Engine i.d. question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Redwood City CA
Engine i.d. question
I bought a '23 Ford T Bucket with what the seller claimed is a 58 Vette 283. Can anyone tell me how to i.d. it? It's orange, it has very pretty bare aluminum and orange finned valve covers that say Corvette on them, a single plane Edelbrock manifold and what I was told is a 850 cfm Holley.
I found some numbers on the block. On the driver's side near the rear of the block is GM 3756519. The GM is above the number, not on the same line. To the left of that and turned 90 degrees is the number 10. On the passenger side, also at the rear of the block, is E279.
Thanks for any and all help.
I found some numbers on the block. On the driver's side near the rear of the block is GM 3756519. The GM is above the number, not on the same line. To the left of that and turned 90 degrees is the number 10. On the passenger side, also at the rear of the block, is E279.
Thanks for any and all help.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,497
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
The numbers stamped on the front engine pad, immediately below the passenger side cylinder head, will tell us what application the engine was used in.
Should be something like F528CS, as an example.
What numbers are on your front pad?
Should be something like F528CS, as an example.
What numbers are on your front pad?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 541
From: Woodland Hills CA
Engine
Also remember that the original ID stamped on the pad would indicate what it was originally assembled as. Its probably been rebuilt 2 or 3 times in its life. There would be no way to know whats in it now unless you disassembled it.
Dont worry about its "specs". If it runs and drives nice, just drive it. Tell everyone who asks "its a special factory order blueprinted 283 from an experimental Corvette."
No one will know the difference.
Dont worry about its "specs". If it runs and drives nice, just drive it. Tell everyone who asks "its a special factory order blueprinted 283 from an experimental Corvette."
No one will know the difference.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Remember also that all Chev V8s that have become separated from their original cars 'came from a Corvette' and all Corvettes that have lost their original engine were born as a high-perf small block or a big block. No known exceptions. 
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Redwood City CA
Assuming this is a Vette engine does it have much value? If it does, would I hurt its value by painting the engine? I think it looks great in orange, but it doesn't match the way I want to paint the rest of the car, plus I have no hood for it so it's always exposed.
Would a C1 engine be worth enough that it would be worthwhile to sell it to a Vette guy and stick a crate engine in my car? A decent long block crate engine is about $2000.
Last edited by Greasyman; Dec 30, 2013 at 04:46 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,497
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
..and do not use an abrasive material to clean the pad. Use lacquer thinner or paint remover. Don't use anything that will scratch the engine pad.
The value will depend on that those numbers are.
The value will depend on that those numbers are.
Last edited by emccomas; Dec 30, 2013 at 10:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 541
From: Woodland Hills CA
Engine
Sorry if I am introducing too much reality to this, but even if this engine was from a Corvette, it is NOT going to fund your new $2000 crate motor. The last Corvette block I bought I paid $30 for. It can be worth several hundred if its the right date / bore / someone is looking for. There were not VIN numbers on this block, so we will never know what car it came from.
"Corvette guys" know who has lots of these blocks and where to get them if we need them. Drive it and enjoy it. When you pull it to put that crate motor in, list it for sale on the forum and one of us may buy it.
"Corvette guys" know who has lots of these blocks and where to get them if we need them. Drive it and enjoy it. When you pull it to put that crate motor in, list it for sale on the forum and one of us may buy it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,497
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
Please do check the numbers on your block. Some are worth more than others. Also be sure to check the cylinder head casting numbers as well. Never know what you will find there.
Some cylinder heads are worth significantly more than an original 59 Corvette block.
Let us know what you find.
Some cylinder heads are worth significantly more than an original 59 Corvette block.
Let us know what you find.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Redwood City CA
Thanks for all the help so far. I took the paint off and found F528D stamped into the pad. According to the info I could find it means it was made in Flint and D only indicates it was bolted onto a Powerglide and went into an unspecified car or truck. I know the numbers indicate date, but I don't know if that's month day and year, or just month and day.
The heads have a rectangle with a pointy triangle sticking out of it. These guys, http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...identification, say this about them; " Narrow triangle over rectangle c/n 520, 896, 1958 and up 283 Power Pak and 1957-'60 FI. 9.25:1 CR, 1.72" x 1.50" valves, 59cc nominal chamber volume."
The heads have a rectangle with a pointy triangle sticking out of it. These guys, http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...identification, say this about them; " Narrow triangle over rectangle c/n 520, 896, 1958 and up 283 Power Pak and 1957-'60 FI. 9.25:1 CR, 1.72" x 1.50" valves, 59cc nominal chamber volume."
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,497
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
OK, as you have already determined the engine code translates as follows
F = Flint engine assembly
5 = Month of assembly (May)
28 = day of assembly (28th)
D = engine suffix code, which is a 283, 2 bbl carb, with a powerglide, and installed in a passenger car.
The pyramid over the rectangle heads are pretty common, and not worth serious dollars.
If this is a good running used engine, is may be worth $300 to $500 to the right person.
The potential of this engine is that it could be "converted" to a powerglide equipped Corvette engine by adding the appropriate letter after the D.
Good luck with your car.
F = Flint engine assembly
5 = Month of assembly (May)
28 = day of assembly (28th)
D = engine suffix code, which is a 283, 2 bbl carb, with a powerglide, and installed in a passenger car.
The pyramid over the rectangle heads are pretty common, and not worth serious dollars.
If this is a good running used engine, is may be worth $300 to $500 to the right person.
The potential of this engine is that it could be "converted" to a powerglide equipped Corvette engine by adding the appropriate letter after the D.
Good luck with your car.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Redwood City CA
So apparently it's a bread and butter block that had a set of Power Pack heads and Vette valve covers stuck on it at some time. For now I'm going to keep it, I think it's a great looking engine and I like the idea of telling people my hot rod has a vintage Vette engine in it (well, the valve covers at least). I just bought this car, haven't even driven it more than in my driveway, but that engine probably makes all the hp I'll need, the previous owner told me the car weighs only 1800 lbs.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 642
From: Bandera Texas
Thanks for all the help so far. I took the paint off and found F528D stamped into the pad. According to the info I could find it means it was made in Flint and D only indicates it was bolted onto a Powerglide and went into an unspecified car or truck. I know the numbers indicate date, but I don't know if that's month day and year, or just month and day.
The heads have a rectangle with a pointy triangle sticking out of it. These guys, http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...identification, say this about them; " Narrow triangle over rectangle c/n 520, 896, 1958 and up 283 Power Pak and 1957-'60 FI. 9.25:1 CR, 1.72" x 1.50" valves, 59cc nominal chamber volume."
The heads have a rectangle with a pointy triangle sticking out of it. These guys, http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...identification, say this about them; " Narrow triangle over rectangle c/n 520, 896, 1958 and up 283 Power Pak and 1957-'60 FI. 9.25:1 CR, 1.72" x 1.50" valves, 59cc nominal chamber volume."
There is a casting date on the REAR of the engine block, passenger side close to the distributor hole. Similar code as E159. Again shows it is a FLINT block cast May 15, 1959. If the stamp is E1559, then it is a TONAWANDA block and was used only in passenger and truck. CORVETTE used only FLINT BLOCKS. TOWANADA blocks are boat anchors and worthless to collectors.
Last edited by jimgessner; Jan 1, 2014 at 11:09 AM.