CE blocks - general questions

[Shannon Burgess]

My '69 has a CE replacement motor. My research on the car indicates that the engine was replaced within the first two years of the cars life. The car has an April '69 build date, and the engine is a May '69 casting. From this I infer that the engine was replaced under factory warranty, but I can't confirm this since I can't find the original owner.

My basic question is this: if the engine was replaced under warranty, would have been a correct L46 350HP engine, or just a run-of-the-mill smallblock? From the hypothetical original owners standpoint, I know that if I had paid the premium for L46 from the factory and the engine died within warranty, I'd demand a proper replacement. Of course, that doesn't mean that the General would have seen it that way.

What differences could I look for to distinguish? I assume head numbers, but what about intake manifold or others? The car doesn't have the correct carb, and the radiator has been replaced with one without the overflow tank (incorrect?). The car has a noticable "lope" at idle, more than a 300hp car under direct comparison.

A appreciate any insight on this. Shannon


My '69 Corvette

[Jerry Clark]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Hi Shannon:

I'll leave the numbers to others but I can relate from personal experience that most Chevrolet dealers , ( at least in the Chicago area ) were as concerned with litigation then as now, if you paid for a particular option it was replaced with the same, or sometimes even upgraded depending on availability . I am certain some rather unscrupulous dealers existed that might attempt a switch, but they were few and far between.

jer

[Robert C.]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Shannon, Wouldn't the engine have the correct casting number? You didn't mention that number, It would be on the left rear of the block in big letters.The casting # will give you what type of car the block was for.


NCRS-Texas Chapter

[Bill Clupper]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Since '69 was the last year of the (im)famous 5 year 50,000 mile warranty, the engine should have been replaced from the factory with a correct (functionally) replacement engine. Anything is possible, but that would have been the factory policy at that time.

[Mike L.]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

My 67 L68 has a CE block. I know it was a factory waranty replacement from research. It is a very late 67 car and has a 69 block. It was actually upgraded to a 4 bolt main block, which I believe is an L71.

[Jim T.]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Bill 1970 was the last year for the 5 year 50,000 mile warranty. I know because I am still driving my 70 and that was the new car warranty I got.

[Shannon Burgess]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Bob,

The casting number on the block is 3970010. Looks like this was a very common casting, but does it tell me anything?

thanks, Shannon


My '69 Vette

[Robert C.]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Yes it does. It says that the block is a 350ci engine (1st year for it)There are other engine casting #s for other types of cars, this one # is for sure a Corvette number. Now check the casting date on the other side of the block (pass. side upper bellhousing area, opposite the casting #)


NCRS-Texas Chapter

[Michael R.]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

You and I are in the same boat. My '69 L46 shortblock was replaced with a CE engine with a GM part #3970652. The actual block casting is a #3970010, and the engine is dated D79 telling me it was built early '69. Problem is, this block was used in all kinds of applications, both 2 and 4 bolt. The engine definately has a good deal of duration in the cam, but the pistons are flattop style, unlike the original 11 to 1 slugs. All other numbers, ie heads, intake, carb, dist, etc are correct. The owner I purchased the car from in '87, who had the shortblock replaced in '77, says he 'demanded' the same engine when the dealer did the swap. Problem is, I haven't been able to track this GM part number down at all, and even if I did, it might not list any specifics. The only way to know for sure would be to dismantle the shortblock, check the cam, mains, etc, but at that point I'd rebuild it anyway, so the point is moot. Good luck, Mike

[Michael R.]

Re: CE blocks - general questions

Oh, one more thing, my car does NOT have an overflow tank either...I believe this is correct for the high HP small blocks. STW, Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: CE blocks - general answers *TL*

Bob,

The 3970010 casting number does not tell you anything.

A) There is no such thing as a "Corvette" casting number. Small block castings were the same for Corvettes, trucks, Chevelles, full size Chevrolets, Novas and whatever else they put small blocks into, including irrigation pumps and boats.

B) This is likely the MOST common small block casting number. Its use started in 1969, as you indicated, but it continued well into the 1980s. I think the advent of the "corporate" motor in the 1980s put an end to this casting number, but I am sure others like Joe Lucia will know how far into the '80s, but the configuration of the cylinder case changed somewhat in the late '70s. Just as a guess, among the 45.6 million small blocks made by Flint (I think this was a Flint only cylinder case, but I might be wrong about that) 10 to 15 million were 3970010 casting numbers.

Terry