Wrong casting number/correct date!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,554
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From: Strongsville, OH
2016 C2 of the Year Finalist
Wrong casting number/correct date!
My '64 body build date is Sept.3,1963. I have an engine with the Casting Number of 3959512 which I have learned was a 327 Chevrolet block but not Corvette. Today I was able to see the Casting Date of the block which is H183. I decode this as August 18, '63. The August date would be correct for this car but the Engine Casting number isn't. The front number pad of the engine is blank.
Would this have been a block installed at the factory when the original failed before delivery or just a date coincidence with a replacement? Am interested in your thoughts on this. Thanks. Dave
Would this have been a block installed at the factory when the original failed before delivery or just a date coincidence with a replacement? Am interested in your thoughts on this. Thanks. Dave
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Springfield MO
More likely that the original engine was replaced years ago by a 350. Then someone recently restored the car and went looking for a block to make a almost "numbers matching" car. Best they could find was a 327 block with a "close enough" date code and when they assembled the engine had the deck machined (squared) andd that removed the original stampings. Just my hunch, though.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 381
From: Strongsville, OH
2016 C2 of the Year Finalist
Le Mans Master
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From: "cutesy" TN
Replacement motor. C = Chevrolet E = Engine. Pontiac would be a "PE" and so forth.
Over the counter or under warranty would get a "CE" stamp on the pad. Some dealers never stamped the pad. The factory (Flint and Tonawanda) started stamping "CE" on them in 1969 (?).
Pontiac would be a "PE" and so forth.Over the counter or under warranty would get a "CE" stamp on the pad. Some dealers never stamped the pad. The factory (Flint and Tonawanda) started stamping "CE" on them in 1969 (?).
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One good thing about your 512 block is that it is a Flint block (Corvettes ONLY got Flint blocks, pass cars got BOTH Flint and Tonawanda blocks). This is determined by the SINGLE number H18(3) for the year. Tonawanda blocks got TWO numbers for the year H18(63).
The 512 blocks were commonly used as replacement blocks and the 512 was used for replacement at least up into the late 60s. I personally have a 512 block on a stand that has a casting date of Jan 67-------------AND IT IS A BIG JOURNAL BLOCK WITH THE CRANKCASE VENT HOLE IN THE BACK!!! Thus, it could easily be used to build a 327, 350, 383 and installed in an early car (pre-68) with a road draft tube and valve covers WITHOUT holes (ala early finned alum covers)!
The 512 blocks were commonly used as replacement blocks and the 512 was used for replacement at least up into the late 60s. I personally have a 512 block on a stand that has a casting date of Jan 67-------------AND IT IS A BIG JOURNAL BLOCK WITH THE CRANKCASE VENT HOLE IN THE BACK!!! Thus, it could easily be used to build a 327, 350, 383 and installed in an early car (pre-68) with a road draft tube and valve covers WITHOUT holes (ala early finned alum covers)!
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 381
From: Strongsville, OH
2016 C2 of the Year Finalist
Thanks DZ for the information on the 512 engine. It does have the crank vent in the top rear and I was not aware of the Flint manufacture difference either. Now I know it will allow some different rebuild options for the future but right now it runs great and I don't have plans for that. I really think it was an early replacement since all the other numbers/dates of everything major on the car are as they should be. Could be wrong but makes no difference to me anyway. Appreciate all the help!!
