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What would you say is the casting date on this CE block? I don't want to lead you, but it is in a 70 LT1 vette
Does the block have another location with a casting date?
The casting number was used from 69 to 80. On 302(1969), 327(1969 to 1980) and 350(1969 to 1979). Combine that with the last digit of 7 means 77. Seems to me an internal examination would have to be done to determine what engine it is unless there are further clues such as the heads.
I doubt it is a LT1 warranty replacement block.
GM had a 5 year/50k powertrain warranty back in the day so it could well be your car got a dealer installed replacement short block in the summer of 1971.
My 69’s original short block was replaced in 1971 by the selling dealer. I still have the original heads.
Pull your valve covers and look at the head casting dates to see if they are original.
GM had a 5 year/50k powertrain warranty back in the day so it could well be your car got a dealer installed replacement short block in the summer of 1971.
My 69’s original short block was replaced in 1971 by the selling dealer. I still have the original heads.
Pull your valve covers and look at the head casting dates to see if they are original.
could be my bad eyesight and the phone but I read a 7 not a 1
could be my bad eyesight and the phone but I read a 7 not a 1
Could be mine as well! On a closer look, the gap between the F and the 2, coupled with the faint circle that appears surrounding what appears to be a number at the right could be the fastener head for the casting date holder that was in the sand mold leads me to wondering now if it may be a 72?
Could be mine as well! On a closer look, the gap between the F and the 2, coupled with the faint circle that appears surrounding what appears to be a number at the right could be the fastener head for the casting date holder that was in the sand mold leads me to wondering now if it may be a 72?
I did not want to post this because I was hoping that the casting date would validate this stamping. Now, its hard not to be swayed by this stamping to say the casting date shows F21 - June 2 1971. Perhaps it is F21...its hard to tell, even up close and in person.
In my 512’s case, the screwhead for the casting tag is clearly evident between the 4 and the 9, resulting in the distance between the Day (4) and the Year (9) twice that of between the Month (K) and the Day (4).
In the OP’s case the gap between the Month (F) and the first number (2) is twice that of mine. This may be due to the fact that his block was cast in Flint and mine in Tonowanda.
Looking more at the picture, I can see a convex distortion of the vertical portion of the F, as well as the rightmost character. I can see how your interpretation of that rightmost character as being a 7 but the adjacent oxidation sort of blends in so to me it is not conclusive as to whether or not it is a 1 or a 7.
Split63 - could you wire brush the area and post another pic?
Just to muddy the waters, here is the head casting numbers. It has the right rockers and guides and the casting number for a 70 LT1, but that date makes no sense
UPDATE: The Head date now appears to be December 19 1969 (See updated picture several posts below)
Looks like a service replacement block for the 71 "model" year. That is the "official" answer but I can't see how it would be model year specific in all cases. A block is a block after all. That is what the GM documents say so we have to go with it.
You cant get more info than that without any paperwork.
.......I can see how your interpretation of that rightmost character as being a 7 but the adjacent oxidation sort of blends in so to me it is not conclusive as to whether or not it is a 1 or a 7.
Split63 - could you wire brush the area and post another pic?
I can't get in there with any tools. I did use sand paper on it and that was the best image so far.
Just to muddy the waters, here is the head casting numbers. It has the right rockers and valve guides and the casting number for a 70 LT1, but that date makes no sense
It's just an engine build up of random parts trying to look like something close to original. Those heads are too early for the car as they would be for a '69. They have had guide plates and screw in studs added to them as there were none of those in '69.
Just to muddy the waters, here is the head casting numbers. It has the right rockers and valve guides and the casting number for a 70 LT1, but that date makes no sense
It does if the heads are from a 69 Z28 302, used those casting numbers.
Okay, had to know what the Left head date is.....
Same guides, same rockers, but that casting number???? . Is it plausible when the engine was replaced with the CE block, that a head was also replaced and this 492 head was used?
I took a wire wheel to the Right head. It now looks like a December 19 1969 Head which is plausible since the trim tag is Feb 11 1970
Thank GM for the really awful font used.
no offense intended to OP or to Oklahomans, but (JME) it's probably a sooner guide plates; as in pushrod guide plates ... but not "valve guides."
Like other OE iron sbc heads, both x186 heads' & x492 OE valve guide is cast integral with head; valve guides fully-encircle valve stem (thus guide them) and are all but hidden beneath/within valve springs.
350 CE Block casting date
UPDATE: The Head date now appears to be December 19 1969 (See updated picture several posts below)
