C2: What constitutes a numbers matching block

[David Hicks]

Just curious,

I have given any hope I might have had for the "original" block, and somewhere I heard there is an allowable timeframe that is correct for a matching numbers block. Can someone tell me what the window usually is.

My veh was "born" 13 Mar 63 and I would like to know what date is correct for the block.

Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: C2: What constitutes a numbers matching block

David-----

NCRS and NCCB, the 2 major Corvette judging organizations, allow a 6 month window prior to the car's assembly date as an acceptable "window" for most dated components, including the engine block. In actual practice, the time frame was more like a few weeks to a month, so the judging criteria is generous. However, it's very necessary inasmuch as there are many "exceptions" to the usual time frame I mentioned. For one thing, the St. Louis Corvette plant did not rotate their engine stocks---it was last in, first out. Some engines could get "stuck" at the back of the engine bay for months.

[Mike M.]

Re: C2: What constitutes a numbers matching block

Dave: I would look for an 870 cast # cast dated about mid feb of 63.Don't use a tonowanda case(they have 2 digits identifying the year of production in the casting date just to mention one dissimilatity of the New York block(which wasn't used in 63 vets) and the flint blocks with a single digit to denote year the casting occured(Flint blocks all that found their way into 63 vets). Ideal scenerio would be to find an over the counter 870 flint block that DID NOT have any stampings on its pad( stamping usually found on oil pan rail(hidden from pin head judges)). SUCH BLOCK WILL HAVE THE IMPOSSIBLE TO DUPLICATE FACTORY BROACH MARKS. then all you gotta do is stamp the appropriate machine ass. data and car's vin # on the virgin pad and even carlton will not be able to detect it as a restamp. its such fun to pull one over on the Agusta, Ga. midget. good luck, mike

[Joe C.]

Hey Mike!

Not all judges are pinheads. There are many who are knuckleheads.

Joe