C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Need help locating date code from BB Heads

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 05:01 PM
  #1  
07redneck's Avatar
07redneck
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Default Need help locating date code from BB Heads

Hey guys, I have a set of 3964291 heads that I am getting ready to list for sale, but I cannot seem to locate the date codes on these things??

I thought the date code was right near casting #s? I looked & I see no numeric numbers other than the casting # & all the way to left is K288?

any ideas? am I looking in wrong place or is K288 the date code?

any help greatly appreciated
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 05:23 PM
  #2  
L88Plus's Avatar
L88Plus
Drifting
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
Default

Sounds like K 28 8 is the date code, but those were only made thru '72.
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 05:25 PM
  #3  
CCrane65's Avatar
CCrane65
Safety Car
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Default

Originally Posted by L88Plus
Sounds like K 28 8 is the date code, but those were only made thru '72.
I believe the 8 stands for 68.

cc
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 07:18 PM
  #4  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

K288= November 28,1968
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 08:09 PM
  #5  
07redneck's Avatar
07redneck
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by Mike Ward
K288= November 28,1968

Mike this is correct? if so I thank you much..Man, these are getting better all the time..
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 08:19 PM
  #6  
midyearvette's Avatar
midyearvette
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Default

those are crate motor heads manufactured from 69 to 72..109 cc, closed chamber.....large or small sparkplugs rectangular port according to mortec...hope this helps
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2009 | 08:35 PM
  #7  
GOSFAST's Avatar
GOSFAST
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 91
Default BBC "291" Castings

Seeing as how Chevy was selling the LS-6 "crates" into the late '70's you will find these "291" heads cast up into the mid '70's timeframe, possibly even later. Chevy needed a continous supply of both head's and block's to keep the (aftermarket) assemblies flowing "over-the-counter"!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. I have 4 brand new "291's", in the boxes, with some K-17-75 date codes!
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2009 | 06:35 AM
  #8  
07redneck's Avatar
07redneck
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by GOSFAST
Seeing as how Chevy was selling the LS-6 "crates" into the late '70's you will find these "291" heads cast up into the mid '70's timeframe, possibly even later. Chevy needed a continous supply of both head's and block's to keep the (aftermarket) assemblies flowing "over-the-counter"!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. I have 4 brand new "291's", in the boxes, with some K-17-75 date codes!
Gary, the 291 's you have NIB are they bare heads or complete? Just curious if mine are NOS complete heads? or did they sell them as complete?

Thanks to all for the info.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 17, 2009 | 05:48 PM
  #9  
GOSFAST's Avatar
GOSFAST
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 91
Default BB "291" Heads

Originally Posted by 07redneck
Gary, the 291 's you have NIB are they bare heads or complete? Just curious if mine are NOS complete heads? or did they sell them as complete?

Thanks to all for the info.
Hi "redneck", the heads are bare, not even certain you could by any assembled BB heads from GM back then?

We rarely buy any assembled ones anyway, even today. Just started recently however with Comp's (RHS/Pro-Topline) line for testing!

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. These "291" heads we have are not all that valueable with those date codes!
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2009 | 06:18 PM
  #10  
TheSkunkWorks's Avatar
TheSkunkWorks
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Default

It's just possible those K288 heads are 1978 rather than 1968 castings, seeing that Thanksgiving hit on the 28th in '68, no? Just a thought.

I've got a couple of 291's sitting around myself that I'd like to move too.



edit - Which spark plugs do they take? That'll help settle the issue...

Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Nov 17, 2009 at 06:22 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Need help locating date code from BB Heads





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:37 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE