283 block ID Help Wanted
#1
Racer
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283 block ID Help Wanted
I've got a 3731548 block. There is no casting date on the RH upper transmission mounting flange opposite the casting number.
There is a stamped date located on the RH bottom face of the flange. This is roughly right above the starter location where it goes into the bellhusing. The stamped date is 08 57 followed by a C?, but really looks like half of a 0.
The front of the block has 1957 cast into it, located on the LH mid area of the block and would be covered by the timing gear when installed.
The is a 1/4" plug over top of the timing cover location.
The RH front stamp pad is unmarked. I don't think it was ever stamped. There are still faint broach lines all along the top of the block and front pad.
Was this an over the counter replacement block? What would be the application? How come it has no casting date in the usual location?
Can anyone provide info on this block??
Cheers,
Al
There is a stamped date located on the RH bottom face of the flange. This is roughly right above the starter location where it goes into the bellhusing. The stamped date is 08 57 followed by a C?, but really looks like half of a 0.
The front of the block has 1957 cast into it, located on the LH mid area of the block and would be covered by the timing gear when installed.
The is a 1/4" plug over top of the timing cover location.
The RH front stamp pad is unmarked. I don't think it was ever stamped. There are still faint broach lines all along the top of the block and front pad.
Was this an over the counter replacement block? What would be the application? How come it has no casting date in the usual location?
Can anyone provide info on this block??
Cheers,
Al
#2
Safety Car
Years ago when ordering a engine from the part department you could order one of three engine.
1 called a fitting block which only came with pistons.
2 called a short block which was mostly complete but no heads
3 a long block having heads but no intake.
I bought many block and none came with markings on the front pad , I bought three 1970 LT1's in the mid 70's also having no stamping up front.
1 called a fitting block which only came with pistons.
2 called a short block which was mostly complete but no heads
3 a long block having heads but no intake.
I bought many block and none came with markings on the front pad , I bought three 1970 LT1's in the mid 70's also having no stamping up front.
#3
Le Mans Master
In the late fifties through the late seventies, Chevrolet usually listed engine blocks in their Parts and Accessories catalogs in three configurations:
Group 0.000 Engine Assembly - Engine assemblies usually complete with water pump, oil pan, intake manifold, spark plugs, and flexplate (or flywheel and clutch), but usually without distributor, carburetor, fuel pump, oil filter, fan, generator, ignition coil, ignition wires, starter, and external small parts. These seldom came with exhaust manifolds.
Group 0.033 Block Assembly, Cylinder, Partial Engine - Block with crank, pistons, rods, cam, and timing set, but without cylinder heads, oil pan, and oil pump.
Group 0.033 Block Assembly, Cylinder, Fitted Block - Block with pistons, rings, and bearings.
I believe you could also order a current production engine as a complete assembly too, but I never saw these listed with a part number in the P&A Catalogs at the time.
Some blocks were also sold under special part numbers to be installed in non-production applications. The one I remember best is an engine "kit" for installing a 1962 Corvette 360hp FI engine in a '62 Chevy II. The one photo that I've seen showed they came complete with pulleys, exhaust manifolds, FI units, and water pumps.
At some point Chevrolet also started selling bare blocks that came with main bearing caps only, but I don't remember seeing these listed in the P&A Catalogs.
The blocks that I bought in the seventies (engine assemblies and partial engine assemblies) all came with "CE" numbers stamped on the front i.d. pads. I never bought a fitted block or a current production engine, so I don't know how (or if) they were stamped. I think the "CE" stamping practice began in the late sixties.
Your 548 block is a 1957 casting. I believe that is the only year that casting number was used. You'll find that it doesn't have casting bosses on the sides for engine mounts.
Group 0.000 Engine Assembly - Engine assemblies usually complete with water pump, oil pan, intake manifold, spark plugs, and flexplate (or flywheel and clutch), but usually without distributor, carburetor, fuel pump, oil filter, fan, generator, ignition coil, ignition wires, starter, and external small parts. These seldom came with exhaust manifolds.
Group 0.033 Block Assembly, Cylinder, Partial Engine - Block with crank, pistons, rods, cam, and timing set, but without cylinder heads, oil pan, and oil pump.
Group 0.033 Block Assembly, Cylinder, Fitted Block - Block with pistons, rings, and bearings.
I believe you could also order a current production engine as a complete assembly too, but I never saw these listed with a part number in the P&A Catalogs at the time.
Some blocks were also sold under special part numbers to be installed in non-production applications. The one I remember best is an engine "kit" for installing a 1962 Corvette 360hp FI engine in a '62 Chevy II. The one photo that I've seen showed they came complete with pulleys, exhaust manifolds, FI units, and water pumps.
At some point Chevrolet also started selling bare blocks that came with main bearing caps only, but I don't remember seeing these listed in the P&A Catalogs.
The blocks that I bought in the seventies (engine assemblies and partial engine assemblies) all came with "CE" numbers stamped on the front i.d. pads. I never bought a fitted block or a current production engine, so I don't know how (or if) they were stamped. I think the "CE" stamping practice began in the late sixties.
Your 548 block is a 1957 casting. I believe that is the only year that casting number was used. You'll find that it doesn't have casting bosses on the sides for engine mounts.
Last edited by jerrybramlett; 08-17-2008 at 09:06 PM.
#4
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It's just a 57 283 block. The date code is cast between the frost plugs usually on the starter side of the block. It's a St. Catharines Ontario block for a Canadian Chev or Pontiac. Then again some 57 265s also used the same casting with a smaller bore.
Bob
Bob
Last edited by Bob W; 08-17-2008 at 08:59 PM.