Cstor

Hello,
First time posting. My dad and I restored a 1963 Corvette convertible and I am helping him decode. The engine codes are goofy on this and I cannot make them out from the research I have done. The engine has a CE number CE2N29970, casting number 3959512, date code F122. Intake casting number 3799349, date code E173. Head casting number 3782461, dates E213 and E183. Exhaust casting code 3797901, date codes E162 and E232. Body date J4. Car serial number 18085. They all seem to be somewhat correct time frame from what I have learned. He has talked with a few owners, including original owner and no one says engine was removed, but it had to of.

300HP tach.
Car is white with black interior, no radio

I have read a ton on this and still am confused.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Boyan

Dont be confused, the block was replaced at one time with a generic GM block. Enjoy it. You could always look around for a 870 block in the correct timeframe.
Boyan

JohnZ

The engine is an over-the-counter replacement "CE" short block, assembled at Flint V-8 in 1972; the heads and intake are most likely the originals from a 300hp engine that failed.

Cstor

Thanks for the help. I had read that CE blocks didn't start that early, so the 2 in the date is 72. I was looking at the casting number being 62-63 from my search. Also didn't know the date codes would be different, but they were so close.
I started reading the posts and became addicted to this site, I have read pretty much all books about 63-67 but have leared a ton from this site.

JohnZ

Contrary to what's found in some books, that block casting number (3959512) never had a production application; it's simply a universal replacement for 4"-bore blocks, cast with and without the rear crankcase vent passage, and machined in both small and large bearing journal sizes. It was cast at Saginaw from 1968-1975.

Cstor

Thanks for the information.