66 BB Suffix

[Ryan]

I recently saw an engine for sale that was supposedly from a 1966 Corvette. It was a 427, block casting # 3855961, dated K 65. The assembly date was 12 01. All of those numbers looked ok, but the suffix was strange. As far as I could tell, it was stamped I V P. Also, the VIN looked like it wasn't all there. Does anyone know what this means? Could the engine have been from something other than a Corvette? Also, what would a short block like this be worth? The intake and exhaust and distributor and not correct, and the heads are 69 oval port. Thanks for any information. Ryan

[Al Grenning]

Re: 66 BB Suffix

Ryan:

In response to your inquiry about an engine block with the casting number 3855961, here is some information. The casting you have identified is associated only with two bolt, 396 engines. This is the "thin wall" version of the 396. 3855962 is the thicker four bolt version of the same block which was used in Corvettes and other high horsepower applications for the ' 65 build. "961" was used only for the "B" and "A" body build. (15000-16000 / 13480-13680-13800)

The suffix application you mention "IVP" is does not exist in 1966. Howerver, the Master Pad Library shows that many times the suffix character "R" has a very light or faint right hand leg. Could it be that the "P" you see is actually an "R"?

If "IVR" is what you have, then the application of the suffix designation indicates 3 speed automatic transmission (not powerglide) and Rochester carburetor. The engine RPO number was L75. The original Tonawanda records show the total number of L75s shipped in 1966 for carline production and service to be 18649.

Al Grenning

[Al Grenning]

Re: 66 BB Suffix

Ryan:

In response to your inquiry about an engine block with the casting number 3855961, here is some information. The casting you have identified is associated only with two bolt, 396 engines. This is the "thin wall" version of the 396. 3855962 is the thicker four bolt version of the same block which was used in Corvettes and other high horsepower applications for the ' 65 build. "961" was used only for the "B" and "A" body build. (15000-16000 / 13480-13680-13800)

The suffix application you mention "IVP" is does not exist in 1966. Howerver, the Master Pad Library shows that many times the suffix character "R" has a very light or faint right hand leg. Could it be that the "P" you see is actually an "R"?

If "IVR" is what you have, then the application of the suffix designation indicates 3 speed automatic transmission (not powerglide) and Rochester carburetor. The engine RPO number was L75. The original Tonawanda records show the total number of L75s shipped in 1966 for carline production and service to be 18649.

Al Grenning