C1 - 1959 block casting number?

[Barry J.]

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 - 1959 block casting number?

Good evening, I have a 1959, car number 5000 with a block casting number of 3737739 with date code of A288. Engine stamp pad shows FI30D

is this block to early for my car, it’s supposed to be original. I read that the 739 blocks where used in early 1959 cars.

thanks in advance

Barry------


A "D" suffix-coded engine is not an original Corvette engine. Your engine block was cast on January 28, 1958 and machined/assembled at Flint on January 30. It was originally installed in a 1958 passenger car with 2 barrel carb.

[Donald L.]

Re: C1 - 1959 block casting number?

The casting date of the engine is Jan 28, 1958 & assembly date is 2 days later. The engine is from the 58 model year.

[Tom B.]

Re: C1 - 1959 block casting number?

If you are asking if this casting date and number are too early for 59 number 5000 then yes it is. In fact it's too early for any 59. It's around a year older than your car and is way outside the acceptable 6 month time frame for even the first 59. I would expect to see nothing other than a 519 block in number 5000. It's not a candidate for a deck and restamp for your car. Your car would be considered a mid production year car being number 5000 out of 9670.

Tom