Help with no optioned '70 LT-1 purchase

[rocketrb]

current owner states that org blk was wnty replaced in 71 . Cast date shows 7/71 . Is there any spcl frnt pad stamp code that would indicate factory replacement blk ? This cnvrt is red on red , How do I find out how many of that color combo was made ?

 

[mvftw]

Not sure but I thought most replacement block had a 'CE' stamp

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

current owner states that org blk was wnty replaced in 71 . Cast date shows 7/71 . Is there any spcl frnt pad stamp code that would indicate factory replacement blk ? This cnvrt is red on red , How do I find out how many of that color combo was made ?

Ouch, want to go easy on the abbreviations? Mks yr psts hrd to rd!

All blocks all 'factory replacements' as GM was the only one making engines. If you mean warranty replacement, this would have been done at the dealer, and the stamping pad may have a 'CE' designation. Note that most engines bought over the counter at a GM dealer also had the CE stamping so it may or may not be a warranty replacement.

Being that this car has an non original motor (NOM) this affects the value of the car substantially and puts in doubt whether it is or is not a 'real' LT1. Lots of them have been faked.Does the owner have any documentation to back up his claim?

Regarding the colour combo, there are no factory numbers to go by, just semi educated guesses that are worth as much as you pay for them. GM did not keep records of option combinations for St. Louis cars.

 

[rocketrb]

Thanks for your reply, current owner has no documentation from previous owner. Is there any other trim tags that would designate this car as an LT-1 ?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Nope. You may want to ask to see the tank sticker, complete with VIN. That would confirm the engine option.

 

[JohnZ]

Nope, no engine-related info on the VIN plate or trim tag; only on the tank sticker. 5/50 warranty-replacement engines in that era had "CE" followed by a number, a letter, and three or four numbers on the pad, none of which identified the internals; the "CE" short blocks were ordered by part number so they had the same internals as the failed engine, but that part number doesn't appear anywhere on the engine.

 

[rocketrb]

Thank you all for your help! Upon closer inspection the suffix code is not "CE" but "CLB" . The only CLB code I found was for a '71 chevelle 400 ci /300hp & '72 camaro 400 ci/300hp both mated to TH400 . Is it possible to put LT-1 components into 400 blk or is my code book incorrect ? I'm way confused . What a mystry , any help is greatly appreciated .

 

[hotmtrsports]

Finding out it's not a warranty engine is one heck of a lie from that seller!!! When a seller makes that kind of statement, there's no excuse if it's not right.

Beware of everything else that was "stated".


Chuck

(I know you never said seller, just thought that's what you meant)

 

[JohnZ]

CLB had lots of uses - it was a big-block 402 in Chevelles and other cars in '71 and '72, 350's in '73, '74, and '77 Corvettes, and center-bolt 305's in '88 and '91 passenger cars. Yours must be one of the 350's - what's the VIN also stamped on the pad near the engine code, and what are the block casting number and casting date on both sides of the rear of the block?