Engine Assembled 1-7-70
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,226
Likes: 4,313
From: Westminster Maryland
Engine Assembled 1-7-71
Hi,
The 350/270 engine for my 71 coupe was assembled in Flint Michigan 40years ago today. January 7,1971
The cylinder case had been cast on the twilight shift, December 31, 1970. The engine traveled to St. Louis and was installed in a car with a trim tag date of F14; January 14, 1971.
What I find interesting is that the dates on the engine parts that were assembled at Flint have mostly typical dates. (the intake date is pretty early). While a couple of parts seem to be too late for a January 7, 1971 engine until you remember that some parts of the engine were installed at St. Louis.
Here are a few parts and their dates:
Intake... H 27 0, (Aug 27, 1970)
Exhaust Manifolds... K 11, ( Nov 12, 1970) and L 23, Dec 23, 1970)
Heads... L 18 0, (Dec 18, 1970) and L 22 0, (Dec 22, 1970)
Carburetor... 0071, (7th day of 1971)
Starter... 1 A 55, (Jan. 1971)
Alternator... 1 A 7, (Jan. 7, 1971)
Distributor... 0 M 16, (Dec. 16, 1970)
Fan Clutch... 9 15 70, (Sept. 15, 1970)
Regards,
Alan
The 350/270 engine for my 71 coupe was assembled in Flint Michigan 40years ago today. January 7,1971
The cylinder case had been cast on the twilight shift, December 31, 1970. The engine traveled to St. Louis and was installed in a car with a trim tag date of F14; January 14, 1971.
What I find interesting is that the dates on the engine parts that were assembled at Flint have mostly typical dates. (the intake date is pretty early). While a couple of parts seem to be too late for a January 7, 1971 engine until you remember that some parts of the engine were installed at St. Louis.
Here are a few parts and their dates:
Intake... H 27 0, (Aug 27, 1970)
Exhaust Manifolds... K 11, ( Nov 12, 1970) and L 23, Dec 23, 1970)
Heads... L 18 0, (Dec 18, 1970) and L 22 0, (Dec 22, 1970)
Carburetor... 0071, (7th day of 1971)
Starter... 1 A 55, (Jan. 1971)
Alternator... 1 A 7, (Jan. 7, 1971)
Distributor... 0 M 16, (Dec. 16, 1970)
Fan Clutch... 9 15 70, (Sept. 15, 1970)
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Jan 7, 2011 at 05:58 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Hi,
The 350/270 engine for my 71 coupe was assembled in Flint Michigan 40years ago today. January 7,1971
The cylinder case had been cast on the twilight shift, December 31, 1970. The engine traveled to St. Louis and was installed in a car with a trim tag date of F14; January 14, 1971.
What I find interesting is that the dates on the engine parts that were assembled at Flint have mostly typical dates. (the intake date is pretty early). While a couple of parts seem to be too late for a January 7, 1971 engine until you remember that some parts of the engine were installed at St. Louis.
Here are a few parts and their dates:
Intake... H 27 0, (Aug 27, 1970)
Exhaust Manifolds... K 11, ( Nov 12, 1970) and L 23, Dec 23, 1970)
Heads... L 18 0, (Dec 18, 1970) and L 22 0, (Dec 22, 1970)
Carburetor... 0071, (7th day of 1971)
Starter... 1 A 55, (Jan. 1971)
Alternator... 1 A 7, (Jan. 7, 1971)
Distributor... 0 M 16, (Dec. 16, 1970)
Fan Clutch... 9 15 70, (Sept. 15, 1970)
Regards,
Alan
The 350/270 engine for my 71 coupe was assembled in Flint Michigan 40years ago today. January 7,1971
The cylinder case had been cast on the twilight shift, December 31, 1970. The engine traveled to St. Louis and was installed in a car with a trim tag date of F14; January 14, 1971.
What I find interesting is that the dates on the engine parts that were assembled at Flint have mostly typical dates. (the intake date is pretty early). While a couple of parts seem to be too late for a January 7, 1971 engine until you remember that some parts of the engine were installed at St. Louis.
Here are a few parts and their dates:
Intake... H 27 0, (Aug 27, 1970)
Exhaust Manifolds... K 11, ( Nov 12, 1970) and L 23, Dec 23, 1970)
Heads... L 18 0, (Dec 18, 1970) and L 22 0, (Dec 22, 1970)
Carburetor... 0071, (7th day of 1971)
Starter... 1 A 55, (Jan. 1971)
Alternator... 1 A 7, (Jan. 7, 1971)
Distributor... 0 M 16, (Dec. 16, 1970)
Fan Clutch... 9 15 70, (Sept. 15, 1970)
Regards,
Alan
Very cool to have info on your car like this, I'm sure you have much more on the rest of your car which I think most would fine intersting also. Happy Brithday!!!! and may your engine as well as you be around another 40 years!!
Last edited by Manuel Azevedo; Jan 7, 2011 at 06:32 PM. Reason: left word out
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Birthdays for our cars and engines
Interesting dates, Alan. I got a card from the Corvette Registry Dec 21 saying "Happy Birthday" to my car which as a '76 model was assembled on December 21, 1975 in St. Louis, of course. I looked and the creamy tan car photo here is her sister or brother who came down the line exactly next after mine!
Mine is in the shop today getting rid of the 2:1:2 exhaust and going to true duals. A birthday present to her to let her breath.
Lance
Mine is in the shop today getting rid of the 2:1:2 exhaust and going to true duals. A birthday present to her to let her breath.
Lance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,352
Likes: 1
From: Westminster Maryland
Happy birthday! What a different world Flint Michigan is today versus 1971! Boomtown to bust. Sort of like one of the "bad" alternate futures from "Back to the Future II"! At least your car looks as good (better?) than it did in 1971. 
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Team Owner
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,226
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
Thanks for the replies.
I, too, have always thought it was neat that the foundry worked on New Years eve. I believe it has something to do with how the blast furnaces were used.
Although the 'parts' have been off the engine, the engine itself hasn't been apart. It has just a tick over 46K miles.
I'm thinking about posting some more dates for it's trim-tag birthday next week.
I find it interesting that many of the parts have dates VERY close to the assembly date which indicates that there were not large stockpiles of parts at St. Louis and that the parts were moved very quickly from were they were produced to St. Louis and installed on the line.
Regards,
Alan
These pictures are from about 2002.
Thanks for the replies.
I, too, have always thought it was neat that the foundry worked on New Years eve. I believe it has something to do with how the blast furnaces were used.
Although the 'parts' have been off the engine, the engine itself hasn't been apart. It has just a tick over 46K miles.
I'm thinking about posting some more dates for it's trim-tag birthday next week.
I find it interesting that many of the parts have dates VERY close to the assembly date which indicates that there were not large stockpiles of parts at St. Louis and that the parts were moved very quickly from were they were produced to St. Louis and installed on the line.
Regards,
Alan
These pictures are from about 2002.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
The closest to St. Louis would be US Steel in Granite City.
The blast furnaces there produce molted iron in the range of 2000-3000 tons per day/furnace primarily for steel production.
The iron for foundries would have been cast into "piglets" for easy shipping to the foundry.
Pig iron was made made using a Pig Casting Machine that was a continuous conveyor containing a series of small block molds.
Molton iron was poured into a tundish that fed each mold as it passed the pouring spout.
The filled molds were cooled as they moved down through the machine and solid blocks of iron were knocked out at the end of the line for shipping.
The foundries would have to bring the iron block back to a molten state to cast the various engine blocks.
Unfortunately there are not too many of these casting machines left in operation. The last one I worked on was in Dofasco back in the 80's.
The whole process from feeding iron ore into a blast furnace to casting an engine block is very interesting.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,226
Likes: 4,313
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ian,
Thanks VERY much for the information. I didn't know just how the furnaces and foundries worked or even if they were the same place.
I worked for the summer of 1964 at the Bethlehem Steel Plant in Sparrows Point Maryland. I'd see the furnaces from a distance but never got close to them; I worked in a tin mill. Bethlehem was a big business then. I believe they hired about 4000 summer employees. I made such good money that I was able to buy a new 64 Impala Convertible 327/300 4-speed with what I earned and saved. Very good days!
Regards,
Alan
Thanks VERY much for the information. I didn't know just how the furnaces and foundries worked or even if they were the same place.
I worked for the summer of 1964 at the Bethlehem Steel Plant in Sparrows Point Maryland. I'd see the furnaces from a distance but never got close to them; I worked in a tin mill. Bethlehem was a big business then. I believe they hired about 4000 summer employees. I made such good money that I was able to buy a new 64 Impala Convertible 327/300 4-speed with what I earned and saved. Very good days!
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,352
Likes: 1
From: Westminster Maryland
Alan- did you ever work with any of the Baltimore Colts at Sparrows Point? I understood that many of them worked there in the off season; football didn't pay as well as now, and they needed second jobs. I remember John Unitas, Mike Curtis, Art Donovan, and all the guys from the late 60's walking back and forth down Main Street to get lunch at Harry's Grill during summer training at Western Maryland College. Those were very good days for me!!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
Here's a question that I've always wondered about...was there a cutover period for engines the same as for the car build? Asked another way, did they stop building engines then retool and start again for the next year?
I need to search my '70 for all this info too!
Have fun!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
Hi,
I find it interesting that many of the parts have dates VERY close to the assembly date which indicates that there were not large stockpiles of parts at St. Louis and that the parts were moved very quickly from were they were produced to St. Louis and installed on the line.
Regards,
Alan
I find it interesting that many of the parts have dates VERY close to the assembly date which indicates that there were not large stockpiles of parts at St. Louis and that the parts were moved very quickly from were they were produced to St. Louis and installed on the line.
Regards,
Alan
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 199
Likes: 36
From: Rochester New Hampshire
Hi,
The 350/270 engine for my 71 coupe was assembled in Flint Michigan 40years ago today. January 7,1971
The cylinder case had been cast on the twilight shift, December 31, 1970. The engine traveled to St. Louis and was installed in a car with a trim tag date of F14; January 14, 1971.
What I find interesting is that the dates on the engine parts that were assembled at Flint have mostly typical dates. (the intake date is pretty early). While a couple of parts seem to be too late for a January 7, 1971 engine until you remember that some parts of the engine were installed at St. Louis.
Here are a few parts and their dates:
Intake... H 27 0, (Aug 27, 1970)
Exhaust Manifolds... K 11, ( Nov 12, 1970) and L 23, Dec 23, 1970)
Heads... L 18 0, (Dec 18, 1970) and L 22 0, (Dec 22, 1970)
Carburetor... 0071, (7th day of 1971)
Starter... 1 A 55, (Jan. 1971)
Alternator... 1 A 7, (Jan. 7, 1971)
Distributor... 0 M 16, (Dec. 16, 1970)
Fan Clutch... 9 15 70, (Sept. 15, 1970)
Regards,
Alan
The 350/270 engine for my 71 coupe was assembled in Flint Michigan 40years ago today. January 7,1971
The cylinder case had been cast on the twilight shift, December 31, 1970. The engine traveled to St. Louis and was installed in a car with a trim tag date of F14; January 14, 1971.
What I find interesting is that the dates on the engine parts that were assembled at Flint have mostly typical dates. (the intake date is pretty early). While a couple of parts seem to be too late for a January 7, 1971 engine until you remember that some parts of the engine were installed at St. Louis.
Here are a few parts and their dates:
Intake... H 27 0, (Aug 27, 1970)
Exhaust Manifolds... K 11, ( Nov 12, 1970) and L 23, Dec 23, 1970)
Heads... L 18 0, (Dec 18, 1970) and L 22 0, (Dec 22, 1970)
Carburetor... 0071, (7th day of 1971)
Starter... 1 A 55, (Jan. 1971)
Alternator... 1 A 7, (Jan. 7, 1971)
Distributor... 0 M 16, (Dec. 16, 1970)
Fan Clutch... 9 15 70, (Sept. 15, 1970)
Regards,
Alan
