283 What ???

[Stan's Customs]

Greetings and salutations..vette pro's...
I have just started my first straight axle 'vette restoration and I'm sure will be more up to speed a year from now than I am today. I have done many steel bodied street rods and classics, but as you all know these are much different in many ways..... and I am very excited about this project...I've had one on my wish list for a long time.
Sooo here we go... This car is black with a new red gut, a new pi** poor paint job, a .060 over 12.5 comp. 283, angle plug 2.02 heads with a vintage vette 2x4 intake and a couple of late model Edelbrock AFB type carbs. The engine is just sitting in the cradle without starter, exahaust pipes or a drive shaft. However it is a fresh build that has never been cranked. The previous owner decided to sell the partially completed project due to loss of interest, lack of funds etc., etc.
The car has been cobbled together with some really good stuff (interior for instance) and some some really cheesy workmanship in other areas...but overall a great easy project. Except for the cost and availability of the few missing pieces (and needing a complete top.)
\ I first question is ..can anyone help me with the block identification?? On the left back of the block the raised noumbers are 375619 which I believe indicates a correct casting for a 1961 283 C.I.D. The no.s on the front right pad in front of the passenger head are FO204C......That is what I can't seem to find anything on. Can anyone help here ?? I believe getting the drive train right is where I'll begin this project.
I would also be interested in hearing about any parts anyone might have for this car and so on.

Thanks...Stan M.

 

[bossvette]

Welcome to CAC and good luck we all like to see pictures so post em if you got em

 

[Mac]

Welcome aboard, Stan!

Buying someone else's abandoned project can work out great or become a nightmare beyond belief. Hopefully, your's will be the former, not the latter. One of our resident experts will chip in here shortly with block info.

Do you intend to restore the car back to factory or (like your name) are you gonna customize it?

 

[WayneC]

375619... I assume you mean 3756519 (one needs to be accurate when posting these numbers), which was used in Corvettes from mid 1958 to late 1961 models; also used in cars & trucks.

FO204C... The C stamp suffix was not used on Corvettes by itself, UNLESS there is a second letter following the "C". The 0204 is the month and day (Feb 4th).

There should be a cast-on code on the passenger rear of the block that might narrow the vintage.

 

[61 Silver]

1961 Corvette Engine

Hi!

I have an original engine in my 61. It has the 3756519 block with the CU suffix for the 270HP. Your serial number should also be on the engine pad. Clean the pad and check for a second letter in the suffix.


SUFFIX CODES:
CQ: 283 CI 230HP MANUAL TRANS.
CR: 283 CI 275HP MANUAL TRANS.
CS: 283 CI 315HP MANUAL TRANS.
CT: 283 CI 245HP MANUAL TRANS.
CU: 283CI 270HP MANUAL TRANS.
DG: 283CI 230HP AUTO
DJ: 283CI 245HP AUTO

 

[Stan's Customs]

Thanks for the welcome Bossvette...will have pics tomorrow...
In answer to your query Mac...it will be as close to factory as can be afforded, in fact in time it will surely be all original and nice...though there is always that perfect one you can't match with these humble beginnings.
Thanks Wayne..yes it was 3756519, sorry for the type-o. There is no visible letter after the C. However there is a cast no. on the right rear of the block that is B10..if that is helpful.....

Stan

 

[WayneC]

"B10." if that's complete (nothing following the "0"), is a Feb 1, 1960 casting date, which matches pretty well with the Feb 4th assembly date., and would make it an engine for a 1960 vehicle.

 

[SebringBill]

B10 reads Feb 1, 1960 if my memory serves. Also, I didn't think the serial number derivative was used on any of the 283 blocks in Corvettes.

 

[61 Silver]

Vin Numbers on engine pad

I was looking at a 1960. While researching the engine casting numbers and engine pad I learned that the vin number was added to the stamp pad in late 1960 production, it may have been on the Corvette engine only, but I am not sure on this point. I am also not sure of the exact date, but believe it was some time around December 1960. If anyone has additional information on the date that the VIN number was added to the engine pad I would appreciate this information.

 

[JohnZ]

VIN derivative stamping on Corvette engines began in the range of February-March 1960; it wasn't done on passenger car engines until several years later. The engine in question is a February, 1960 passenger car 283, as outlined above.

 

[Stan's Customs]

Hello everyone...Back again... Thanks to all for the information...

OK..looks like my engine is as I expected, incorrect for the car. As per the last 2 post am I interpreting this right? The vin # is also on the original engine that came in these cars...in addition to a # like FO204C for instance ?? If that is correct ..does that mean that there is only "one " correct engine for each 1961 and later 'vette ? If so what value do the restamp engines I have heard of have in this situation? Are they a viable solution for a serious restoration ???... or not really acceptable at all....

Stan

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Congrats Stan! I'm building a '59 from the ground up right now, but will be glad to help out if I can with any questions-

I also have a video of a '62 resto if you're interested in a copy- Email me at jmbiii@yahoo.com if you want more info.

Good luck!

Jim

 

[Stan's Customs]

Thanks Jim for the welcome...
I tried to send you an E-mail...but we have just gotten internet cable access in our area and have made the change from dial-up, so there seems to be a few gliches (e-mail for one) to cure, as usual.
What is the scoop on the video...I'm always interested in other opinions regarding restoration techniques ..even though I've been doing them a long time(30 odd years). I must say that I haven't had a corvette since the 70's and it didn't need much work, so fiberglass cars are not where the bulk of my experience lies.

thanks..Stan

 

[JohnZ]

In NCRS Flight Judging, most of the points for the engine block come from the casting number and casting date (525 points); the stamp pad is only 88 points (25 for the engine plant code stamp, 25 for the assembly plant VIN derivative stamp, and 38 for the appearance of the pad and presence of factory broach marks). You can lose up to 270 points and still make Top Flight, so you can make it even with a blank or incorrect pad if the rest of the car scores well (4500 total points for the whole car).

Re-stamps are a double-edged sword; the technology for creating them and the broach marks has improved, but so has the technology for examining/judging them. NCRS now has over 7,000 professionally-shot macro-photographs of pads for comparison, and knows all the factory anomalies as well; re-stamps are a LOT easier to call today than they were two years ago.