This began in a parts for sale ad and I thought I would move it here. Member jv04 and I are in disagreement as to the application for this engine so I thought I would post it here for others to comment on and learn from. My info comes from This Info is from the 1929 - 1957 Chevrolet MASTER PARTS and ACCESSORIES CATALOG pages 11 and 12. Maybe there is something available that is more detailed and if there is I would appreciate it if Member jv04 could post it rather than just make the statement he did at the bottom of this post.



Quote:


Originally Posted by 68hemi View Post

I disagree
According to the chart below the E code is "generic" for the 1957 model year and is not specific to Corvette as others on the chart that are and I stand by my original post that this is correct for either Corvette or passenger car.

1957 ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER AND SUFFIX CHART

TYPE MODEL DESCRIPTION
A 15-21-2400 Regular "235" Engine - 6 Cylinder
AD 15-21-2400 Regular "235" Engine - 6 Cylinder with Heavy Duty Clutch
B 15-21-2400 "235" - 6 Cylinder Powerglide
C 15-21-2400 "265" - 8 Cylinder with 3-Speed Transmission
CD 15-21-2400 "265" - 8 Cylinder with Overdrive
CE 15-21-2400 "265" - 8 Cylinder with Heavy Duty Clutch
E 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with 4BC
EA 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Dual 4BC
EB 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Dual 4BC and Hi Lift Cam
EC 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Overdrive and 4BC
F 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide
FC 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide and 4BC
FD 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide and Dual 4BC
FA 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide and Air Conditioning
FE 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide, Air Conditioning and 4BC
FJ 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide and Fuel Injection
G 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Turboglide
GC 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Turboglide and 4BC
GD 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Turboglide and Duel 4BC
GF 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Turboglide and Fuel Injection
EJ 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Fuel Injection
EK 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with Fuel Injection and Hi Lift Cam
EF Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with 3-Speed Transmission and 4BC
EH Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with Duel 4BC
EG Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with Duel 4BC and Hi Lift Cam
FG Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide and Dual 4BC
FH Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide
EM Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with 3-Speed Transmission and Fuel Injection
EL Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with 3-Speed Transmission, Fuel Injection and Hi Lift Cam
FK Corvette "283" - 8 Cylinder with Powerglide and Fuel Injection
H 31-32-36-3800 Thriftmaster "235"
HD 31-32-36-3800-4000 Thriftmaster "235" with Hydramatic Transmission
HE 31-32-36-3800-4000 Thriftmaster "235" with Heavy Duty Clutch
J 31-32-36-3800-4000 Thriftmaster "235" -Updraft
JA 34-35-3700 Thriftmaster "235" -Updraft and Hydramatic
K 34-35-3700 Jobmaster "261"
L 31-32-36-3800-4000 Trademaster "265"
LA 4000 Trademaster "265" with Hydramatic
LB 31-32-36-3800-4000 Trademaster "265" with Heavy Duty Clutch
M 34-35-3700 8 Cylinder - Dubl.-Duti

Note: The continuous engine serial number has been eliminated. The engine plants now stamp a source, production date and type on serial pad.


EXAMPLE: T101A
T 1 01 A
Tonawanda Month Day of Month Standard 6 cylinder "235"

Assembly Plant

January

First

Models 15-21-2400

From member jv04
"I could go into an explanation of how to interpret the GM documentation but, I think we can just agree to disagree. My statements on the engine possibilites remains true."

 

This is a shot from Ed McComas’ “Lime Book.” It says the “E” engine code was used from ’55 to ’61 in various passenger car and truck configurations (265 and 283), and in ’68 as a 327 El Camino (EC) engine. A Corvette application in the "Lime Book" would have a “CO” code under Automobile.

 

PM sent.

 

E 15-21-2400 "283" - 8 Cylinder with 4BC

Engine Code: E
Vehicle Models it is applicable to: 1500, 2100, 2400

Model 1500 = 1957 150 passenger car
Model 2100 = 1957 210 passenger car
Model 2400 = 1957 Bel Air passenger car.

The model number for 1957 Corvette is 2934. You can see that the engine code of "E" is not applicable to model 2934.

The 3000 series models are trucks. Generally, the bigger the model number, the bigger the truck.

 

I am not familiar with that publication or where it's info comes from.
My info comes from the link below which covers years 1941-1957. When you look at the link below of this info there is a note at the top that should be read.

The engine in question that started all of this is a 1957 with a stamping of FII2IE decoded as:
F=Flint assembly plant
II=11th month-Dec of 1956
21=21st day of Dec 1956
E= 283 4 barrel--------------to me this would be for a manual trans--autos have another letter code after the E. Some of these suffix codes are shown specific to Corvette but NOT the singular E which I would interpret as coding for both passenger car and Corvette.
Does anyone have any documentable PROOF of anything different???

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...gine.htm#57eng

 

All '57 Corvette engine codes are two letters. In fact all corvette engine codes are two letters from '54-'69.

 

I know that some are but I have never seen any indication that ALL are.

 

Plain and simple, that's a passenger car engine.

 

You know to me a statement like that with no back up doesn't hold much water. No disrespect to anyone here as I see many of you here answering questions and seem quite knowledgeable including one posting here that I recognize as one of the go to guys for C2 inspections. Just don't expect everyone to just take your word for it. If you came by this info from a documented reputable source then reference it.

 

BTW, I have a 1957 passenger car 283 that is a 4 barrel auto trans engine that has a suffix of FC so it is not a Corvette only thing.

 

Doesn't matter to me if it holds water or not. You want to know what the engine is and you've gotten accurate, consistent answers from several people who know. If you choose to ignore the information because you don't like the answer, that's your privilege.

 

Answering part of the question is just that, a partial answer.

 

You are arguing with people who have forgotten more about Corvettes than what you know about them.

Time for you to give it up......

 

That is a very bold remark to make to someone you don't know. I would never assume something like that or make that remark. I have been around and owned these cars for a long time. I certainly don't know it all and don't believe anyone else does either. I have been polite in asking for information here and only ask for documentation of what someone is stating. But that is ok if no one wants to play I will just take my ball and go home.

 

There are ZERO instances of any '55-'62 Corvette engines with the same 2-character suffix code as ANY '55-'62 passenger car engine. ZERO. There's more than one reason for that (LOTS more), but the most obvious one is the front engine mount bracket on the Corvette engine, sandwiched between the water pump and the front of the block at the Engine Plant; that part was ONLY used on the Corvette engine, was NEVER used on a passenger car engine, and it made the Corvette engine assembly a unique part number (and suffix code) than ANY passenger car engine.

Think whatever you like, but there are at least a dozen members here who have been students of the Corvette for 40+ years or more, and they understand how to interpret the charts and data.

 

what would make a C1 corvette engine unique is the harmonic balancer spacer to accommodate the motor mount plate thickness. any engine built to passenger car specs would not have that spacer (which would have to be installed at the time of engine assembly)

Bill

 

Follow along John, that is NOT what I said. I was remarking on the fact that passenger cars ALSO used the two digit codes. Also this entire thread started about a single digit character and it's significance.
What the people don't know is that Member jv04 and I have been having a polite PM exchange about this during this thread. I just find it interesting that apparently I don't have the secret handshake required to see some of the documentation that you guys are supposedly referencing that myself and others could benefit from as this is supposed to be a forum of help and information.

 

I know member jv04 VERY well, and have for years, and in spite of his being a genuine card-carrying certified rocket scientist, let's just say "he knows his stuff".

There's no "secret handshake" required - all it takes is at least half a lifetime of intensive knowledge and research into the design, development, manufacturing, testing, and production validation systems used by Chevrolet that pertain to whatever part or assembly that's on the table for discussion. You can't learn all that in a week.

 

The "Lime Book" has in modern times been the go-to resource for engine prefix codes.The other excellent resource is the knowledge of many Corvette Forum participants some who have had many years of experience in the automotive industry.
Contact Ed McComas to confirm the answers already provided.

 

I'm a newcomer. Only been studying C1's since 1974. 68hemi, you are rapidly burning bridges behind you. No one here has an axe to grind. We are giving you honest and accurate answers, but you don't like them. That doesn't make them inaccurate. Did every one of us follow every 57 down the assembly line? No. Do we know the GM processes that would prohibit that engine code from ending up in a Corvette? Yes