69cvette

i have a 1957 chevy with a supposed 300 hp 327 in it but i wanted to clarify if it was true.

the block casting numbers read TIII56F

can anyone help me out?

I know the T stands for Tonawanda.

69cvette

also is a stock 327 a flat tappet cam engine?
is running valvoline 10w 40 good oil for it?

need some help on those casting numbers too

Mike Ward

That's not a 'casting number'- it's a machine code that I presume was found on the stamp pad at the front right side of the block.

T would be Tonawanda where the engine was built

1115 means it was built on November 15th, year unknown

6F is unknown, possibly a truck or marine installation, not a Corvette.

restoman1

Check the numbers again. You have one too many digits in there. It's probably T1115F or T1116F which would make a little more sense.

The "F" designation was used in the full size cars in 1955 (265/162), 1956 (265/170) and 1957 (283/185). (It was also used from 1958 to 1961 in the 348, but I doubt that's what you have.)

What's the casting number on the rear of the block? That will narrow it down a bit.

Ed

69cvette

i just tried to see if i could loo on the back of the block, ill have to look from underneath or something

Indiancreek

It's on the bell housing flange on the top. SHould be able to be seen to the side and behind your distributor.

bmans vette

http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.php

Check out this site for help with id on your block.
Looks like the old mortec site is gone but the info looks good here.

Bman

69cvette

maximize the pictures to get the best view

alright i'm still trying to this day to figure out my casting number because I'm dying to know what engine i have and what it was out of, someone told me something crazy and that i might have a 283 because the number of 327's that came with powerpack heads was so much lower. do you think its a 283 from what you can tell and what I've provided?

any telltale signs of a 327 over a 283?

69cvette

i suppose this is really next to impossbile to tell just by looking without either pulling the head or knowing the casting numbers, ahh im so irritated i cant get to them.

Mark Riles

It seems as though you will have a hard time reading the casting number which as mentioned is stamped on the webbing of the bell house flange. Without that casting number your journey will not go much further. However, pull the valve covers and post the cylinder head casting numbers. Using those casting numbers we can determine what the heads are and possibly lead us to what they are on family wise.

69cvette

i've got people telling me it might be a 283 and now im starting to think it might be. and if it is im going to be VERY VERY upset, 283's suck.

Mike Ward

What's stopping you from reading the casting number and date?

69cvette

the fact that the back of the head is too close to the firewall get behind the engine, i've tried squeezing a camera to snap a picture but that wont work either. i dont even want to touch the car til i know what engine it has, i've never thought this could be so difficult and so frustrating in my life lol.

Mark Riles

Valve covers. 4 bolts each. Pull them and post the casting numbers of the cylinder heads. Also, try unplugging the wires and removing the distributor cap for more access to the casting number on the back of the block. A squirt of brake cleaner may help to wash away some of the grime that can sometimes hide the numbers. If you can get a rag or a brush back there it will help too.

69cvette

alright i may try that but here's the best pictures i could get with my camera

i see some stamping but that's not it and i don't think that helps me either.

but this is how close it is to the firewall. that's the edge of the valve cover. that's as far as i can see, its probably tucked away under the valve cover.
ill pull it some other day when its warmer.

L88Plus

Mortec ain't gone, it just got archived...runs a bit slower but it's all still there.

http://web.archive.org/web/200805130...ec.com/bbc.htm

Mike Ward

There's tons of sites and books that will have all the info. The OP needs to put a bit of effort into cleaning and stretching.

69cvette

the best i could do was get a GM in the picture and i took over 30 pictures and got pictures of mostly nothing, its like being blind, i wish it wasnt so cold i'd pull the valve cover and look.

anips

I believe the casting # is under your throttle or kick down bellcrank, its not a stamping its a raised cast # for 64-67 327-300hp it would be 3791362, #'s vary between what yr. if you pull the valve cover the casting # you will get is the head casting # which will help to identify if its a 250 or 300 hp, its time to get dirty.

69cvette

okay well i think I've finally figured it out without looking at the casting numbers

i read the engine number on the front wrong and it was TII5GF NOT 6F

i looked up GM suffix codes and this is what I got

GF 1955-56 265 162 MT B, A/C
GF 1957 283 250 TG B, FI
GF 1965-67 283 195 PG

195 earth rumbling horsepower!!
its a far cry from 250 HP lol

give me all the more reason to tear this 283 out ASAP