Engine identification

[Jim J.]

Re: Engine identification

Here is the starter.

[Jim J.]

Re: Engine identification

And the differential stamp.

[Michael H.]

Re: Engine identification

Thanks Jim. I was interested in a better pic of the other stamp pad from the survivor car if you have one.

I've gotten a few emails from people on your #15726 car and most feel it's possible that this is legit. I agree. Certainly not typical but definitely possible. The early days of 396 produced some strange cars. If I remember correctly, Dale Smiths car had a 961 block and even had a unique clutch housing that no one had ever seen before. It was one of the first 396's produced.

Will be interesting if you find a job number on the end of one of the cyl heads and an engine suffix code on the other.

[Jim J.]

Re: Engine identification

Yes Mike,
Here is a better one. The last three digits of the VIN have been blurred because I do not have permission from the owner to post.
Jim

[Mark Milner]

You might be interested in these threads

https://www.ncrs.org/forum/archive22.cgi?review=182599

https://www.ncrs.org/forum/archive24.cgi?review=183839

I believe you will find references to a blue coupe with the same block.

[Jim J.]

Re: You might be interested in these threads

Yep, same car. Again, until 2-7-2006, no one bothered to remove the oil pan on this car!! Is anyone out there doing a registry for 961 four bolt blocks?
Jim

[Mark Milner]

Re: You might be interested in these threads

I think the closest you will find is to go to Rob's C2 Registry and denote the -961 block in the database. This way it is public and will last as long as Rob keeps the registry open.

You might also go to http://www.vettesite.com/traces.asp and post that information.

These are about the only two registries that I know of that are public for midyears. There are many who have built their own, but they do not share the info publicly.




Past Owener database

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine identification

Jim------

One thing that surprises me regarding the starter which I also noticed in an earlier photo you posted is that the nose appears to be cast iron. I've never seen a 12-3/4" flywheel starter with a cast iron nose. Does the starter use 1 each of a "long" and "short" starter bolt to attach it to the block? Also, what is the casting number seen on the bellhousing?

[Jim J.]

Re: Engine identification

Joe,
I will check tommorow and report my findings.
Jim

[Bill W.]

Re: Engine identification

Mike my 16120 has a crooked F and 16718 has a straight F...Bill

[Michael H.]

Re: Engine identification

Sounds like the individual hand stamped F character continued for several weeks. (at least four?) I have to wonder what took Tonawanda and Schmidt so long to get the F character on line? Makes ya wonder just exactly why that end character wasn't included in the holder with the rest of the characters. I can't remember for certain but I seem to remember both the "I" and the "F" being off the C/L of the rest of the pack of characters on my 14,971 car.

[Bill W.]

Re: Engine identification

I think just your F was off. All 65 396 codes started with the letter "I". I think many were hand stamped according to application after machining.

[Michael H.]

Re: Engine identification

Probably right about the F Bill. I remember that it was off quite a bit, similar to the others that have been posted. If I remember correctly, there was a great closeup pic of the pad in the Burroughs "Corvette Restoration State of the Art" book. I know I have several shots of the pad before restoration when I owned the car.

It would also make sense that the "I" would be included in the gang stamp if all engines used I for that position.

[Bill W.]

Re: Engine identification

OK Jim you get an a+ on the windage tray & early female main bolts.I am not sure about the carb stamping the stampings on 16120 are all even? the starter is not the original.The pan is correct. The engine stamp letters & numbers look good except the "F" The 2 orig. blocks I have the top of the F is about the same length as the F is tall. Could be they had more than one "F" ? The thing that bothers me is the amount of rust on the stamp pad compared to the lack of rust on the machined part of the head.Also the letters and broch marks are still very sharp for the amount of rust on the pad.I know many block stampers "age " the pads.BUT why would anyone take the time to stamp a pad and leave the wrong casting number ????? If it were not for the 961 I would say it looks good. Ps Im not a numbers or engine judge..Bill

[Rob M.]

Re: Engine identification

Jim,

Great pictures you are posting. What camera and lens(es) are you using to get this detail and clearity?

greetings,
Rob.