Countryking

Hi Guys, I am considering the purchase of a 1960 vett. The car is said to have matching numbers (Vin and Pad stamp) This is all I'm looking at. The books say the VIN should be on the pad. This car only has the F0930CT, nothing else. It is a 1960 but was built in November of 1959. Does this look correct. Thanks

62Jeff

VIN stamps appeared on 1960 models in mid production. I would not expect a November 59-built 1960 to have a VIN yet.

The engine code of F0930 implies a September 30 assembly date of a Flint engine. The CT code would indicate horse power/transmission but I'm not up to speed on those code definitions.

Countryking

I got the same info for the date. How do I make sure the year is correct for the block? It is a 519 for sure. According to the VIN it was built on the first day of production in the month of November 1959. According to the Corvette Black Book, the first 1960 Corvettes were built in the month of October. So, this would make this car the7th built in November

camelot97330

According to the NCRS Pocket Guide, the CT engine code is the following:
Cubic Inch - 283
Order base code - 469A
HP - 245
Applicable equip. - WCFB 2x4BC & manual transmission

62Jeff

There should be a casting date on the back of the block, which should precede the car's assembly date by a few days/months but not more than about 6 months.

Countryking

The date casting number is it easy to read, the location? I don't know where it is located.

62Jeff

Ok, going on a fuzzy memory here, based on my 62 vette...

The number will be small, on the back of the block near the top of the bell housing.

I believe if you looked at the top of the passenger side of that flange, you'd find it. The large engine casting number would be on the driver's side of the same flange.

The casting date will probably be a 3 or 4 digit string.

Countryking

Thanks Jeff, you have been very helpful.

62Jeff

You are welcome. I'm thinking that the date is partially obscured by the draft tube that comes out of the top of the block and runs down the passenger side of the engine.

vettebuyer6369

... and your 1960s engine numbers may be correct, or appropriate, but they are not matching.

Countryking

Can you give me more info on your comment. I don't understand?

JohnZ

Because no Corvette built prior to around February of 1960 has the car's VIN stamped on the block pad, which "matches" that particular car to that particular engine block. The engine may well be original to the car, but there's no way to verify it without a VIN stamping.

62Jeff

Here is a picture of the engine pad, which I'm posting on behalf of CountryKing.

Thoughts on how correct or authentic it is? I left the image in the very large side as sent to me by CountryKing to aid in your opinions.

DZVette

The cast date is on the block just below and a little to the right of the distributor base. Here's an example on a 519 block:



The letters and numerals are about 0.25" tall.

DZ

JohnZ

The alignment and variable spacing of the characters don't appear to be typical; characters appear to have been stamped individually, and the total length is much longer than a typical Flint stamping.

Countryking

Thanks for getting back to me John. That was my opion also. I have seen the VIN stamps misalined but not the date codes.

vettebuyer6369

The total length of the stamping bothers me the most on that pad. Sure takes up a lot of space as compared to most.

jimgessner

I have a 60 Corvette with its original engine. Pad is stamped

101617 F1203CQ. Send me a pm with your email address, and i will forward the photo of the pad.