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I recently aquired several big blocks from an old drag racer. The engines have been in storage since 1976. I believ one is an original 1966 427 corvette motor but not sure. The heads are #3873858 dated I/1/5 (Sept-1st 65). I poped a head off and measured the bore, and it still measures standard bore #3869942 dated H/20/5 (Aug 20th 65). The inside has no sludge and no indication of water, oil was very clean still. The intake is #3885069 dated 3/17/66. It even still has the old type original cast iron pulley #3863105. The water pump is dated in 67 so is not the original piece. The stamped numbers on the block are TO903IP and the other number is 6101578. What do these numbers mean? Was this a good find or should I just rebuild it and put it in one of my projects? Either way it should be fun.
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Re: Engine Numbers What is it?
Scott-----
Most of the information which you have provided would indicate the engine to be a 1966 Corvette L-72 engine. The block casting number, head casting numbers, and itake manifold casting numbers are all the ones used on this application. Also, the "IP" engine suffix code is consistent with the 1966 Corvette L-72 application.
The block was cast on August 20, 1965 as you stated and it was machined/assembled on September 3, 1965.
I believe that you may be reading the VIN number stamped into the block incorrectly. You stated that the number is "6101578". For it to have been an engine originally installed in a Corvette the first character should be an "S" not a "6". Check to see if it's really an "S". If it is, then the engine was originally installed in the 1,578th 1966 Corvette built.
Also, the crank pulley part number should be 3863108, so you may be reading the last "8" as a "5".In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Engine Numbers What is it?
No Joe, It should be a 6.Comment
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Re: Engine Numbers What is it?
Thanks for the info, I checked my numbers and the 6 is a 6. The last five numbers have been double stamped but the original numbers are still easily recognizable. Not sure if the 6 was a mistake or maybe this belonged in something else. Dont remember many other vehicles coming with this engine combo. You were right the pulley number did end in an 8 my fingers must be dislexic. The water pump is #8856284 dated G-27-7 any info?Comment
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Re: Engine Numbers What is it?
Scott-----
Yes, Wayne W. is correct. The "6" is the correct first digit of the VIN sequence for 1966 Corvettes. The "S" did not begin until C3 production and, even then, it was the 2nd or 3rd character in the sequence. I believe that the first character in the mid year VIN derivative sequence denotes the last digit of the model year.
The water pump casting should be 3856284. This was the casting used for all 65-68 Corvette big blocks as well as all other 65-68 Chevrolet big blocks.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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"S " was on '65 trannys
Joe -- from what I can figure out, starting in '62 model year, the transmissions got the same stamp and font (same gang holder ?) as the engine pad; ie Y1xxxxx, where Y = model year. This carried through to early '65, at which point they dropped the year digit and added the "S" (for St.Louis). [my '65 #014xx has BOTH stamps] Then, starting in 1966 model year, they added (back) the year in front of the "S" on the trannys only, but there are reports of a few '66 engine blocks stamped this way until they'd gotten used to the change.Comment
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Re: Does the number apply to a specific Car?
Curious, does the pad numbers match to a specific car? Or do they only list basic assembly and option information? If they apply to a specific car are there any registries to help find it? I assune it was probably crashed long ago. It has been fun reading the responses and the knowledge you guys have. I am sure this thing will make someone a great completion to their project. I assume they are hard to find and wouldn't think of putting it in my project.Comment
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Re: Does the number apply to a specific Car?
Hi Scott,
If the car was a coupe the vin # would be 194376s101578 and a convert. would be 194676s101578. You might check your state DMV to see if either vin # is or was registered or place an ad in the next NCRS Driveline. (It's a free ad for members)
Hope this helps,
Page CampbellComment
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Re: Does the number apply to a specific Car?
Scott-----
There's no assembly or option information encoded in the VIN-derivative on the block. In fact, since the "S" in the VIN-derivative was apparently not used on mid-year engines, the same number could have been used on other 1966 model Chevrolets produced at other plants. In fact, even if the "S" were there, there could still have been another 1966 vehicle produced at the main St. Louis assembly plant with that number. The VIN-derivative is just that; a DERIVATIVE of the complete VIN. It is NOT necessarily a unique number by itself. In this case, however, since the "IP" engine suffix code relative to 1966 was used only on Corvettes, we know that the engine was originally installed in a Corvette.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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For the benefit of the creative
parts guys out there, it has been my experience with the 62 & 63 T-10's that the stamping characters DIFFERED from engine stampings in a number of areas......Comment
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