I have an attached a photo of a block stamp on my '66. Its is a 'CE' block. Can anyone tell if this an original stamp...something about brooch marks I recall. Also, is there a registry of these replacement engines and what car they were placed in? Thanks

 

It's just a counter exchange block, no records for those.

 

What is the casting number and casting date of the block. The CE program did not start until 1968

 

As above have stated, it’s a replacement engine. Never original to your car. Nobody cares when it was installed or why. I would prefer a CE to a modern crate engine, but no one will fake a CE engine pad. There is no value to it……

….but we seem to be getting more and more questions about CE originality, so at some point, someone will try to make a buck off them…..

 

Everyone I've seen is a '512 casting, I have a bare block as well, it's notched for both small and large journal bearings.

 

the one in dads last 67 is a 512 block dated in 73. Well after warranty for 67

 

The real meaning of CE to Chevrolet:

Crate Engine- unlikely
Chevrolet Engine-possible
Counter Exchange = hopium for wannabees

You went to the dealer, or as an employee of GM, you could go to the GMPD parts depot and buy it.or any other part in stock.

And even if it was in the 30 seconds or less warranty window of the 60s, a CE block is NEVER going to be an original engine, never factory correct.

 

Service Engine (CE) and Transmission Coding

Quoting from the Chevrolet Dealer Service Information Bulletin, 69-I-1, dated 19 Sept, 1968:
The following system will be used to identify service engine and transmission assemblies* including replacement parts. Manufacturing plants will number each assembly as it is produce. The first letter will designate the GM division which produced the engine.

C-Chevrolet L-Oldsmobile K-Cadillac B-Buick P-Pontiac

The second letter will designate the type of unit "E" engine or "T" transmission. The number following the letter will designate the model year "9" for 1969. The last five digits specify the service replacement unit sequence number. The group of numbers to be used by Chevrolet manufacturing plants are as follows:
Engines
Flint Motor Plant (L6 Engines) 00001 to 19999
80001 to 89999
Flint V8 Engine Plant 20000 to 49999
Tonawanda Motor Plant 50000 to 79999
Example: Number CE900175 designates Chevrolet engine - 1969 year, and the 175th unit produced for service at the Flint Motor Plant (L6).
Transmissions
Cleveland Transmission Plant 00001 to 14999
Toledo Transmission Plant 15000 to 24999
Saginaw Transmission Plant 25000 to 34999
Muncie Transmission Plant 35000 to 44999
Hydra-Matic transmissions will be numbered with the letter "H"
regardless of the G.M. Division using the transmission.
* This numbering system applies to service engine assemblies, partial engines, fitted cylinder cases, cylinder cases, transmission assemblies and transmission cases.

 

@oldboomer54

So after reading your very informative post (Thank you) - How would you decipher the Photo posted?
Just trying to educate myself.

WaikikiWayne 🌴🌴

 

CE - Chevrolet Engine, 0 -1970, A - 1st run of the 20000-49999 number series ( 2nd run would start with B), 36475 - engine number in series.

 

thank you

id seen that long time ago when at z general

 

Thanks for all the replies. I have. learned a lot about CE stamped engines. What a wealth of knowledge here!!

--Dan

 

One more thing - on big blocks, the month-year of machining are stamped on the starter mounting pad. Not sure about small blocks though. This is a May 1970 big block.

 

this article has some examples of CE stamped blocks:
https://chevellestuff.net/qd/engine_stamp_numbers.htm

 

This is from the starter mounting pad on a 942 block that has a casting date of E236 so May 23 66, I can't come up with a logical date from the stamp.

 

It’s hand stamp

 

Attached is a CE engine article by John Hinckley, who worked at GM/Chevrolet back in this time period and wrote many papers on how things were done. He had deep GM connections after he retired so access was similarly deep. Unfortunately he passed away several years ago, but if you see his name on an article or JohnZ on a forum post, you can trust what you read.