CE stamped blocks numbers, do they identify the HP?

[Kenneth B.]

Re: CE stamped blocks numbers, do they identify the HP?

Domenic I have had a CE engine that is in my 1970 Corvette I bought new from the show room floor. Picked it up the next day and left the dealership and the engine failed in the first few minutes of operation and speed was not involved. Anyway my engine was replaced with a short block. The pad has CEOA 47538 block # 3970010 with D260 cast date, has over 160K miles on it now. Do not know if it has 4-bolt mains, the oil pan has not been off since the dealership did the replacement. I left town as soon as it was repaired and did not notice when I picked it up that they did not even paint the short block, still unpainted today. I did not find out what actually failed in the engine, I know it had no oil pressure shown on the oil pressure gauge.

GM used a cast iron timing gear with nylon teeth cast on it. Teeth would break or the whole thing would separate. There were a lot of trashed engines because of that timing gear. I took it out of my 70 LT-1 & installed a cast iron toothed one.

[Domenic T.]

Re: CE stamped blocks numbers, do they identify the HP?

Jim,
I got in trouble for painting replacement blocks when I was a mechanic at one dealer and it was back in 70 as I remember the date because it was just before my 1st child was born 12/10. I was not allowed to check out paint for cars that were new and had a block or heads installed that would rust and looked like he!!. The service manager said I worked on the line, not the body shop. Wouldn't let us clean parts in the carb cleaner that tune up gave us that was not fast enough for them. Everything was commission (flagged) and they wanted the most out of us. Painting was not paid for when you flagged a job.
Kieth,
How right you are about the plastic on the timing gear. Not many made it past 100k.

Dom

[David L.]

Re: CE stamped blocks numbers, do they identify the HP?

Back in the early 1980's Dobles Chevrolet in Manchester, NH, had a NOS 283 long block engine assembly with casting number "3959532", casting date "I235" (Sept. 23, 1975) and stamped "CE6N23636" and "S0428XCA" (April 28, 1976) on the front pad. The "6" after the "CE" designates the year 1976. The "S" is for Saginaw Service. The 3959532 block was a service 283 block and did not exist in 1965 or 1966. I do not know the meaning of the stamped "XCA".

Dave

[Tom L.]

Re: CE stamped blocks numbers, do they identify the HP?

My '72 LS5 has a CE block. Due to the build date of the car and the casting date on the block I'm confident that the block was a warranty replacement but I have nothing but circumstantial evidence though. Someone, I'll assume the dealer, stamped the engine code and build date on the pad. I guess someone felt it was important. It's done rather crudely and is partially covered by the cylinder head, there was clearly no attempt at creating something. If it's of interest I can re-post it, it's in the archives somewhere.