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I pulled this motor out of my '59. Casting number is correct for an early '59 (using a 58 engine), but I can't find any breakdown on the engine pad numbers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I've gone over this motor very carefully... I see no evidence this block has been deck or machined in any way. The numbers have nothing to do with the VIN of the vehicle. There are no other numbers, date codes are correct for '58 - 59 production motor (I'll post them later), heads are correct, manifold correct, distributer correct... this one has me scratching my head!
The 739 block was certainly used then, but your stamp pad doesn't resemble anything close to a factory stamp. Prior to early '60, the stamp pads did not have a VIN derivative stamped onto the pad. They typical '59 stamp pad (and '58's) looked something like this. The F stands for Flint MI where it was cast, 410 stands for April 10 and the CU is the designation for a 270hp 4 speed corvette. Not quite sure where to start with your stamp pad because nothing seems to add up. I am sure others will offer their thoughts and opinions.
One other indicator would be to let us know what the block casting date is. It is located at the rear, top of the block near the draft tube opening and the tach. It should have a letter and then a group of numbers cast into the block. Once you get these numbers we may be able to tell you more.
The 739 block was certainly used then, but your stamp pad doesn't resemble anything close to a factory stamp. Prior to early '60, the stamp pads did not have a VIN derivative stamped onto the pad. They typical '59 stamp pad (and '58's) looked something like this. The F stands for Flint MI where it was cast, 410 stands for April 10 and the CU is the designation for a 270hp 4 speed corvette. Not quite sure where to start with your stamp pad because nothing seems to add up. I am sure others will offer their thoughts and opinions.
I've gone over this motor very carefully... I see no evidence this block has been deck or machined in any way. The numbers have nothing to do with the VIN of the vehicle. There are no other numbers, date codes are correct for '58 - 59 production motor (I'll post them later), heads are correct, manifold correct, distributer correct... this one has me scratching my head!
As Panama 58 told you, that's not any kind of Corvette stamping. 59 used only the manufacturer plant the date and the engine horsepower code. No other numbers would be on the pad. For example, mine is F 0915 CO for September 15th and a 230 horsepower engine.
Once again, I agree. Your numbers have nothing to do with the VIN or for that matter anything that is typically found on original block stamps of this era. Your heads, manifold, distributor, etc. are all bolted on and to me would not give me any reason to believe this is the engine block they left the factory on. I could take a guess; an over the counter replacement block with a blank stamp pad (original blew up), the heads, manifold, etc were removed from the original and placed on this replacement block and over the years it was rebuilt with the rebuilder stamping it in 1975. I will ask again, what is the casting date on the block?
Once again, I agree. Your numbers have nothing to do with the VIN or for that matter anything that is typically found on original block stamps of this era. Your heads, manifold, distributor, etc. are all bolted on and to me would not give me any reason to believe this is the engine block they left the factory on. I could take a guess; an over the counter replacement block with a blank stamp pad (original blew up), the heads, manifold, etc were removed from the original and placed on this replacement block and over the years it was rebuilt with the rebuilder stamping it in 1975. I will ask again, what is the casting date on the block?
I misread the date code, I think. May 26, 1978? or could it be 58? Although the date code is on the right side above the oil pan.
Once again, I agree. Your numbers have nothing to do with the VIN or for that matter anything that is typically found on original block stamps of this era. Your heads, manifold, distributor, etc. are all bolted on and to me would not give me any reason to believe this is the engine block they left the factory on. I could take a guess; an over the counter replacement block with a blank stamp pad (original blew up), the heads, manifold, etc were removed from the original and placed on this replacement block and over the years it was rebuilt with the rebuilder stamping it in 1975. I will ask again, what is the casting date on the block?
I misread the date code, I think. May 26, 1978? or could it be 58? Although the date code is on the right side above the oil pan.
That's not a typical location for a GM foundry small-block date code (only Tonawanda big-blocks had the casting date code in that location), and the font/format/appearance of the date code also isn't typical. Might be a McKinnon engine.
That's not a typical location for a GM foundry small-block date code (only Tonawanda big-blocks had the casting date code in that location), and the font/format/appearance of the date code also isn't typical. Might be a McKinnon engine.
You definitely have something very strange. It is not a normal format or location for a block casting date.
It does look very similar to other engines that I have seen from McKinnon Industries / St. Catherines engine plant, in Ontario, Canada.
Do you see the word CANADA anywhere on the block. It may or may not be there.
Also, that engine stamp reminds me a lot of the stamps used by McKinnon when they supplied 283 engines to Studebaker in 1965 and 1966. The format of the engine stamp was very similar, a number (one or two digits), followed by a letter, followed by more numbers.
I would focus my research along those lines for the time being.
I've looked at it VERY closely (as close as what can be seen from your pictures), and from what I know about Flint and Tonawanda blocks, I don't think it came from either plant.
As suggested, by process of elimination, that kind of leaves Canada as the source of that engine.
You definitely have something very strange. It is not a normal format or location for a block casting date.
It does look very similar to other engines that I have seen from McKinnon Industries / St. Catherines engine plant, in Ontario, Canada.
Do you see the word CANADA anywhere on the block. It may or may not be there.
Also, that engine stamp reminds me a lot of the stamps used by McKinnon when they supplied 283 engines to Studebaker in 1965 and 1966. The format of the engine stamp was very similar, a number (one or two digits), followed by a letter, followed by more numbers.
I would focus my research along those lines for the time being.
Thanks!
This makes sense. I'm trying to confirm that the car is Canadian. Canada does not appear on the block though.
02-19-2019, 06:41 PM
I need a little numbers help...
