Grey Ghost

I only have the info that you can see in the photos. I'm going to look at
it this Sat. Does the suffix code look weird? Do the other parts - water pump, fan, manifolds, intake, carb, etc...also work for a Corvette or did a Corvette have specific parts? I'm also trying to determine a dollar value for the entire assembly. He is asking $1300. I'm assuming the water pump, manifolds, etc...have part numbers and dates?

Thanks!

JohnZ

The block casting #(3731548) is correct for a '57 Chevy 283, but nothing else on the engine is 1957, and the pad stamp suffix ("IF") says it's not a Corvette engine; I don't have any references that show the "IF" suffix being used for any 1957 usage.

jim lockwood

John,

I believe that's an assembly date of 12-01 with an "F" suffix. Going from memory (not always reliable), "F" denotes 2bbl, Powerglide passenger car application.

Jim

Solid Axle Guy

not worth $1300

OC-1

For future reference.....

Some 265s were a 548 casting.

Flint and Tonawanda cast 548 blocks, only Flint blocks in 57 vette.

DZAUTO

That is something I was also going to point out, BOTH 265 and 283 blocks in 1957 are 548 castings.

jim lockwood

Yep, Tom is right. All '57 265s were made from 548 castings.

And despite what you may have heard, '57 265s were not all green (or yellow). Here is an un-molested '57 265 in what's left of its original Chebby engine orange:

JohnZ

Yup -

I read it the other way (F120IF), didn't consider the other way.

tuxnharley

A 548 block with a "F" suffix is a 1957 283 passenger car application, originally with a Powerglide and a 2 bbl carb. it would have to be "FG', "FH", or "FX" to be a Corvette engine.

Grey Ghost

Anything on these? Thanks again.

tuxnharley

Those casting numbers are difficult to read in those pictures. However, IF I am reading them correctly, this is what you've got there:

Top picture
# 3704792 - 1955 Corvette 265/195 HP right hand manifold 2nd design
C 3055 - cast on March 30, 1955

Bottom picture
#3704791 - 1955 Corvette 265/195 HP left hand manifold 1st design
E 355 - cast on May 3, 1955

Those same casting numbers may have been used for passenger car applications as well; I am not sure if they were exclusive to Corvette. However, they are correct for a Corvette application in any case.

Grey Ghost

Maybe - 3704782 - 3704781? They are hard to read. Do these show up for anything?

tuxnharley

There is no Corvette application for the casting numbers you suggest. I do not know if there is such a passenger car application.

The 791/792 manifolds are the earliest Corvette V8 manifolds. The casting dates do confirm that the manifolds are from 1955.

JohnZ

Not really. The 791 and 792 were shared between passenger and Corvette applications, but the castings pictured were cast at Tonawanda (note the 2-digit year identifiers), and are thus not correct for the Corvette.

scopeli

grey ghost, need more information on your car(vin # and type of transmission) to determine how you should value this block. if the first letter on the engine pad was a T it would be of no value to a corvette guy. being that it begins in a F the block has possibilities. if your car is a automatic with a December or January build date this a extremely desirable block. by the way, I would really appreciate if you could post a picture of the entire front side of the 791 exhaust manifold dated E355. the date on the manifold is in the transition week of the 791 manifold. it will help in getting close to the exact date that the changes were made.

tuxnharley

Thanks, John. As I said, I was referring to the casting numbers being Corvette appropriate and not sure about the passenger car application. I appreciate your having clarified that!

Grey Ghost

A friend has just started going through his fathers old garage and finding these parts. Just trying to help him sort out the stuff. I think his dad had a shop from 1950 - 1990. Some things I can find out the info. and others I wonder if they are Corvette specific or generic. Thanks for the info and help!