C1 Engine Casting Dates

[Gene B.]

I read in the judging manual for 1958-60 that the casting date should read a letter followed by the day o f the month and then a single # signifying the year. ie. A 17 8, indicating January 17, 1958. The manual goes on to say that a 2 digit number for the year would indicate a Tonawanda block and would not be correct of the car. Thus according to the judging manual the following casting date A 17 58 also indicating January 17, 1958 would not be correct.

First how do we know for sure the the engine would not be correct? Secondly if the casting date does read a two digit year, would that be a full deduct for the engine?

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Engine Casting Dates

Gene - I'll take a shot at this one. Your car would have been delivered with an engine from Flint, MI. All those engines had a single digit year designation. Engines from Tonawanda, NY had 2 digit year designations and were not installed in Corvettes.

Normally, an incorrect casting date would only be a partial deduction, however, if you have the correct casting number, you also need the correct block configuration, and that's where you'd probably run into judging trouble. As an example Tonawanda blocks typically will not have the 1/8"NPT plug drilled, tapped and installed at the front of the block as Flint offerings do. If judged as incorrect block configuration, you would likely receive a full deduction, even if the casting number is correct.

As an aside, what can really slow a judge up is an A158 casting date...

[Gene B.]

Re: C1 Engine Casting Dates

Thanks Dennis. That helps clear this up.