block casting # FOR 1972 LT1
Former Vendor
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I suppose it would be determined by when it was produced. It would have to be a late late car though to have 014
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Aug 1, 2011 at 09:14 PM.
Race Director
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The last few months of production in a given year. A very vague term. Why don't you give a few more details of what you're trying to figure out. The 0010 and 0014 blocks are both very common and not exclusive to an LT1 or Corvette. The VIN of '72 and later Corvettes has the engine type encoded into it.
Racer
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I have two 1972 LT1's, one has a build date of March 22nd and an engine build date of 0308 and it is a 0014 Townawanda block. My other car has a build date of June 14th and engine build date of 0403 and it is an 0010 block. From what I understand, there was so much build activity for small blocks at the time, that Chevrolet utilized Townawanda to bolster Flint's production as needed, so in the latter part of the 1972 production year, it is arbitrary which cars have 0010 or 0014 blocks.
Last edited by 2000HdTp; Aug 9, 2011 at 01:13 AM. Reason: correct posting
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Racer
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In the 1970-1972 NCRS Information and Judging Manual it is stated that Flint Engine confirmed that the 0014 block is a Tonawanda cast and machined cylinder case shipped to Flint for assembly. Alan L. Colvin Corvette by the numbers also mentions that the 3970014 blocks were cast at the Tonawanda "metal casting plant" in 1972, however Alan's book also states that there were 5 facilities producing the block and that it is possible that one of the remaining four plants produced the block. It is based upon these references that I concluded that the 0014 block was cast at Tonawanda.
Race Director
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One easy way of determining if it's a Tonawanda vs. Flint 0014 block is looking for an extra digit in the casting date. Flint used a single digit for the year, Tonawanda used two ie. 2 vs. 72.
A Flint block also had a small square plug at the front of the block capping off the oil gallery, Tonawanda did not.
If it was a McKinnon Industries block, the casting date would not be in the usual location on the upper rear flange.
A Flint block also had a small square plug at the front of the block capping off the oil gallery, Tonawanda did not.
If it was a McKinnon Industries block, the casting date would not be in the usual location on the upper rear flange.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Racer
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Mike, I checked for the plug on the front of the block and both of mine have it. The date on the 0014 block is not on the rear flange it is on the left rear "rib" running longitudinally, would this make it a McKinnon block? Thanks, Greg
Pro
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From: Warrenville IL
I was attending a local NCRS juding seminar last year and we were looking at an 014 '72 LT-1. The following is what we were told by the expert.
Flint was the primary production facility for small blocks. All Flint small blocks were 010 castings.
Tonawanda was the primary production facility for big blocks. However, just in case anything were to ever happen to Flint, or they were to need additional production capacity, Tonawanda had a full set of castings for the small block. In order to ensure these backup castings were still true to spec they would have to occasionally produce a run of small blocks in Tonawanda for production. Those were blocks were all 014 castings.
Flint was the primary production facility for small blocks. All Flint small blocks were 010 castings.
Tonawanda was the primary production facility for big blocks. However, just in case anything were to ever happen to Flint, or they were to need additional production capacity, Tonawanda had a full set of castings for the small block. In order to ensure these backup castings were still true to spec they would have to occasionally produce a run of small blocks in Tonawanda for production. Those were blocks were all 014 castings.
