Engine ID Question

[Mike M.]

This 283 engine may have come out of a Corvette. The numbers look like this:

Part # 3756519

Casting Date C558

Letters on passenger side head: T309D

thanks for any help on IDing this engine.

Mike Martin .

[Jim D.]

Re: Engine ID Question

It's from a 1958 pass. car or truck.

[Gary C.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Mike,

Casting Date C558 is a Tonawanda engine, not Flint.

Gary
....

[Mike M.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Mike,

Casting Date C558 is a Tonawanda engine, not Flint.

Gary
....

Flint engines were the Corvette engines. Right?
Mike

[Leif A.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Engine block cast March 5, 1958
Engine assembled at Tonawanda March 9, 1958
D - Alpha designator
58 - year used
283 - cubic inches
170 - horsepower
2B - carburetor
PG - powerglide transission
PA - passenger car
Not, a Corvette engine

[Owen L.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Flint engines were the Corvette engines. Right?
Mike

Yes, all small block Corvettes got their engines from Flint (coded F or V); all big block Corvettes got their engines from Tonawanda (coded T). There was no mixing of engine plants for big or small blocks. Other model lines also used these two plants (plus others).


As an aside for the true experts, why did Flint change from the F to V?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Yes, all small block Corvettes got their engines from Flint (coded F or V); all big block Corvettes got their engines from Tonawanda (coded T). There was no mixing of engine plants for big or small blocks. Other model lines also used these two plants (plus others).

One caveat -

There are Tonawanda CAST blocks that were then made into Flint ASSEMBLED engines and used on Corvettes.
Why they took blocks from Tonawanda and shipped them to Flint to be assembled is unknown. But, there are documented original engines made in this fashion.

[Gary C.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Patrick,

What years and cubic inch were the Towanda blocked shipped to Flint and assembled?

Thanks,

Gary
....

[Robert B.]

Re: Engine ID Question

I heard that was the case, I have a 57 fuel car that the Previous owner made a strip car he gave me a correct date code tonawanda block and the fuel unit.He swears its the original block. When you say documentation is out there, where would I find it. thanks

[Gary C.]

Re: Engine ID Question

In 1967 F became Flint Motor Facility & Flint Engine plant was changed to V.

According to Corvette by the Numbers, no Corvette engines were produced at the Flint Motor Facility.

Gary
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[Harry S.]

Re: Engine ID Question

As I recall the Tonawanda small blocks were used in the 1965 model year. Maybe KC will chime in.

[Gary C.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Robert,

Sorry, but there were no Towanda engines used in 1957 Corvettes, ever.

Lots of documentation that supports that. Books by Noland Adams, Ken Kayser, Alan Colvin, etc. etc.

Gary
....

[Patrick H.]

Re: Engine ID Question

Patrick,

What years and cubic inch were the Towanda blocked shipped to Flint and assembled?

Thanks,

Gary
....

As I recall the Tonawanda small blocks were used in the 1965 model year.

At least 1965 and 1972.

[Terry M.]

Re: Engine ID Question

I have seen Flint assembled Tonawanda cast Small blocks in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1974 Corvettes. I suspect this practice was more common than most will admit.

[Joe R.]

Re: Engine ID Question

To answer your question. This block did not come out of a Corvette. OR it could have been a replacement block put in a Corvette. It was not put in the Corvette at St. louis. But there are people that make it look like it came in a 1958 Corvette by milling the block and stamping the correct numbers on the right side of the block. Good luck!

JR