I'm looking at a restored '65 roadster with a 327/300 4 speed and the engine casting date is Feb 13, 1965, while the engine build date is Feb 15, 1965, but according to the VIN, the car was built in July 1965. Is this time gap (February to July) typical? All of the other numbers and codes seem OK.
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Re: Cast Dates and Build Dates
I wouldn't call it "typical" to have a complete engine lying around either Flint V-8 or St. Louis-Corvette for five months, but it fits within the allowable six-month "window" for the car. -
Re: Cast Dates and Build Dates
as for "typical" real world info, my 65's original engine has a block casting date of C175 (March 17) and an engine "stamp pad" assembly date of 0329 (March 29th) and the VIN gives up a "birthday" of April 6, 1965. I have heard from more than a few owners of 65s built around the same time, and their date "windows" are essentially about the same. Your engine assembly to car birthday spread would seem to be rather "fat", but certainly within the 6 month NCRS judging window . . . .65 MM Convertible, L76 (365 hp)Comment
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Re: Cast Dates and Build Dates
Please keep in mind that the judging window is just that, a judging window, construed (in the opinion of the folks who established it so 20 years ago, of which I an one) to provide the maximum leeway to the owner of an original car that was outside the "norm" of production. Primarily this tendency had been noticed in original low volume engine packages, and in this spirit of "max benefit of the doubt to the carowner" that the window was arbitrarily established for judging. I would look for other clues if you are trying to determine if the engine is "original to the car" before making a purchase.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: Cast Dates and Build Dates
Ed,
My advice would be to keep looking as the 65 has two problems that shout for attention. The VERY short time from casting to build and the VERY long time from build to car assembly. Being one of the more popular engine codes leads me to believe the train would be going at more of an even pace down the track.
BUT, it does fall in the alloted time zone????????
Remember that "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but ugly goes all the way to the bone."
Regards,
JRComment
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Re: Cast Dates and Build Dates
My '71 engine build date follows the block cast date by ONE day. I have seen other threads relating to similar scenarios, so I don't think the close dates on this engine is an issue. On the other hand, the gap between engine and car build would be of concern.Comment
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Remember....
1965 was a bit unique. There were two mid-model year introductions to the power train line-up (396/425 and 327/350). This 'interrupted' the normal flow of customer orders and production flow of 'nearby' small block engines--specifically (327/365 and 327/375). I think Noland Adams has something to say about 'last minute' buyer demand for high horse SB cars toward the end of MY production once it was obvious the BB build was completely sold out.
Don't know what the order mix did when folks realized the relative benefit of the 327/350 engine with 'maintenance free' hydraulic lifters vs. 327/365 solid lifter engines. But, there could have been a similar buying/production skew with 327/365 engines sitting in inventory at St. Louis because the order rate had dropped after the mid-MY introduction of 'competing' new engines....Comment
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Re: Remember....
Jack,
You mention mid-model year introduction of the 327/350.
When was made it available?
Thank you,
VerleComment
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Re: Remember....
Jack, this is a plain-vanilla 327/300 base engine.Comment
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Re: Remember....
Oops - not base, but L-75 (300hp wasn't base until '66)Comment
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