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Old Oct 29, 2007 | 01:36 PM
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Default engine and carb date code question

I have a question about a particular engine and carburetor combo:

The Holley carb is date coded 085 (end of August 1970). The engine is date coded 0910CGP indicating a build date of Sept. 10, 1971. The carb has a GM part number and is the correct LIST number for the engine.

Seems odd that the dates line up except for being one year apart. Either this is a strange coincidence or I don't fully understand how to interpret GM date codes.

Do I have it right?
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Old Oct 29, 2007 | 02:02 PM
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FYI from the NCRS judging guide..........

pg.53 "In the first three to five days of 1970 production, an alternate location was for the serial number derivative. This number is above the oil filter on the side of the case just in front of the bellhousing."

Just a follow up to our conversation, I knew that I had read that before!
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Old Oct 29, 2007 | 03:46 PM
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Thanks WB... turned out that engine was a 73 casting and heads. There was a CE stamp on the pad. The guy really wasn't up front about the VIN. I didn't see any numbers on the alternate pad at all.

I'm back to looking hard at the 71 in original paint. I now have pics of the engine stamp and it's out of a Z28. At least it is the correct year and engine, so I'm still interested. This is where my carb/engine code question comes in.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by gccch
I have a question about a particular engine and carburetor combo:

The Holley carb is date coded 085 (end of August 1970). The engine is date coded 0910CGP indicating a build date of Sept. 10, 1971. The carb has a GM part number and is the correct LIST number for the engine.

Seems odd that the dates line up except for being one year apart. Either this is a strange coincidence or I don't fully understand how to interpret GM date codes.

Do I have it right?
still hoping for some clarity on the original question... please straighten me out.
Thanks,
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by gccch
The engine is date coded 0910CGP indicating a build date of Sept. 10, 1971.
Do I have it right?
There's a letter missing from the engine machine code above. It's most likely a V or a T located at the beginning of the string.

In any case, 0910 means September 10th, but does not indicate any year. You would normally need the casting date from the block to give the earliest year that the engine could have been built.

CGP was used only once- 1971 Z28 as mentioned above- so this eliminates any possible Corvette use.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 06:38 AM
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Thanks, guys. At least I know the carb goes with the engine, and the engine is consistent with what was originally shipped in the Corvette.

For a non-matching number Corvette, this is pretty darn close to the correct engine. I think I'm beginning to convince myself the matching number requirement is not as critical to my goal of having an "authentic" vehicle.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by gccch
and the engine is consistent with what was originally shipped in the Corvette.
Huh? Don't follow you on that one.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
Huh? Don't follow you on that one.
Sorry Mike, I've been looking at a 71 LT1 corvette from a distance away. I recently received pictures of the engine pad which revealed it is not the original engine. It is the correct engine but was taken from a 1971 Z28. The fact that it is still a 1971 LT1 engine having all the right specs is keeping my interest. Finding a decent driver in original condition is becoming very difficult. I guess I am lowering my standards.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 11:32 AM
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Mike,

I'm believe gccch is just trying to justify that the '71 LT-1 Corvette he is interested in, that doesn't have its original high performance engine anymore, at least has what most of us would consider the next best thing, an original high performance engine from a '71 Z-28, which for the most part does consist of the same special parts, except for special TI system, high performance exhaust manifold design & special high performance air cleaner housing.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by early shark
Mike,

I'm believe gccch is just trying to justify that the '71 LT-1 Corvette he is interested in, that doesn't have its original high performance engine anymore, at least has what most of us would consider the next best thing, an original high performance engine from a '71 Z-28, which for the most part does consist of the same special parts, except for special TI system, high performance exhaust manifold design & special high performance air cleaner housing.
Exactly. I could not have explained it better. Now I need to figure out if those other items are with the Corvette or not. I'm pretty sure the exhaust manifolds are right for the Corvette, and the air cleaner is the open type ( I assumed the Z28 would have also had that). The TI is something I need to inspect further.

Thanks, early shark.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by early shark
Mike,

I'm believe gccch is just trying to justify that the '71 LT-1 Corvette he is interested in, that doesn't have its original high performance engine anymore, at least has what most of us would consider the next best thing, an original high performance engine from a '71 Z-28, which for the most part does consist of the same special parts, except for special TI system, high performance exhaust manifold design & special high performance air cleaner housing.
OK, but a zebra is not a horse with stripes. There's a reason that the engine is not still resident in the original Z-28. In my mind, trying to give it false credibilty as an 'almost as good' is not warranted. It's an NOM car, not worth a penny more. Who knows what's inside that engine?
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 01:32 PM
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Greg, Be patient, your looking for an LT 1 and yours is out there. With winter coming you would'nt get much time on the road this season anyway, so maybe spend the next several months looking?
My .02 WB

Last edited by Don Rickles; Oct 31, 2007 at 07:56 PM.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
OK, but a zebra is not a horse with stripes. There's a reason that the engine is not still resident in the original Z-28. In my mind, trying to give it false credibilty as an 'almost as good' is not warranted. It's an NOM car, not worth a penny more. Who knows what's inside that engine?
I'm not sure I completely understand your point. The engine has been in the Corvette sometime prior to 1980, so it has been "proven out" as far as being sound equipment. Sure, I don't know how many miles are on it, and that's an issue. Agreed it is NOM, but it's still/could be a LT1 car with proper equipment, right?
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by gccch
The engine has been in the Corvette sometime prior to 1980, so it has been "proven out" as far as being sound equipment. Sure, I don't know how many miles are on it, and that's an issue. Agreed it is NOM, but it's still/could be a LT1 car with proper equipment, right?
How do you know it's been in the car since 1980? Even if it's true, what difference does that make? It's a non-Corvette engine removed from a Camaro some time in it's past for some unknown reason. Nobody knows what inside it now.

Just because you take an Z-28 engine and substitute Corvette spec LT1 hardware to it doesn't magically make it a real LT1 engine. Adding stripes to a horse doesn't make it a zebra.

I'm not saying it's bad car or engine or a bad deal, just that the fact that the engine started life in a Z28 doesn't really count for much, technically or commercially.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
How do you know it's been in the car since 1980? Even if it's true, what difference does that make? It's a non-Corvette engine removed from a Camaro some time in it's past for some unknown reason. Nobody knows what inside it now.

Just because you take an Z-28 engine and substitute Corvette spec LT1 hardware to it doesn't magically make it a real LT1 engine. Adding stripes to a horse doesn't make it a zebra.

I'm not saying it's bad car or engine or a bad deal, just that the fact that the engine started life in a Z28 doesn't really count for much, technically or commercially.
Commercially I have to agree, but technically it is the same engine (except for the few features noted above). It is the same 330 HP LT1 engine from the same production year, same engine plant, same basic specs. It's a pretty close match, no? Compared to another car I recently checked out, which was supposed to have a 370 HP 1970 engine but turned out to have a 1973 190 HP engine... So I guess I'm saying there is value in having the proper equipment albeit not truly original.
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 06:17 PM
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I think it's good that you're finding out the facts about this car . You can then make a decision whether this is a car you'll be happy with and what you're willing to pay for it, knowing what it really is. Does it matter to you what the next owner may think or be willing to pay if/when you sell it someday?
Regards,
Alan
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Old Oct 31, 2007 | 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
I think it's good that you're finding out the facts about this car . You can then make a decision whether this is a car you'll be happy with and what you're willing to pay for it, knowing what it really is. Does it matter to you what the next owner may think or be willing to pay if/when you sell it someday?
Regards,
Alan
Yes, I sure am concerned about eventual resale. I understand the car is flawed, and will always be. I'm only speculating at this point that if all else is correct and I can find a tank sticker proving the LT1 option then I may have a decent NOM situation.
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