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"Originally Posted by JohnZ" CE blocks were 5/50 warranty replacements, supplied as short blocks or "fitted" blocks; the "CE" program was started by the Chevrolet finance guys in 1969 so they could separate the 5/50 warranty replacements from the rest of the over-the-counter customer-paid engine replacements to determine the true cost of the 5/50 warranty program. The rate of 5/50 failure replacements was about five times what had been predicted when the program was "sold" to GM Management in 1967, which is why it didn't last long. "CE" stood for "Chevrolet Engine"; they did the same thing for 5/50 warranty replacement transmissions, which were stamped "CT" for "Chevrolet Transmission".
And another
"Originally Posted by JohnZ" The 5/50 warranty program started in '67, but the "CE" stamping on those blocks didn't start until 1969; LOTS of 67's got 5/50 warranty replacement blocks, and if that occurred during or after 1969, most were stamped "CE". "CE" replacements were short blocks, with the bolt-on parts to be transferred from the failed engine.
So, if this engine I'm looking at has a pad stamp CE 5N2-5, it would stand to reason that this is a 1975 Chevrolet Replacement Engine.
Interesting how this 3959512 block came in both Large and Small Journal setups over the counter.
I asked the same question to Noland Adams and he replied in a letter back that "the casting number 3959512 was a 327 cid engine used in 1962-1969 Chevrolets, but not in Corvettes. The engine was probably purchased as a partial engine over the counter at a Chevrolet dealer's parts department. Often--but not always--these engines did not have an engine number stamped on the front pad".
My '64 has this engine with a blank pad...never rebuilt....and was the reason for the question to Noland. Hope this helps....dave
I bought a 64 corvette. Original owner tells me the block was replaced under warranty in 1964 at the dealership. Not sure what CBEI could stand for or the numbers following. HELP!
Casting number is 3959512
Last edited by mtgilmore34; 08-23-2021 at 02:53 PM.
Reason: more info
I would have to conclude that any replacement block (such as 512 casting) up to 1967 would have to be a small journal block. Prior to1968, there was no such thing as a large journal SB block (EXCEPT of course the 1967 Camaro SS350 engine).
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO, with that said, when did the replacement 512 blocks go to a large journal? AND, were BOTH large and small journal 512 blocks available at the same time, OR, once the 512 block became available with a large journal, were all 512 blocks machined for a large journal? I'm thinking the casting date would be the indicator of a large or small journal version.
The large journal 512 block in my 51 Chevy was cast Jan 76. And except for the large journal and spin-on style oil filter pad, it has all the features of an earlier small journal 327 block. PERFECT for early type crankcase ventilation (road draft tube on my 51) and valve covers with NO HOLES!!!!!
A part number starting with "39" would NOT have been issued until sometime in '66 for new MY '67 parts. The earliest I could find with a quick check of the NCRS Spec Guide is the L-68/71 end carbs, 3902353. Given this, 3959512 would date to about 1969, which jibes with JohnZ's post quoted in earlier posts in this thread.
To the OP's question if you ordered a replacement block for a 1965 SB in 1965 it would have been the same ...870 block as the original, which was still in production until replaced by the ...657 block in '67.
The original post is very old….but to the new poster, it doesn’t matter if it was replaced under warranty (which I do not think it was) or if the engine was bought over the counter or pulled from a junkyard truck and now in your car. It’s not the original engine. You might be able to make it look close if it’s an 870 block or one with similar pcv….but unfortunately, original is gone.
I bought a 64 corvette. Original owner tells me the block was replaced under warranty in 1964 at the dealership. Not sure what CBEI could stand for or the numbers following. HELP!
Casting number is 3959512
It appears the photo is of the stamp pad that was used by Flint to code the build data and St. Louis to stamp the VIN derivative. What is stamped there was not done by GM. My best guess is that an engine shop stamped that data to identify the job, but I can't decode it.
Since the ...512 block did not exist in '64 this could NOT have been a warranty replacement in '64. The block should also have a date code of when it was cast.
DZ, I don't think the 512 blocks were produced until the late 60s, which would have been the large journal era. Apparently they could have large or small journals though (I once asked JohnZ a question along those lines, and he said if a block was destined for a small journal application that's what it got).
That all being said, I have one with large journals and four bolt caps. Maybe somebody machined it that way later, or maybe this was for an SS 350 Camaro. Pad is decked so no clues there.
I don't think ...512 blocks were ever processed at Flint with four bolt main bearing caps. The were processed for both small and large journal cranks, as were the OE...'657 blocks in '67 C2 small blocks. The nice thing is they have notches for both small and large journal bearings, so a small bearing block can easily be align bored for large bearing cranks and the proper large bearing notches will be there.
I bought a 64 corvette. Original owner tells me the block was replaced under warranty in 1964 at the dealership. Not sure what CBEI could stand for or the numbers following. HELP!
Casting number is 3959512
15 years later, lets ask questions in a new thread.
01-30-2006, 11:36 AM
Another CE 327 Block Question
