Cast date vs. Build date.

[Calvin C.]

In looking for good dated engine for several corvettes I have with out original engines. I have noticed variations in build date and casting. I know a cast date has to be within 6 months of car build date. I have seen a motor block that has a cast date 4 months before the engine pad build date. Is this posible? If an engine was cast and found it's way into a car several months later would they wait until the build date of car to stamp engine pad or cast and build engine and wait to install it later. Are engine build dates always close to car build date requardles of cast date?

thanks
cal

[William C.]

Re: Cast date vs. Build date.

Somewhat that depends on the options the engine was built for. From the time the engine was assembled, (Engine stamp date) it was palletized and shipped to the St Louis plant. There it was stored and pulled as the engine code was needed. For that reason, base engine four speeds may have turned over more quickly than 400 hp A/C versions.

[Calvin C.]

Re: Cast date vs. Build date.

So the engine is built close to the cast date and then waits to be put in a car. At the time it is put in the car that is when the serial number is then stamped on the pad. ( In the case of a big block that would be the small numbers). So how can it take 6 months to find a way into a car?
thanks
cal

[mike mccagh]

Re: Cast date vs. Build date.

most original big blocks of the 65 to 67 era are cast about a month prior to the build date of the car. the machine assembly date is , on the average, about 2 weeks prior to the build date of the car. if, for instance, your car was build june 1 of 1967, i'd look for an april or mid-may 67 cast date 351. mike

[Mark #28455]

It all depends

I have a 1969 435 HP "LR" engine that was cast in June 1968, assembled Oct 31, 1968 and put into an early November 1968 car. On the other hand, as Mike says, especially with the hydraulic lifter engines, the engine was frequently assembled 2 to 4 weeks after casting, and found its way into a car a few weeks later.
Mark

[Calvin C.]

Re: It all depends

OK, hear is my 1969 matching car. Cast date (E 2 thats may 2 1968 correct? The engine pad reads V0708HZ, engine assembled July 8. and 19S725000, the vin is 194379S725000. The trim code on the door is L19. July 19, correct. So was this car assembled in July of 1968. With a serial number of over 25,000 out of over 38,000.

cal

[Calvin C.]

Re: It all depends

oops that is E 2 8

[Michael W.]

Re: It all depends

There 28,000ish 1968s built, not 38,000.

Your trim tag date of L19 for July 19, 1968 sounds right to me.

[Mac Peppers]

Re: It all depends

i think that would be july 1969, a late car.
mac

[Calvin C.]

Re: It all depends

My car is a 1969. It is the 25000 built our of over 38000. Seems high for a july 68 build, yet the motor was cast on may of 68.

[Calvin C.]

Re: It all depends

If it is a late car, built in july of 1969, then the motor was cast more than 6 months before build date. The motor was cast in may of 68.
cal

[Joel Falk]

Re: It all depends

So when was the block machined? Was this done at block casting time, engine assembly time, or somewhere in between?

[Calvin C.]

Re: It all depends

Cast may 2 68, machined july 8, and the car build date is July 19. It was about the 25000th car. Was it built in july 68 or July 69. It is a 1969 car.

thanks
cal

[Michael W.]

Re: It all depends

This would have to be July 1969. GM was still building '68s in July 1968.

[Calvin C.]

Re: It all depends

That is what I have always thought except the cast date is may of 68.

cal