Strange Spec. numbers?

[fastvikingonwheel]

Hi' guys,

I'm a new member from Denmark, and needs a little help.

Sorry, for admitting NOt being a Vette owner, cause
I just have got an 1967 Excalibur (4 seat Phaeton) with the 327Cui 300Hp Corvette spec. engine.

As far as I know, Excalibur (Milwaukee) was the only not-GM manufacturer who was able to buy engine "out-the door"? (around 3100 cars were built)
(From 70' also brake/Suspension&steering parts were Vette parts)

From castings I have GM3892657 telling it's a Small Block from '67, - OK! - - but the the stamped number
V05178AM leave me without sleep in night...
V is Flint plant, 05 is May, 17 is date and then 8AM should be the spec?
My sistercar (from Norway) has V04128AM.

Any bright brains outthere?

Cheers from sunny Denmark (summer started yesterday!)
Jesper

 

[JohnZ]

I have pretty extensive references for Chevrolet engine suffix codes for all passenger car and truck applications, but that one isn't listed; marine, industrial, and outside sales engine codes were different, and I don't have those (and have never found anyone who does).

 

[fastvikingonwheel]

Thanks John,

I put your answer into the Yahoo "Excalibur Group" and got this answer:"Jesper,
Those engines were made specifically for Excalibur and stamped for us. So few were made that they didn't bother keeping records of them. Rochester also worked with Excalibur to make a specific carb to fit the engine and tuned to it specifically.
Michael"
Quote is from the the - still-living -
Excalibur Compagny.
Maybe the "8AM" then was used for delivery to Excal's?
- I will check the 454 BBc in my brothers 73' this weekend.
Safe Ride
Jesper

 

[WayneC]

Avanti Motors also bought base Corvette engines for their cars.

I'm not sure why you are agonizing over those last 3 characters of the stamping... they are unique to a product line of vehicle models and are meant to convey the horsepower and the transmission type of the engine so that the correct type engine can be matched to a car as it comes down the assembly line. The chosen engine then got a suffix number stamped on the pad that incorporated the last digit of the model year plus the last 5 digits of the vehicle VIN (serial number). If the casting date and casting number (3892657) on the rear of the engine are correct for a 67 Corvette, and the engine has hydraulic lifters and a Holley R3810A carburetor on a cast iron manifold (3872783), then it is likely the original 300hp version you think it is.