The few times that I could afford to have a pro-engine machining done...there were initials, markings, specs on damn near everything.
The first thing to decide is what you really want the engine for. If it just a "show" piece, then it'll be a whole different animal from buying it as a potential running engine. Still, if it has sat on the shelf for 40 years, I would think you would want to have it disassymbled, checked over before running it.
Also, if you are buying it for its racing association, someone needs to produce some kind of documentation - something better than, a friend of a friend of a friend ... told someone that it came from XYZ. Remember, every 283, 327 came from a corvette and every 289 was Hipo or came out of a Shelby...'cause thats what my Dad, cousin, GranPa or friend of a friend told me just before he let me have it for pennies on the dollar.
