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Hello all! I’ve done a bit of research on the engine code on the ‘71 LT1 I just bought, but wanted to see if anyone else “in the know” would care to weigh in on it. From my research, the CE stands for “Chevrolet Engine”, the A stands for the first of a possible 3 different warranty replacement series produced in that year, and the 1 means it was made in 1971, making it the correct replacement engine that would have been installed if the owner busted up the engine and had it warranty replaced. Anything else I should know? CEA142232 is the stamping. Muchos gracias in advance for any additional info that can be offered. Oh, of utmost importance, the LT1 of this year would have been a 330 hp engine. Would this replacement have matched that? Appears to have the original heads, intake, valve covers, rams horns manifolds, etc. Looks like the modern day equivelant of a “short block” replacement. (below is an older thread from the Corvette Forum, screen shot, that is one of the things I came up with in my research) Thanks again!
From what I remember of the "CE" engine program, the "A" indicates that it was the second run through the allotted numbers for CE blocks at Flint, not the first. And while the "1" is the year, I believe it's the year the engine was made, not the model year so a 71 Corvette could have a CE block numbered CEB2xxxxx if the engine was made during 1972 or CE3xxxxx if it was made in early 1973.
Flint 6 cylinder blocks were numbered 00,001 to 19,999, Flint V8 CE blocks were numbered 20,000-49,999 and CE Tonawanda blocks were numbered 50,000-79,999. The first 1971 Flint CE short blocks and/or fitted blocks would have started with CE120000 and run through CE149999. Once they hit CE149999 the next CE engines would add the "A" to the number and then be numbered CEA120000 through CEA149999 and then followed by CEB120000. I have no idea how many CE short blocks or fitted blocks were made each year, but CE engines weren't limited to 3 "runs" in a year either. They continued to build CE blocks as long as they needed them so potentially there could be CEC1xxxxx, CED1xxxxx, CEE1xxxxx, and so on in a year depending on how many warranty and over the counter engines they needed or sold.
A 1971 CE engine stamped CEA142232 would be the 52,231 (if my math is right) 1971 Flint V8 CE engine made, the "A" indicating that 42232 was from the second time through the numbers at Flint in 1971. Again, I'm working (from my ever fading) memory on this, but I think I've described it correctly. Somewhere around in my collection of GM literature I may still have an old Chevrolet Service Bulletin that explained the CE program.
The CE program started in late 68 or 69 and I think may have been numbered slightly differently when first implemented. I've been told that early on the numbering was CE for Chevrolet Engine followed by the single digit year, a letter for the month, and then a sequential number.
Hopefully someone else can corroborate what I've posted, or correct me if I've remembered it wrong.
Thanks a bunch for that information gbvette62!
Any idea if the replacements would have represented a drop in horsepower? Being an LT1, would the replacement also have been built to match the 330 hp it had originally came with? Thanks!
Thanks a bunch for that information gbvette62!
Any idea if the replacements would have represented a drop in horsepower? Being an LT1, would the replacement also have been built to match the 330 hp it had originally came with? Thanks!
If it was a warranty replacement done by the dealer than it should be identical to what it replaced. There was nothing marked externally on CE engines to identify the cubic inches, or horse power of the engine, but each CE engine was different and was supposedly built to the specs of the engine it was replacing. The way I think it worked was CE engines had a Chevrolet part number for the application but it was probably on a tag either on the engine or maybe even on the shipping crate, and not permanently affixed to the block in any way.
A friend has a late 1970 casting date, CE block sitting under a work bench in his shop that's a 302 DZ Z/28 engine internally.
The stamped year digit stands for intended YEAR MODEL of the car it will go into, not the year the replacement block was assembled. It seems strange but that's what it is.
The casting date will reveal the year it was cast.
If it was a warranty replacement done by the dealer than it should be identical to what it replaced. There was nothing marked externally on CE engines to identify the cubic inches, or horse power of the engine, but each CE engine was different and was supposedly built to the specs of the engine it was replacing. The way I think it worked was CE engines had a Chevrolet part number for the application but it was probably on a tag either on the engine or maybe even on the shipping crate, and not permanently affixed to the block in any way.
A friend has a late 1970 casting date, CE block sitting under a work bench in his shop that's a 302 DZ Z/28 engine internally.
Excellent! I’m happy to hear this. Thanks a again!
The stamped year digit stands for intended YEAR MODEL of the car it will go into, not the year the replacement block was assembled. It seems strange but that's what it is.
The casting date will reveal the year it was cast.
Hmmmm, I’m glad to know this. So based on you two’s info, I do have what would be the correct replacement. Happy to hear! Thanks!
Hello all! I’ve done a bit of research on the engine code on the ‘71 LT1 I just bought, but wanted to see if anyone else “in the know” would care to weigh in on it. From my research, the CE stands for “Chevrolet Engine”, the A stands for the first of a possible 3 different warranty replacement series produced in that year, and the 1 means it was made in 1971, making it the correct replacement engine that would have been installed if the owner busted up the engine and had it warranty replaced. Anything else I should know? CEA142232 is the stamping. Muchos gracias in advance for any additional info that can be offered. Oh, of utmost importance, the LT1 of this year would have been a 330 hp engine. Would this replacement have matched that? Appears to have the original heads, intake, valve covers, rams horns manifolds, etc. Looks like the modern day equivelant of a “short block” replacement. (below is an older thread from the Corvette Forum, screen shot, that is one of the things I came up with in my research) Thanks again!
The most accurate determination of whether it's the correct short block would be checking if you have a solid lifter cam. Set the engine to #1 TDC. You should easily be able to slide in a .020 feeler gauge on both intake and exhaust rocker arms.
The most accurate determination of whether it's the correct short block would be checking if you have a solid lifter cam. Set the engine to #1 TDC. You should easily be able to slide in a .020 feeler gauge on both intake and exhaust rocker arms.
Agreed! Thanks man! As part of the process of getting this one running after sitting so long, I plan to pull the valve covers and lash the valves. Since I'm at that, no reason not to pull rocker's and pull lifter's. I have no idea what someone has done over the years, but at least I'll know if it's still flat tappet and at least the condition of those. Solid advice! 😊
Agreed! Thanks man! As part of the process of getting this one running after sitting so long, I plan to pull the valve covers and lash the valves. Since I'm at that, no reason not to pull rocker's and pull lifter's. I have no idea what someone has done over the years, but at least I'll know if it's still flat tappet and at least the condition of those. Solid advice! 😊
You do realize you can't remove the lifters without taking the intake off? If you do, don't mix up the lifters.
Engine Code Decipher?
