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Hi all,
I am a new member here. I just bought my first 1957 Corvette that has been sitting in a pole barn since 1976. It has a 327 Engine and i am thinking about putting in a 283 Engine. I have found one but i am not sure if it is a corvette engine. The seller says the following numbers are from the Engine.
F1211FC
3731548
1404027
I have researched and found information on the 3731548 but cannot find anything on the other two numbers.
Would someone be able to help me out. Thank you
The 3731548 is the casting number for the block and uniquely identifies it as a '57 engine (but not necessarily an engine originally installed in a Corvette).
This alpha-numeric mix: F1211FC identifies the engine as having been assembled at the Flint plant ("F") on December 11 (1211). That "F" is a good thing.... all small block Corvette engines were assembled at the Flint plant.
The FC identifies how the engine was originally configured and, to my memory, means this was a 2bbl engine mated to a Powerglide and installed in a passenger car. My memory could be off a bit, but I'm pretty sure that was not originally a Corvette engine.
I have no idea what the third number signifies. Where on the block is it?
That said, if the block is in good, usable, rebuildable shape and you want a 283 in the car, by all means, go for it.
Jim
Last edited by jim lockwood; 12-18-2014 at 12:51 PM.
Hi all,
I am a new member here. I just bought my first 1957 Corvette that has been sitting in a pole barn since 1976. It has a 327 Engine and i am thinking about putting in a 283 Engine. I have found one but i am not sure if it is a corvette engine. The seller says the following numbers are from the Engine.
F1211FC
3731548
1404027
I have researched and found information on the 3731548 but cannot find anything on the other two numbers.
Would someone be able to help me out. Thank you
Look at the casting Date if it ends in 57 it's a pass. car motor if it ends in 7 then it's for a vette
I believe the 1404027 is a sequential production number that GM used but it didnt have any meaning to the vehicle it was installed in.
The sequential production numbers were last used in '56. '57 motors, of which the OP's is one, did not have them.
And Tom is spot on with his distinction between single digit years in the casting date being either passenger or Vette vs two digit years in the casting date being only passenger car.
Hi all,
I am a new member here. I just bought my first 1957 Corvette that has been sitting in a pole barn since 1976. It has a 327 Engine and i am thinking about putting in a 283 Engine. I have found one but i am not sure if it is a corvette engine. The seller says the following numbers are from the Engine.
F1211FC
3731548
1404027
I have researched and found information on the 3731548 but cannot find anything on the other two numbers.
Would someone be able to help me out. Thank you
What is the VIN # for your 57 vette? The casting date of the block you are looking at? The cast date of the block is located on the Pass side of the bell-housing flange opposite the spot where the casting # (3731548) is located. The block you are looking at may be a block that was cast & assembled either too early or too late for your 57. Your VIN # can be used to approximate the "build date" of your 57.
My 57 is E57S101247. #1247 was finished on Dec. 11, 1956. Therefore the block you looking at is too late for my 57.
Thanks for all your help everyone. It seems like from the info that i am coming up with is a 1957 Chevy but not a Corvette engine.
For what he is asking for the engine, i will have to pass.
I have a 327 in it now, maybe i will just freshen that up and use for it now until i come across the right engine.
Have ya checked out the date codes on the plexiglass in your hardtop to see if it might be the original hardtop that came with your 57? What about the rearend pumpkin? Did ya check to see if it is the original rearend? My 57 still had the original rearend, but my hardtop is a 59 hardtop.
Hi Midshark,
Yes i got the car from Northern Michigan.
Haven't checked out the date codes yet. Going to do it this weekend.
I am thinking right now, get it up and running, maybe run it for a season, then restore to original colors.
Hi Midshark,
Yes i got the car from Northern Michigan.
Haven't checked out the date codes yet. Going to do it this weekend.
I am thinking right now, get it up and running, maybe run it for a season, then restore to original colors.
Get it all sorted out mechanically first, cosmetics second. When I was young and dumb (well dumber) I'd always do the opposite 'cause I couldn't wait to have it look good. Then I'd have a nice looking broken down car on the roadside.
12-18-2014, 12:09 PM
1957 Corvette
Get it all sorted out mechanically first, cosmetics second. When I was young and dumb (well dumber) I'd always do the opposite 'cause I couldn't wait to have it look good. Then I'd have a nice looking broken down car on the roadside. 
