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'60 engine number question

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Old Sep 17, 2015 | 10:11 PM
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Default '60 engine number question

Hello, going over to a friend of my fathers Saturday to help him load and move a '60 that has been garaged for the last 20 years. He's going to get it running again and evaluate what it needs. He bought the car in the 80's and did not know if it retained it's original engine. Did they start putting the VIN suffix on the blocks back in '60? Or was it later than that? I know that my '65 had it. If not, any other numbers I should look for on the block which are fairly visible to at least see that the block is "correct"? Thanks, Ed
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Old Sep 17, 2015 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by jedjr59restomd
Hello, going over to a friend of my fathers Saturday to help him load and move a '60 that has been garaged for the last 20 years. He's going to get it running again and evaluate what it needs. He bought the car in the 80's and did not know if it retained it's original engine. Did they start putting the VIN suffix on the blocks back in '60? Or was it later than that? I know that my '65 had it. If not, any other numbers I should look for on the block which are fairly visible to at least see that the block is "correct"? Thanks, Ed


https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
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Old Sep 18, 2015 | 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by bluestreak63
Perfect!! Thank you!
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Old Sep 18, 2015 | 02:16 AM
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Originally Posted by jedjr59restomd
Hello, going over to a friend of my fathers Saturday to help him load and move a '60 that has been garaged for the last 20 years. He's going to get it running again and evaluate what it needs. He bought the car in the 80's and did not know if it retained it's original engine. Did they start putting the VIN suffix on the blocks back in '60? Or was it later than that? I know that my '65 had it. If not, any other numbers I should look for on the block which are fairly visible to at least see that the block is "correct"? Thanks, Ed
A 1960 Corvette should have a block with a casting number of 3756519, which was used in all horse power applications. The same block was also used in 1959 and 1961.

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Old Sep 18, 2015 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by tuxnharley
A 1960 Corvette should have a block with a casting number of 3756519, which was used in all horse power applications. The same block was also used in 1959 and 1961.

Great! Thanks very much!
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 03:27 PM
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Moved the car yesterday, and got the VIN... (00867S100297). Is that the 297th car built for the 60 model year? There were no VIN suffix #'s on the stamp pad. The car had one repaint, and looks to be all original... Not sure what the stamp pad #'s translate to, as I could not find anything on "DB"? The engine stamp reads: F0406DB
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 04:16 PM
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Approximate birthday 00867S100297: September 16, 1959
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 04:23 PM
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Hmm - well, the good news first. Yes, that VIN means it is the 297th 1960 Corvette built, at the St Louis plant.

The bad: That DB suffix is not a Corvette engine. You would need to find the block casting number - on the top back of the engine block to know which of these it is for sure, but it is either:

- 1958 283 powerglide, truck

- 1965 283 4 spd, A body

- 1968 307 4 spd, F, X, or A body

Maybe from a 1968 Camaro?????

The "0406" just means that it was manufactured on April 6th but we don't know what year without more information.

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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by tuxnharley
Hmm - well, the good news first. Yes, that VIN means it is the 297th 1960 Corvette built, at the St Louis plant.

The bad: That DB suffix is not a Corvette engine. You would need to find the block casting number - on the top back of the engine block to know which of these it is for sure, but it is either:

- 1958 283 powerglide, truck

- 1965 283 4 spd, A body

- 1968 307 4 spd, F, X, or A body

Maybe from a 1968 Camaro?????

The "0406" just means that it was manufactured on April 6th but we don't know what year without more information.

gotcha... a bit disappointing, but nevertheless, it's an early car! Thank you, I'll respond back to what the block casting # is when we do a closer inspection. Appreciate all your help! -Ed
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Old Nov 17, 2015 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by jedjr59restomd
gotcha... a bit disappointing, but nevertheless, it's an early car! Thank you, I'll respond back to what the block casting # is when we do a closer inspection. Appreciate all your help! -Ed
ok, they pulled the motor today, and the block casting number is 3756519.....This is correct for a 58-61 283, right? The engine stamp pad is: F0406DB. Previous responses state that the DB suffix is not a Corvette motor. Given the Block casting number, this is likely a '59 283 truck engine, or a '65 283 "A" body passenger car engine. Are there any other numbers on the block that would identify what year the engine is so we could determine what it is/what it came out of ?
Thanks a bunch, Ed
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Old Nov 17, 2015 | 07:11 PM
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Well, that block casting number was used for more than just 59 to 61 Corvettes. it was used in a variety of Chevrolet products from 1958 to 1962.

Based on the combination of the casting number and the stamp pad, I'd say that engine came from a 1958 truck, with a Powerglide, 2bbl carb, and a 170HP rating.

I believe that is the only use that fits that combination of that casting number and engine code.


Last edited by tuxnharley; Nov 17, 2015 at 07:48 PM. Reason: Typo
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Old Nov 17, 2015 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by tuxnharley
Well, that block casting number was used for more than just 59 to 61 Corvettes. it was used in a variety of Chevrolet products from 1958 to 1962.

Based on the combination of the casting number and the stamp pad, I'd say that engine came from a 1958 truck, with a Powerglide, 2bbl carb, and a 170HP rating.

I believe that is the only use that fits that combination of that casting number and engine code.

Yep, sounds like it.... darn.. thanks for the confirmation....
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