CE Engines
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Just do a search for Chevrolet Engines, and you'll find some good information. I just did a Google search and found some good stuff.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Jan 16, 2008 at 12:29 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
what he said. Warranty on powertrain was good for the day. You blew up the motor under warranty, you got a new one. Lots of these cars had just such stuff done. No mystery to it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
There may be something called Competetive Edge now, but CE on "Chevrolet Engineering" spare-parts blocks is just how the GM parts system kept track of those blocks for continuation of warranty coverage after using them for replacements.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 457
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
OK...this is the reason, I just bought a VERY clean '71 LT1 coupe from a very nice guy that had owned it since 1985. He had the engine rebuilt in 1992 by a GM buddy of his, the engine he got with it was a CE engine. He has not driven the car since 1997 because of health issues. This thing is ALL LT1, the ignition is right, the intake, carb, heads, transmission, HD rear, welded crossmember are all right.
I am trying to rersearch this block, and all the stuff I can find says that when they changed the block they made them for the application. SO, this is actually a 1973 LT1 block. The number is strange also: CE3A84. Nothing I can find says what the "A" is, or even if its supposed to be there.
OH....the car was never registered or titled until 1973, which just adds to the mystery!
I am trying to rersearch this block, and all the stuff I can find says that when they changed the block they made them for the application. SO, this is actually a 1973 LT1 block. The number is strange also: CE3A84. Nothing I can find says what the "A" is, or even if its supposed to be there.
OH....the car was never registered or titled until 1973, which just adds to the mystery!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I still don't see much of a mystery. CEs (Chevrolet Engine) were supplied over-the-counter for sale to anybody,as well as warranty replacement engines for many years.
There's no such thing as a specific 'LT1 block' for any year, they're all the good old 0010 casting number used on every Chevrolet for about a decade.
You'd have to disassemble this engine to find out what's inside.
There's no such thing as a specific 'LT1 block' for any year, they're all the good old 0010 casting number used on every Chevrolet for about a decade.
You'd have to disassemble this engine to find out what's inside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
OK...this is the reason, I just bought a VERY clean '71 LT1 coupe from a very nice guy that had owned it since 1985. He had the engine rebuilt in 1992 by a GM buddy of his, the engine he got with it was a CE engine. He has not driven the car since 1997 because of health issues. This thing is ALL LT1, the ignition is right, the intake, carb, heads, transmission, HD rear, welded crossmember are all right.
I am trying to rersearch this block, and all the stuff I can find says that when they changed the block they made them for the application. SO, this is actually a 1973 LT1 block. The number is strange also: CE3A84. Nothing I can find says what the "A" is, or even if its supposed to be there.
OH....the car was never registered or titled until 1973, which just adds to the mystery!
I am trying to rersearch this block, and all the stuff I can find says that when they changed the block they made them for the application. SO, this is actually a 1973 LT1 block. The number is strange also: CE3A84. Nothing I can find says what the "A" is, or even if its supposed to be there.
OH....the car was never registered or titled until 1973, which just adds to the mystery!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
The block he has is a service replacement that was cast and assembled in 1973. There is no way to know what the application was or even if it was an over the counter sale or a warranty replacement. You can tear it down to see what is in there and that is the only thing you will ever find out without paperwork.
You could buy an LT-1 "CE" engine in the '70's and even later. They were available for purchase through the parts department or as a warranty replacement.
-Mark.
You could buy an LT-1 "CE" engine in the '70's and even later. They were available for purchase through the parts department or as a warranty replacement.
-Mark.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The block he has is a service replacement that was cast and assembled in 1973. There is no way to know what the application was or even if it was an over the counter sale or a warranty replacement. You can tear it down to see what is in there and that is the only thing you will ever find out without paperwork.
You could buy an LT-1 "CE" engine in the '70's and even later. They were available for purchase through the parts department or as a warranty replacement.
-Mark.
You could buy an LT-1 "CE" engine in the '70's and even later. They were available for purchase through the parts department or as a warranty replacement.
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 457
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
First of all...thanks for all the responses. Because it has sat so long, I will be changing all of the fluids, and I will pull the oil pan and have a look inside. It is a solid lifter engine, so we shall see!
By the way...this is it:
By the way...this is it:
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Very nice. The car may have been an LT1 originally, but the engine you have could not have been a warranty replacement...simply because the warranty on your car would have expired before that blockwas even cast. It could have been an over-the-counter replacement for an "original" engine gone bad and replaced by a dealer or the owner. Or it could be that someone bought up that engine and stuck it in a non-LT1 car to turn it into an LT1-clone. Without the original paperwork on the car and/or the CE engine, I don't know how you could find any of that out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
Nice looking car. You don't see classic white with dark blue interiors very often. We don't even have that combination in a 1971 LS6 Corvette in our survey/registry yet, (we now have half of the production known).
Currently I have the only known classic white with red interior LS6 Corvette. I like unusual color combos, it makes the cars a bit more interesting.
Currently I have the only known classic white with red interior LS6 Corvette. I like unusual color combos, it makes the cars a bit more interesting.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 2
From: MS
Very nice. The car may have been an LT1 originally, but the engine you have could not have been a warranty replacement...simply because the warranty on your car would have expired before that blockwas even cast. It could have been an over-the-counter replacement for an "original" engine gone bad and replaced by a dealer or the owner. Or it could be that someone bought up that engine and stuck it in a non-LT1 car to turn it into an LT1-clone. Without the original paperwork on the car and/or the CE engine, I don't know how you could find any of that out.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Very nice. The car may have been an LT1 originally, but the engine you have could not have been a warranty replacement...simply because the warranty on your car would have expired before that blockwas even cast. It could have been an over-the-counter replacement for an "original" engine gone bad and replaced by a dealer or the owner. Or it could be that someone bought up that engine and stuck it in a non-LT1 car to turn it into an LT1-clone. Without the original paperwork on the car and/or the CE engine, I don't know how you could find any of that out.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 10
From: Oakville ON "Real Corvettes have folding tops..."
Tank sheet would be good document as to original equipment. It was always my understanding that CE was for "crated engine" and purchased through parts or warranty replacement. Picture of the engine compartment looks like a 71 Lt-1 missing the ignition shielding. Rocker covers are also right for 71 LT-1 Vette...Enjoy the car! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,921
Likes: 0
From: GA "When I grow up, I'm gonna get a Trans Am and run from the cops". Direct quote from my 4yo son.
Tank sheet would be good document as to original equipment. It was always my understanding that CE was for "crated engine" and purchased through parts or warranty replacement. Picture of the engine compartment looks like a 71 Lt-1 missing the ignition shielding. Rocker covers are also right for 71 LT-1 Vette...Enjoy the car! Did some more research and it said CE stood for Chevrolet engine. But was also called counter exchange, counter engine, and crate engine.
Last edited by 69camfrk; Jan 16, 2008 at 11:22 PM.