engine date code
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,861
Likes: 713
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Well, could be anything AFTER the casting date of the block. 
Could be as short as ONE day, or up to SIX months. (NCRS "gives" you 6 months)
From a practical standpoint, it's usually a week or two from casting to assembly. Others might have differing opinions.
The stamping on an early engine like this one would likely be F5XX(SUFFIX).
They didn't start using the "O" till much later, i.e. F05XX (SUFFIX)
XX would be the day of the month.
5 would be the 5th month, i.e. May.
Chuck
Could be as short as ONE day, or up to SIX months. (NCRS "gives" you 6 months)
From a practical standpoint, it's usually a week or two from casting to assembly. Others might have differing opinions.
The stamping on an early engine like this one would likely be F5XX(SUFFIX).
They didn't start using the "O" till much later, i.e. F05XX (SUFFIX)
XX would be the day of the month.
5 would be the 5th month, i.e. May.
Chuck
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 568
Likes: 2
From: New Knoxville Ohio
The casting would not be dated with the numerals 56 , but with only the 6, for the year 1956. If it has the complete 56 numerals, it would mean a Tonawanda, Ny. engine and not a Flint. Mich. engine, where the small block Corvette engines came from.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,861
Likes: 713
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
JUST to be sure, post the casting NUMBER of the engine.
For 1956, it should be a 265 CI block, # 3720991
The casting date should be of the format:
A 19 6
Where A is the month, January = A, February = B and so on.
19 is the day of the month, 1-31
And 6 (single digit) is the year for 1956.
Chuck
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
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From: Washington Michigan
