it. This cross confirmation on top of the date on the blue door certification label gives a good firm date everything will precede.
Have fun!
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