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I own a 1965 convertible with the original 327 engine on a stand that I would ultimately like to rebuild and reinstall. Question... I notice some engines have orange valve covers while others have the grey cast metal covers. How can I tell which one is correct for my car to make it look original? Was it the varying horsepower that dictated which valve covers were installed on an engine back then? The same question may apply to the air filter housing in terms of whether it came with a double snorkel or not.
The pictures I found online show both configurations with both having 350HP labels. Maybe they were incorrectly applied to both.
Look at the stamped engine pad at the front right side of the engine. Post up the numbers and letters you see. That will determine what your engine was initially built as (horsepower etc) which will then determine what air cleaner and valve covers it originally had.
But from a practical standpoint, you can simply install what you want and what looks good to you.
I own a 1965 convertible with the original engine on a stand that I would ultimately like to rebuild and reinstall. Question... I notice some engines have orange valve covers while others have the grey cast metal covers. How can I tell which one is correct for my car to make it look original? Was it the varying horsepower that dictated which valve covers were installed on an engine back then? The same question may apply to the air filter housing in terms of whether it came with a double snorkel or not.
The pictures I found online show both configurations with both having 350HP labels. Maybe they were incorrectly applied to both.
Thanks for your help,
-John
The '65 300hp engine (top photo) used a cast-iron intake manifold with a Carter AFB carburetor, dual-snorkel air cleaner and orange-painted stamped steel valve covers; the 350hp engine (bottom photo) used an aluminum intake manifold with a Holley carburetor, the no-snorkel heavy-gauge chrome air cleaner and finned cast aluminum valve covers.
The first picture is correct for 300 hp and less in 65, the second picture is correct for 350 hp and up. Breathers and valve covers are correct in both pictures for the engines as marked by hp stickers.
Look at the stamped engine pad at the front right side of the engine. Post up the numbers and letters you see. That will determine what your engine was initially built as (horsepower etc) which will then determine what air cleaner and valve covers it originally had.
But from a practical standpoint, you can simply install what you want and what looks good to you.
Larry
Larry, thanks. I will post the numbers. Is there a guide somewhere online?
The last two letters on your engine stamp pad, just after F and four digits for the date (example 0317) will tell you.
Example: F0317HT would be a 350 hp with Holley, hydraulic lifters built Mar 17th.
The numbers to the left of that on the stamp pad would be a partial vin, starting with a 5 for 65.... Example 5106778 would be a 65 engine for car with vin ending in S106778 (that's an S, not a 5 in the vin, but it's a 5 on the stamp pad for the year.
OK here we go, I took pictures of the engine block codes. Kind of hard to tell, I think I have them correct. (For some reason, this site won't let me post more pics.on this posting)
VIN: 194675S100639
-----------------------------------------------
Engine Code: First Set:GM (8 on its side) 3782870
------------------------------------------------
Engine Code: Second Set: H254
------------------------------------------------
Engine Code: Third Set:
852
H17-870
------------------------------------------------
Last edited by jsans; 07-19-2018 at 10:01 PM.
Reason: Added pics
OK here we go, I took pictures of the engine block codes. Kind of hard to tell, I think I have them correct.
First Set:GM (8 on its side) 3782870
------------------------------------------------
Second Set: H254
------------------------------------------------
Third Set:
852
H17-870
------------------------------------------------
Hi,
The number in your photo is the block casting number, the stamp pad is just at the front of the passenger side head, see below picture that I stole online.
In the photo you can see the HH at the end of the second set of characters, this would signify a 375HP solid lifter engine.
The good news is 3782870 was used in 1965 so that’s a good sign. Post the front stamp info as mentioned above. Sometimes if the engine’s been rebuilt, the info on the pad is sanded off.
The good news is 3782870 was used in 1965 so that’s a good sign. Post the front stamp info as mentioned above. Sometimes if the engine’s been rebuilt, the info on the pad is sanded off.
Ed
Got it, I'll head back to the garage tomorrow and look for it.
Hi,
The number in your photo is the block casting number, the stamp pad is just at the front of the passenger side head, see below picture that I stole online.
In the photo you can see the HH at the end of the second set of characters, this would signify a 375HP solid lifter engine.
Paul
That makes sense as to why my numbers didn't seem complete and confusing.
Hi,
The number in your photo is the block casting number, the stamp pad is just at the front of the passenger side head, see below picture that I stole online.
In the photo you can see the HH at the end of the second set of characters, this would signify a 375HP solid lifter engine.
Paul
My reference shows HH as 365 hp, the fuel injected 375 hp should be HG
Stamp pad shows 365 hp, solid lifter engine. Now if the last 5 on the Vin match the last 5 on the pad (looks to be 19989), you have a real good start. That engine uses the intake valve covers and breather in your second picture from earllier.
PS, also comes with a quart larger oil pan.
That explains why the oil pan looks so big. So this was the highest horsepower 327 that they made back then. I wonder how many of those were made. The engine is missing the heads and manifold. Any guess as to what it might cost to rebuild (to a non-high compression) and put back into the car?
Hello to the OP.....that first photo at the top is from my '65 327/300....as noted above, the label, though a bit hard to read, says 300. Here is another shot from the other side...this time with the air cleaner off. Welcome to the Forum!
Got it, I'll head back to the garage tomorrow and look for it.
I've circled the number pad for you, it looks like there might be some digits visible. As mentioned, it is possible however that it will be blank from having been previously machined during a rebuild, but if you do see characters and they are hard to read, do not scrape the pad or use sand paper, you will destroy or damage the surface. You can clean it with lacquer thinner on a rag, nothing abrasive, you absolutely do not want to damage the surface if the numbers are original.
Good luck,
I've circled the number pad for you, it looks like there might be some digits visible. As mentioned, it is possible however that it will be blank from having been previously machined during a rebuild, but if you do see characters and they are hard to read, do not scrape the pad or use sand paper, you will destroy or damage the surface. You can clean it with lacquer thinner on a rag, nothing abrasive, you absolutely do not want to damage the surface if the numbers are original.
Good luck,
Paul
My VIN: 194675S100639
1: Division - Chevrolet
9: Series - Corvette
4: Engine - V8
67: Body Style – 2 door convertible
5: Year - 1965
S: Assembly Plant - St. Louis, MO
Production Number: 100639 (100,001-123,562) 639th out of 23,561 corvettes manufactured in 1965.
Paul you read my mind. Here's a picture with the stamp codes un retouched. 5100639 and F0828HT. This is what I get...
HT - HT 1965 327 s h/p, hyd lifters, muncie trans 350 HP 4 Barrel Carb Vette.
07-18-2018, 09:58 PM
1965 Valve Covers
