Is this '58 283 Corvette block worth anything?

[hzl6cm]

I bought an old car last weekend that has ' 58 Corvette 283 block in it and wondered if this block has any value to the corvette enthusiets (above what any other non-Corvette 283 would be worth. Casting number is 3737739, date code is B298 and F528D is stamped on the front of the block. According to the Black Book this block was used in '58 and early 59 Corvettes. The heads are 3814480 E2863 heads which would be a non-Corvette 1962 283/327 head.

I had somebody tell me they though this block would be worth quite a bit to a Corvette enthusiest, I don't neccessarily believe him but thought I would check just to make sure since it doesn't matter what engine I run in the car.

I do own two Corvettes, a 1970 350hp 4-speed Convertible and an '86 Z51 Coupe.

By the way, the car with the Corvette engine is a 1967 MGB GT and it also has a Corvair transaxle in the rear. A NASA engineer built the car in the early '70s to compete against the Corvettes and Cobras - lots of power, very light weight and a 50/50 weight distribution.

Thanks.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I am sure for the original owner they would pay a small fortune for it.

Are you a NCRS member? If yes I would place a free andvertizement in the Driveline News Letter and try and connect the motor to its original engine bay.

 

[jerrybramlett]

According to the stamped suffix code, "D", that block came out of a Chevrolet passenger car rather than a Corvette. Block casting numbers were not unique to Corvettes.

 

[hzl6cm]

Thanks for the info - I didn't know what the D stood for but I figured somebody here would know. I'll just run the engine as is now - I didn't really want to pull it out anyway.

Kevin

According to the stamped suffix code, "D", that block came out of a Chevrolet passenger car rather than a Corvette. Block casting numbers were not unique to Corvettes.

 

[WayneC]

I am sure for the original owner they would pay a small fortune for it.

Engines prior to 1960 do not have an identifier connecting them to a particular vehicle, and this engine is not from a Corvette, therefore it is not particularly valuable... except as a "correct" block for a '58 Chevy passenger car, and perhaps for the fact that it was apparently cast on the extra day in a leap year (ie, Feb 29th, 1958) and not assembled into an engine until 3 months later (its unusual for a block to sit around that long).

 

[Tom Bryant]

A lot of people have no problen with stamping engines to make a numbers matching block. They call it a "restoration" block. This block would be perfect for someone with a powerglide car built just after the engine assembly date. All they would have to do is stamp an extra letter behind the D to designate it a base engine/PG (G), a 245 horse w/2-4bbls/PG (J), or a 250 horse fuelie/pg (H). I think it would be worth advertising in the NCRS driveline, and Hemmings Motor News. Possibly put it on Ebay. I think around $300 would be fair. If you take it to your local machine shop and have it tanked and magged so the buyer will know he is getting a good block you can ask more. Maybe
400-450. Plus shipping of course. I think you will get more interest if you can state that it has been tanked, magged and has no stripped bolt holes. Another plus is if it checks to be a standard bore.

Tom