56-57 engine codes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Concord Ca.
Sorry I wasn't clear. It doesn't have the origonal engine and I would like to know if the engine the valve covers were on got put in or just the valve covers. I have nothing that gives vin codes before 58. thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
[QUOTE=chewy]....It doesn't have the origonal engine...[\QUOTE
Okay, so you know it's not an original 265.
Corvette VINs were not stamped on blocks until sometime in 1962. If this is actually a Corvette engine, you will need the casting numbers off the blocks, heads, manifold, etc.
You can't go by the valve covers. They're (obviously) old Corvette, but they would fit any small block of the era.
Point to check: are the hold down holes on the valve covers staggered or straight across from each other. That will give us an estimate on age. Older covers have the staggered holes; later covers have the straight. Count fins. 9 fin are older; 7 fin are later.
Okay, so you know it's not an original 265.
...and I would like to know if the engine the valve covers were on got put in or just the valve covers...I have nothing that gives vin codes before 58. thanks
You can't go by the valve covers. They're (obviously) old Corvette, but they would fit any small block of the era.
Point to check: are the hold down holes on the valve covers staggered or straight across from each other. That will give us an estimate on age. Older covers have the staggered holes; later covers have the straight. Count fins. 9 fin are older; 7 fin are later.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,925
From: Washington Michigan
What's the block casting number (driver's side rear flange of block, behind the cylinder head), and what's stamped on the machined surface on the front of the block in front of the passenger side cylinder head?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Concord Ca.
He is going to look. I ended up with the valve covers that I didn't know were 9 rib until i saw them. I don't think he even looked to see if it had side mounts but I will get the numbers.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
9 fin valve covers are 56-57 Corvette. M on the engine code indicates a 1956 265 truck engine or 58-62 283 truck engine, none of which would be a Corvette smallblock.
Check to ensure there is not another letter on the engine code. Could it be EM?
Check to ensure there is not another letter on the engine code. Could it be EM?
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