engine # can some one explain

[91callaway]

Hi Jim,

I was told you were looking for info on your block.
The original block was stamped 518080. When we changed the block, we stamped the new block as 518080 C00 002.
Let me know if you need anything else

Callaway Cars Inc.
Powerfully Engineered Automobiles
Old Lyme Connecticut / Leingarten Germany

860 434 9002
860 434 1704 fax

 

[MagicDragon]

Not sure what the "c00" means but the "002" I think would mean the 2nd version of the original block.

 

[90Callaway]

I would agree with Joe on the 002 portion of the number. I'm going to guess that the 518080 is your sequential VIN. Although I think it should be 5118080.

(Positions 12 - 17 of the VIN are sequential and the 5 in position 11 is for the Bowling Green assembly plant - 1991 Corvette VINS used were 1G1YY2386M5100001 through 1G1YY2386M5118595)

I would have expected the car number to be in the location of the C00 though... what is your car number?

Note: I'm not talking ZR1's as they used 1G1YZ23J6M5800001 through 1G1YZ23J6M5802044

 

[*89x2*]

Jim, What year was your engine rebuilt?

I believe yours (the rebuilt one) to reflect a unique stamping -vs- production.

 

[91callaway]

callaway's response

Dear Jim:

I have been with Callaway for a number of years and have been in sales for at least five of those years. The only company policy that we have ever had in regard to block replacement has been to assign a new number indicating a replacement by the factory of the original block. The reason for this is simple. Some manufactures had in the past retained the same block number on replacement blocks only to have them show up in the wrong chassis and be claimed as factory correct. Because of this widespread abuse, we like most other manufactures will note in the factory records the replacement engine number and as such we can assure that the car has the correct factory replacement engine, and that the original engine has been destroyed.

I should also point out that even if we where to stamp the same engine number on the replacement block, the casting numbers, factory number and production date of the casting would not match and it would instantly be very suspicious to an educated collector as a non-original engine.

This has been our policy since the beginning of the B2K run and has not changed. We don not feel the valve of the car should be so dramatically changed as to be significant, however, we cannot predict individual purchaser's emotions or future buying trends.

Our records will show your car has the correct components and is most certainly an original Callaway Twin Turbo.

Thank you for your support of Callaway cars.

Sincerely,

Bill Prout

 

[90Callaway]

OK, you keep posting Callaway correspondence. You haven't answered any the the questions being asked. Here are some more.

What is the basis for the question in the first place? Are potential buyers questioning your car's status with the new Callaway engine? As you know my car also has a new engine built by Callaway.

Will this ultimately effect the cars value? Probably relative to a low mileage B2K with the original engine. If it's a Callaway engine it should not be a significant difference though. Keep in mind no Callaway TT has the block that it came from Bowling Green with. They were all swapped and restamped by Callaway at build time.

If another shop were to perform the engine work and replace a block that would have a big impact on value in my opinion.

Wait until these cars reach true collector status and people start doing things like we've seen in the muscle car market. That's why it's so important to have an up to date registry with a history of each of these cars.

Examples -

Finding date code correct blocks and restamping to appear original and then trying to pass off as "matching numbers".

Taking a rare car that is totaled or completely rusted to pieces and pulling the VIN and trim tags and doing a "rebody".