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

confused on engine casting numbers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 27, 2011 | 09:44 PM
  #1  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default confused on engine casting numbers

i have a 1957 chevy with a supposed 300 hp 327 in it but i wanted to clarify if it was true.

the block casting numbers read TIII56F

can anyone help me out?

I know the T stands for Tonawanda.

Last edited by 69cvette; Nov 27, 2011 at 10:20 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2011 | 10:21 PM
  #2  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

also is a stock 327 a flat tappet cam engine?
is running valvoline 10w 40 good oil for it?

need some help on those casting numbers too
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2011 | 10:25 PM
  #3  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

That's not a 'casting number'- it's a machine code that I presume was found on the stamp pad at the front right side of the block.

T would be Tonawanda where the engine was built

1115 means it was built on November 15th, year unknown

6F is unknown, possibly a truck or marine installation, not a Corvette.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2011 | 10:34 PM
  #4  
restoman1's Avatar
restoman1
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 60
From: CA
Default

the block casting numbers read TIII56F
Check the numbers again. You have one too many digits in there. It's probably T1115F or T1116F which would make a little more sense.

The "F" designation was used in the full size cars in 1955 (265/162), 1956 (265/170) and 1957 (283/185). (It was also used from 1958 to 1961 in the 348, but I doubt that's what you have.)

What's the casting number on the rear of the block? That will narrow it down a bit.

Ed

Last edited by restoman1; Nov 27, 2011 at 10:36 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2011 | 10:42 PM
  #5  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

i just tried to see if i could loo on the back of the block, ill have to look from underneath or something
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2011 | 06:10 AM
  #6  
Indiancreek's Avatar
Indiancreek
Drifting
Supporting Member
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Default

It's on the bell housing flange on the top. SHould be able to be seen to the side and behind your distributor.
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2011 | 10:29 AM
  #7  
bmans vette's Avatar
bmans vette
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,445
Likes: 353
From: Athens GA
St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '15- '16-'17-'18-'19, '21
Default

http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.php

Check out this site for help with id on your block.
Looks like the old mortec site is gone but the info looks good here.

Bman
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 02:16 AM
  #8  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default






maximize the pictures to get the best view

alright i'm still trying to this day to figure out my casting number because I'm dying to know what engine i have and what it was out of, someone told me something crazy and that i might have a 283 because the number of 327's that came with powerpack heads was so much lower. do you think its a 283 from what you can tell and what I've provided?

any telltale signs of a 327 over a 283?

Last edited by 69cvette; Feb 12, 2012 at 02:18 AM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 08:22 AM
  #9  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

i suppose this is really next to impossbile to tell just by looking without either pulling the head or knowing the casting numbers, ahh im so irritated i cant get to them.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 09:08 AM
  #10  
Mark Riles's Avatar
Mark Riles
Pro
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by 69cvette
i suppose this is really next to impossbile to tell just by looking without either pulling the head or knowing the casting numbers, ahh im so irritated i cant get to them.

It seems as though you will have a hard time reading the casting number which as mentioned is stamped on the webbing of the bell house flange. Without that casting number your journey will not go much further. However, pull the valve covers and post the cylinder head casting numbers. Using those casting numbers we can determine what the heads are and possibly lead us to what they are on family wise.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 09:30 AM
  #11  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

i've got people telling me it might be a 283 and now im starting to think it might be. and if it is im going to be VERY VERY upset, 283's suck.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 09:35 AM
  #12  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

What's stopping you from reading the casting number and date?
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 09:38 AM
  #13  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

the fact that the back of the head is too close to the firewall get behind the engine, i've tried squeezing a camera to snap a picture but that wont work either. i dont even want to touch the car til i know what engine it has, i've never thought this could be so difficult and so frustrating in my life lol.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 09:39 AM
  #14  
Mark Riles's Avatar
Mark Riles
Pro
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by 69cvette
i've got people telling me it might be a 283 and now im starting to think it might be. and if it is im going to be VERY VERY upset, 283's suck.

Valve covers. 4 bolts each. Pull them and post the casting numbers of the cylinder heads. Also, try unplugging the wires and removing the distributor cap for more access to the casting number on the back of the block. A squirt of brake cleaner may help to wash away some of the grime that can sometimes hide the numbers. If you can get a rag or a brush back there it will help too.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 09:51 AM
  #15  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

alright i may try that but here's the best pictures i could get with my camera

i see some stamping but that's not it and i don't think that helps me either.

but this is how close it is to the firewall. that's the edge of the valve cover. that's as far as i can see, its probably tucked away under the valve cover.
ill pull it some other day when its warmer.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 10:06 AM
  #16  
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

Originally Posted by bmans vette
http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.php

Check out this site for help with id on your block.
Looks like the old mortec site is gone but the info looks good here.

Bman
Mortec ain't gone, it just got archived...runs a bit slower but it's all still there.

http://web.archive.org/web/200805130...ec.com/bbc.htm
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 10:26 AM
  #17  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

There's tons of sites and books that will have all the info. The OP needs to put a bit of effort into cleaning and stretching.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To confused on engine casting numbers

Old Feb 12, 2012 | 11:21 AM
  #18  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default



the best i could do was get a GM in the picture and i took over 30 pictures and got pictures of mostly nothing, its like being blind, i wish it wasnt so cold i'd pull the valve cover and look.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2012 | 01:28 PM
  #19  
anips's Avatar
anips
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Sonoma Ca.
Default

I believe the casting # is under your throttle or kick down bellcrank, its not a stamping its a raised cast # for 64-67 327-300hp it would be 3791362, #'s vary between what yr. if you pull the valve cover the casting # you will get is the head casting # which will help to identify if its a 250 or 300 hp, its time to get dirty.

Last edited by anips; Feb 12, 2012 at 05:56 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2012 | 08:40 PM
  #20  
69cvette's Avatar
69cvette
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
Default

okay well i think I've finally figured it out without looking at the casting numbers

i read the engine number on the front wrong and it was TII5GF NOT 6F

i looked up GM suffix codes and this is what I got

GF 1955-56 265 162 MT B, A/C
GF 1957 283 250 TG B, FI
GF 1965-67 283 195 PG


195 earth rumbling horsepower!!
its a far cry from 250 HP lol

give me all the more reason to tear this 283 out ASAP
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:09 AM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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