Hello, I have a 327, Casting number 3959512. Date code is B 12 0 The pad has CEOA308 AND VO308XTD. Could someone tell me if this engine would work as a numbers matching engine for a 62 corvette? Thanks

 

googling I found.....

Tracy Vettes say "69-73 3959512 SJ 2B 327"
http://www.tracyvette.com/blockssb.html

http://www.classracer.com/classforum...ad.php?t=15118
3959512 = SJ 2B 327 70-72?

quotes are: "The 512 block was a service replacement block.Some had date codes as late as 69 or70. Some,I've been told were large journal,so be careful there. We've used them in our 327 stockers, and they do show up from time to time,so they aren't that rare if your search is diligent enough.The oil filter area is machined for a screw on filter(68 on), and some of the features on the block resemble early large journal 350 blocks."

"The casting number is for a 62-67 327. The block was a special thick wall casting that went out to to select racers in the 60's. I used it in C/SM in the late 70's. Still 4.001 bore, never damaged. "

 

Nope. A '62 Corvette used the 3782870 block; that 512 block is a "CE" warranty replacement block, cast and assembled in 1970.

 

Would you know what the CEOA308 AND VO308XTD stands for? Is it at all possible this block was cast in 1960? It has a canister oil filter, breather in the valley and external breather tube. Small journal crank, dome pistons and 461 double hump heads. Thanks

 

As John H stated above the CE engines were warranty replacement or over the counter engines. These were first introduced with the 5 year 50,000 mile program in the late 60s. The CE number is not decomposable past the '0', for 1970. The V0308 probably means that the engine was built in the Flint plant on March 8th. The XTD is an unusual code, most X engines were for light trucks.

 

Um, outside of all the other responses, a "numbers matching enigine" would have to have the same VIN derivative as the '62 you are putting it in. You do understand this and the restamping that comes with it, right?

 

This is a service replacement 327 block that is VERY simular to the early '010 blocks. These were cast using most of the cores from the '010 block except at the rear area where the boss for the road draft tube is located. This portion is like an earlier 327 block but the rest of it is like a '010 block. You will even see the numbers "010" cast in the block in the timming chain area and also in the rear behind the flywheel.

These are very good blocks and make an excellent block for a vintage race car where it is necessary to have a block with the road draft vent tube boss at the rear. These have thicker main webs then earlier 327 blocks and while I have not seen one with 4 bolt mains, they are very easy to convert to 4 bolt. I mostly have seen them with small crank journals bit I have also ran across one or two with large journals.

Thru the years, I have built many vintage race engines using these blocks.

Chris CWPASADENA

 

Chris,
I also have one of these 512 blocks, but it is a large journal block and already bored .040.
It's been decked so the stamped pad is clean, but it was cast Jan 67. Also, it's the cannister filter style block (which makes sense since it was cast in Jan 67).
I'm hanging onto it specifically to build a nice 383 to put into an early Chevy (55-7)-----------------------when I find the right one! I'll go to great lengths to duplicate (as best as possible) the appearance of a 283.

Tom Parsons

 

Hi Tom,

I think this is the earliest '512 Block that I have heard of. Usually you will see cast dates in the 68 thru 70 range. This will be a good block for your project.

Keep us posted.



chris, CWPASADENA

 

My early 64 #00068 has a 512 block. Stamp pad is clean with no letters or numbers so it must have been decked at some time. The date code is
H-18-3 so would this be an Aug. '63 or a "73 replacement block? It has the spin on filter and rear breather. From the info above I'm a bit confused (which isn't all that unusual!). Thanks. Dave

 

Sounds to me you have a replacement '512 Block. I did not realize these were cast as late as 1973. By any chance could the cast date be H-18-8? Sometimes it is hard to tell a 3 from an 8 on some of the casting dates.

Chris, CWPASADENA

 

Thanks to all that replied! Great information.

The reason I presented this question goes like this,

I purchased this engine after seeing the double hump heads. It was missing the intake and distributor. For the money this man wanted, the heads alone were worth the asking price. I was very surprised to find the original GM dome pistons after removing the heads. The engine looked to have quite a few miles on it going by the size of the ridge in each cylinder and is still a standard bore.

I pulled out some of my old Motor Repair Manual books from the 60's trying to decode the pad suffix numbers. Nothing was even close to the suffix numbers I had.

After doing a little research on the internet and reading the information given by responses to this post, I realized that is why my old books had no information on this block.

Other web sites that go into the rules on a 512 block with a CE number on the pad in a corvette say it is recognized and would be judged as a numbers matching block even though it is known to be a replacement engine. They say the pad stampings other then the factory CE number could be anything or nothing at all. This is why I presented this question but should not have limited it to just the 62 model corvette.

As far as restamping the pad I believe this to be dishonest and deceiving to stamp anything other then what was originally stamped and if it needed to be decked I would document the old numbers and leave the pad blank. We all know you can retrieve the old stampings if need be. I don't want to start a whole debate on the restamping thing, this is just my opinion.

So, back to the 512 block in a corvette. Does anybody know what these other sites are talking about? Thanks and have a great day!

 

Only posting with regard to the removal of number during decking, I believe I've read on this site that there are shops that can deck the block without simultaneously removing the numbers, in case they happen to be of importance. Just thought I'd mention that possibility.

 

Don't know what those other sites are, but they obviously don't have a clue about NCRS (or Bloomington Gold) judging standards; any block in your Corvette with a casting number other than the correct 3782870 will get a total deduction.

 

Could you provide a link please, I'm curious too.