[C2] Engine Casting, Building, VIN dates
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,738
Likes: 2,376
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Engine Casting, Building, VIN dates
My '65 came with a NOM engine, which I'm in the process of replacing.
What is in it now:
Casting # 3858174
Casting Date K205 - 20 NOV 65
On stamp pad:
VIN 6123248 - roughly a 1 June 66 car build date
F0626HE - engine built in Flint on June 26 as a base 300HP Manual
What doesn't make sense: Engine was built after car was built
Plus the engine cast in November '65 was not built until late June '66
Okay, that's goofy. Only thing I can figure is that somebody previously restamped it incorrectly?
Now, for my replacement block
Casting is a 3782870 (correct for a '65)
Casting Date E135 - 13 May 65
On stamp pad:
No VIN - not a Corvette Block
F0514HC - Built 14 May for a 275 HP Passenger Car with Powerglide
So it was cast on 13 May and built on 14 May, but wait there's more - the casting date screw heads indicate that it was cast on the second shift of 13 May, and the clocking indicator screw head also shows it was cast on second shift, and the clocking pointer shows it was cast on the last hour of the shift. Colvin's book says the foundry casting second shift went 4;00pm to midnight, so this block had overnight to cool off before being machined and built.
Trivial really, but some of us OCD types are interested.
What is in it now:
Casting # 3858174
Casting Date K205 - 20 NOV 65
On stamp pad:
VIN 6123248 - roughly a 1 June 66 car build date
F0626HE - engine built in Flint on June 26 as a base 300HP Manual
What doesn't make sense: Engine was built after car was built
Plus the engine cast in November '65 was not built until late June '66Okay, that's goofy. Only thing I can figure is that somebody previously restamped it incorrectly?
Now, for my replacement block
Casting is a 3782870 (correct for a '65)
Casting Date E135 - 13 May 65
On stamp pad:
No VIN - not a Corvette Block
F0514HC - Built 14 May for a 275 HP Passenger Car with Powerglide
So it was cast on 13 May and built on 14 May, but wait there's more - the casting date screw heads indicate that it was cast on the second shift of 13 May, and the clocking indicator screw head also shows it was cast on second shift, and the clocking pointer shows it was cast on the last hour of the shift. Colvin's book says the foundry casting second shift went 4;00pm to midnight, so this block had overnight to cool off before being machined and built.
Trivial really, but some of us OCD types are interested.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,738
Likes: 2,376
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 783
From: Massachusetts
My '65 came with a NOM engine, which I'm in the process of replacing.
What is in it now:
Casting # 3858174
Casting Date K205 - 20 NOV 65
On stamp pad:
VIN 6123248 - roughly a 1 June 66 car build date
F0626HE - engine built in Flint on June 26 as a base 300HP Manual
What doesn't make sense: Engine was built after car was built Plus the engine cast in November '65 was not built until late June '66
Okay, that's goofy. Only thing I can figure is that somebody previously restamped it incorrectly?
Now, for my replacement block
Casting is a 3782870 (correct for a '65)
Casting Date E135 - 13 May 65
On stamp pad:
No VIN - not a Corvette Block
F0514HC - Built 14 May for a 275 HP Passenger Car with Powerglide
So it was cast on 13 May and built on 14 May, but wait there's more - the casting date screw heads indicate that it was cast on the second shift of 13 May, and the clocking indicator screw head also shows it was cast on second shift, and the clocking pointer shows it was cast on the last hour of the shift. Colvin's book says the foundry casting second shift went 4;00pm to midnight, so this block had overnight to cool off before being machined and built.
Trivial really, but some of us OCD types are interested.
What is in it now:
Casting # 3858174
Casting Date K205 - 20 NOV 65
On stamp pad:
VIN 6123248 - roughly a 1 June 66 car build date
F0626HE - engine built in Flint on June 26 as a base 300HP Manual
What doesn't make sense: Engine was built after car was built
Plus the engine cast in November '65 was not built until late June '66Okay, that's goofy. Only thing I can figure is that somebody previously restamped it incorrectly?
Now, for my replacement block
Casting is a 3782870 (correct for a '65)
Casting Date E135 - 13 May 65
On stamp pad:
No VIN - not a Corvette Block
F0514HC - Built 14 May for a 275 HP Passenger Car with Powerglide
So it was cast on 13 May and built on 14 May, but wait there's more - the casting date screw heads indicate that it was cast on the second shift of 13 May, and the clocking indicator screw head also shows it was cast on second shift, and the clocking pointer shows it was cast on the last hour of the shift. Colvin's book says the foundry casting second shift went 4;00pm to midnight, so this block had overnight to cool off before being machined and built.
Trivial really, but some of us OCD types are interested.
So, a one-day difference between casting and assembly is not unusual. I think two days might be the most common, but there are documented cases of longer delays. At the time, GM had no formal first-in-first-out inventory scheme at Flint.
So, when Flint needed some block castings, they just went out to the delivery area and got some. There was nothing to prevent a block casting from languishing in the back for weeks or months before someone grabbed it for assembly. This is why the NCRS allows casting dates anywhere from zero days to six months before the assembly date.
Speaking of NCRS, your choice of a replacement block would score quite well in NCRS judging. Most of the judging points allocated to the block are tied to the casting number, casting date, and original broach marks on the pad. If the only deviations from original are the VIN stamping and the engine assembly stamping, the deduction is only 50 points out of 350 for the block (and 4500 for the whole car).
So, as long as the casting number, casting date, and broach marks are okay, such a car could still get a NCRS Top Flight or even a Duntov award. A lot of people do not know this.
