I have a 1961 that I know has a nom 283 engine in it. But I would like to know the origin of the engine that is in there. The numbers are 3849852 (on back drivers side). E26 (on back pass side). And F0504DJ (on front pass side). Have I got the correct numbers to identify it?.
Also I noticed some engine blocks for sale on e-bay listing an engine number of 3756519 and a date code eg.G-15-0, How do I search for the correct engine for my car/ what and where are the numbers? My vin is 10867s104850. Any help much appreciated.
Cheers. Russell

 

What you have in there now is a 283, but its from a 1966 "A" body Chevrolet (Biscayne, Impala, etc) not from a Corvette. It was originally a 195 HP engine mated to a Powerglide transmission. The block was cast on May 2, 1966 and the engine was assembled in Flint on May 4th.

The "DJ" suffix was first used on 245 HP dual 4BBL 283s with Powerglides in '58 to '61 Corvettes, but would have been a 3756519 block in that application. The "DJ" suffix was subsequently used again for the 283 in 1966 "A" body applications.

The block you mention on EBay is the correct casting for a '59 to '61 Corvette and was cast on July 15, 1960 - so it predates your car by several months. It MIGHT be judged to be within acceptable time delay standards for your car, but I am not expert in that area and will leave such a determination to those with NCRS credentials.

Happy New Year!

 

Thanks for the info. I now understand how the numbers/ letters relate to the manufacture/ assembly date. So does that mean there is not a specific engine number that relates to my vin , just a date of casting/ assembly? If that's the case, what date codes should I be looking for if I was to chase a correct engine for it. Also apart from the forum and e-bay, where would the best place to look? A tough one given that I'm in Australia..
Thank for your help.
Cheers and Happy New Year
Russell

 

There IS a specific engine that relates to your VIN; part way through the 1960 model year GM started adding a VIN 'derivative' to the number on the engine stamp pad on the flat area just forward of the passenger side head. So, you can procure and make a 'period correct' engine for your '61 but it won't be the engine the car was born with.

 

Frank makes a good point.

To expand on it a little further, the VIN derivative on Corvette engine stamp pads started in January 1960. Using the VIN you provided and entering it into the C1 Registry "birthday calculator", your car was built on or about January 20th, 1961 - a whole year after the VIN derivative stamping started.. Sooo, your original engine would have had that ID stamped on the engine pad.

The other variable we don't know is which particular 283 variant your car was originally equipped with. Depending on carburation/fuel injection/cam and transmission options any one of 9 different engine code suffixes could have been applicable - even "DJ"!

 

Thanks so much for the history lesson, yourself and Frankie!
Two questions: Is it the whole vin or just the production number that is on the front pass. stamp pad ie. 104850 in my case that I should look for, if my engine is out there,( dead or alive ).
Also what is the time frame between engine manufacturer / assembly and fittment into a corvette of my build date of approx Jan.20 1961.
Cheers
Russell

 

The VIN derivative part of your question is pretty straight forward - it would be a 7 digit numerical sequence, with the first digit being the model year of the car - "1" - and the last 6 digits being the last 6 of the VIN - "104850". Thus the VIN derivative part of the stamp pad would read "1104850". That is the true identifier of your car's original engine block.

The engine code part of the stamp pad has many more variables. It would read something like "Fxxyyzz", where F is for the Flint engine assembly plant, xx is for the assembly month, yy is for the assembly day of the month, and zz is for the engine suffix depending on options as previously discussed.

As for timing the dates between the engine assembly and your car's estimated birthday were typically pretty tight - a few days to a couple weeks - but some examples of up to several months have been documented. Again, I am not an expert in that area and would urge that you contact someone in the NCRS or get a copy of their 1961 judging guide if you are going to pursue that question.

Where to look to try and find the original engine.....? Wow, that's a virtually impossible task, but there are some long shot avenues. Try the orphaned parts section here. Join NCRS and try there. Do a Google search for the VIN. Trace the car's ownership and contact prior owners to see what they might know. I wish you luck, but remember that your are chasing 55 years of history and the odds are that the block was recycled for scrap long ago, especially given that there is a block from 1966 in the car now.

Best wishes - enjoy the search and the challenge, but don't get your hopes too far up!

 

Thanks for your response,it has been very helpful and appreciated. I'm not trying to create a NCRS perfect car, just a great looking vette to be driven and enjoyed. It would be nice to find the correct engine but I fully understand the likelyhood and am not holding my breath. I'll keep looking and as they say " you'll never know if don't have go"
Cheers Russell

 

BTW - I really like the look of your car! I've always admired the painted side coves. My favorites are either a '57 or a '61. I'd love to own one of those, but just have too many other toys and not enough money - or storage space!

 

Thanks for the compliment. I had dreamed of owning a corvette since I was 15 (wow, that was 40 years ago) back when corvette,s were very rare in this country. And now I have my little red corvette, born the same year as myself. Just a coincidence that it's the model year that I love the most. Having said that, I to would love another toy being a midyear coup, a 63 SWC or a 67 BB. I'll keep dreaming and buying the lotto ticket.
Cheers Russell