Many restampers aren't the brightest bulb on the tree; I saw one a couple of months ago on a '57, stamped within the last year (at great expense to the owner, who wasn't "up" on how dates work), with a May stamp pad date on a May car, but it had an August block. I don't volunteer negative opinions on other people's cars, but he asked me if I thought it would judge OK, and I pointed out the problem; he was not pleased.
Are there instances where engines were sold with assembly date and cofniguration code but with the VIN derivative stamp area clean?
Alternatively, I suppose one could find a corvette engine and just grind the VIN derivative area off the pad and restamp that area - this would explain the crappy VIN restamp on Tempus' block together with the correct looking engine assembly date stamp - but wouldn't you see obvious grinder marks then?
I've seen a number of blocks with an assembly date and no VIN derivitive. I believe these to be "over the counter" blocks sold by Chevy parts departments.
I've seen some that have a "complete" assembly code, i.e., F0101RD, and I've seen some that have an "incomplete" assembly code, i.e, F0101R.
These blocks are HIGHLY desirable, as they have "factory broach marks". You can properly stamp a VIN derivitive on it, and they'll "fly".
Helped a friend several years ago with his 196X restoration. I found such a block, an 870 with a casting date correct for his car. It was stamped F0101R. He was building a 340HP car. Had the "E" stamped, had his VIN stamped, and BINGO...he was home free. He still has the car, BTW, and will till he dies. He's also as honest as the day is long. Some aren't. Chuck
interesting - I thought I had heard of that. Maybe such a block is what happened here - and although the engine assembly date was out of range (not to mention the casting date) the clean VIN area was too hard to resist, so some fool punched it on there one number at a time, and without the model year prefix to boot!
Could he have a warranty engine with dealer stamping the serial #? I have seen that done on other GM cars and it would explain some of the discrepancies. Of course, NCRS won't accept that explanation, but it was possible.
1959 black 270hp (9/2/69) 1981 Beige L81(10/20/80)
ChuckG said:
I've seen a number of blocks with an assembly date and no VIN derivitive. I believe these to be "over the counter" blocks sold by Chevy parts departments.
I have one of these. Actually it is a complete late June 1961 283/270 engine. Has the complete CU stamping with no VIN. I pulled it out of a 1955 Corvette in 1975. The car also had a 4 speed. (Must have been a prototype. :L )
This is a nice thought but it is doubtful. When I got the car it was a bit of a mess (still kind of is but I am working on it).
It had:
62 SP HI Prf Intake
74 distributor
65 FI Exhaust manifolds
70 D coolant overflow bottle
No Stamp Close ratio M21
No clutch fan, no idler, no 8" balancer
Most of this has been corrected, but at least I was secure in the (incorrect)fact that I had an OM.
Didn't warranty jobs get a CE block? I have a friend with a '64 and a late 64 dated CE block. I have heard that was the code on dealer replacement.
I will start combing the swaps for a correct dated block. I wanted to go throught the motor anyway. No I can just build it up swap it out instead of taking the car down for a month.
John
Milwaukee
Tom Bryant said:
I have one of these. Actually it is a complete late June 1961 283/270 engine. Has the complete CU stamping with no VIN. I pulled it out of a 1955 Corvette in 1975. The car also had a 4 speed. (Must have been a prototype. :L )
I will start combing the swaps for a correct dated block. I wanted to go throught the motor anyway. No I can just build it up swap it out instead of taking the car down for a month.
John, the "CE" designation stamped on blocks didn't start until early 1969, for short-block replacements under the GM 5/50 Powertrain Warranty program.
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