Calling All block code breakers please
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 160
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From: Concord NH
Calling All block code breakers please
Here are the numbers on my block:
Front pad # CEA12974 7
Rear driver's side # 3970010
Also 28 GM
Rear pass side # \ 3 - (round nub) A61
What do you think?
Front pad # CEA12974 7
Rear driver's side # 3970010
Also 28 GM
Rear pass side # \ 3 - (round nub) A61
What do you think?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
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From: No Prov RI
CF JASOC Member
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
CEA 1980 305 auto trans. 155hp 4V
3970010....302.....69....4V...Z-28 Camaro
3970010....327.....69....2V...Trucks and industrial
3970010....350.....69-80...2V or 4V
3970010....302.....69....4V...Z-28 Camaro
3970010....327.....69....2V...Trucks and industrial
3970010....350.....69-80...2V or 4V
Last edited by xCCTer; Oct 26, 2008 at 08:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Concord NH
I think I'm going to have to pay the previous owner another visit!!!
So it's a low HP 1980 350 engine?
That's the only possibility?
Account disabled by user request 5 Jan 09
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A61 = January 6, 1971
CEA12974 = Chevrolet Engine from Flint engine plant #12,974 (sometimes called a Counter Exchange or Crate Engine - Flint CE numbers were 00001-19999 and 80001-89999 - the "A" in "CEA" is some kind of internal identification, as is the ending "7").
If this block is in your 1969, it may well be a Warranty Replacement, especially if other engine parts appear to be original (heads, manifold, carb, etc ...).
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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3970010 = 1969-1980 350ci
A61 = January 6, 1971
CEA12974 = Chevrolet Engine from Flint engine plant #12,974 (sometimes called a Counter Exchange or Crate Engine - Flint CE numbers were 00001-19999 and 80001-89999 - the "A" in "CEA" is some kind of internal identification, as is the ending "7").
If this block is in your 1969, it may well be a Warranty Replacement, especially if other engine parts appear to be original (heads, manifold, carb, etc ...).
A61 = January 6, 1971
CEA12974 = Chevrolet Engine from Flint engine plant #12,974 (sometimes called a Counter Exchange or Crate Engine - Flint CE numbers were 00001-19999 and 80001-89999 - the "A" in "CEA" is some kind of internal identification, as is the ending "7").
If this block is in your 1969, it may well be a Warranty Replacement, especially if other engine parts appear to be original (heads, manifold, carb, etc ...).
Franks got it right!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 160
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From: Concord NH
I certainly hope so. The previous owner swore it was a numbers matching car since he has owned it since '73.
I knew it wasn't, but I was under the impression it was an exchange engine put in during the original owner's time.
It has camel hump heads I think. I haven't removed the valve covers yet.
Other parts look to be original but I will look for more numbers.
Is there a site that shows where the numbers are located on other parts?
I knew it wasn't, but I was under the impression it was an exchange engine put in during the original owner's time.
It has camel hump heads I think. I haven't removed the valve covers yet.
Other parts look to be original but I will look for more numbers.
Is there a site that shows where the numbers are located on other parts?
Last edited by MadMarx; Oct 26, 2008 at 09:08 PM.
Race Director
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The best you can hope for is that it was a direct warranty exchange engine and is similar/identical to the original. It could equally have been sitting in a taxi or dump truck for 30 years and been installed in your car just before you bought it.
CE engines were not identified or tracked in a way that provides absolute proof of internal components.
CE engines were not identified or tracked in a way that provides absolute proof of internal components.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Concord NH
The best you can hope for is that it was a direct warranty exchange engine and is similar/identical to the original. It could equally have been sitting in a taxi or dump truck for 30 years and been installed in your car just before you bought it.
CE engines were not identified or tracked in a way that provides absolute proof of internal components.
CE engines were not identified or tracked in a way that provides absolute proof of internal components.
You had to say that didn't you!!I actually started feeling a little better about the whole thing 'til you dropped that on me.
I have the original owners name so my plan is to see if he's still around.
Thanks for the input.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
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From: MS
Just to add to what Frank said, my take on the 'A' in CEA is that was the solution they came up with when they ran out of numbers. The range numbers I show is 00001-19999 for Flint 6-cyl, 20000 to 49999 for Flint V8 and 50000 to 79999 for Tonawanda. If Flint needed to supply more than 30,000 warranty V8 engines, then they were screwed as number 50000 and up were Tonawanda numbers, so they just added the A and then started over again at 20000.
