'55 Intake Manifold Date

[Michael H.]

What is the proper intake manifold date relative to the engine date for a '55 Corvette? I understand that the intake manifold ordinarily should predate the engine date by about 6 weeks. Was there ever a scenario in which the intake manifold could post-date the engine date (so long as the intake predates the car assembly date). Thanks very much.

Mike H.

[Mike M.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

the casting date of the intake almost always pre-dates the casting date of the engine but i'd like to see its casting date closer to the engines than the 6 weeks you mention. i suppose it'd be possible for the intake cast date to fall SHORTLY after the engine was cast but as you mention, it'd have to pre-date the car's build date.mike

[Mike M.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

the casting date of the intake almost always pre-dates the casting date of the engine but i'd like to see its casting date closer to the engines than the 6 weeks you mention. i suppose it'd be possible for the intake cast date to fall SHORTLY after the engine was cast but as you mention, it'd have to pre-date the car's build date.mike

[John H.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Mike -

The intake casting date must ALWAYS be prior to the engine assembly date (machine stamp on the block pad); can be typically anywhere from a day or two up to several months prior. NCRS allows up to six months prior to the car's final assembly date.

The intake casting date cannot ever be later than the engine assembly date - it was installed at the engine plant, not at the car assembly plant.

[John H.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Mike -

The intake casting date must ALWAYS be prior to the engine assembly date (machine stamp on the block pad); can be typically anywhere from a day or two up to several months prior. NCRS allows up to six months prior to the car's final assembly date.

The intake casting date cannot ever be later than the engine assembly date - it was installed at the engine plant, not at the car assembly plant.

[Robert J.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Here's a good one for you. My 55 block is dated L 16 4 and the manifold is dated E / 99 ?

[Robert J.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Here's a good one for you. My 55 block is dated L 16 4 and the manifold is dated E / 99 ?

[Mike M.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

john: i agree with your statement but my post dealt with the casting dates of the block and manifold and didn't take in to consideration the machine assembly date. wouldn't you agree that a given block/manifold combination might have engine cast date before the manifold cast date?mike

[Mike M.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

john: i agree with your statement but my post dealt with the casting dates of the block and manifold and didn't take in to consideration the machine assembly date. wouldn't you agree that a given block/manifold combination might have engine cast date before the manifold cast date?mike

[Randy G.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Casting dates can be interchanged as far as which was first is concerned. The block or manifold could have sat in a corner for weeks/months before the two were mated.

[Randy G.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Casting dates can be interchanged as far as which was first is concerned. The block or manifold could have sat in a corner for weeks/months before the two were mated.

[John H.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

john: i agree with your statement but my post dealt with the casting dates of the block and manifold and didn't take in to consideration the machine assembly date. wouldn't you agree that a given block/manifold combination might have engine cast date before the manifold cast date?mike

Yup, absolutely. I was just trying to clarify that the intake manifold casting date is only related to the engine assembly date, not to the car's assembly date.

<<Was there ever a scenario in which the intake manifold could post-date the engine date (so long as the intake predates the car assembly date).>>

[Mark A.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

John, As far as I know, there is no engine assembly date on a 1955 motor (am I missing something?). I would assume the only three dates to consider are the two casting dates and the (approx) date that the car rolled off the assembly line.

Furthermore, wouldn't the engine block be cast before the intake manifold and heads?

Thanks

Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

John, As far as I know, there is no engine assembly date on a 1955 motor (am I missing something?). I would assume the only three dates to consider are the two casting dates and the (approx) date that the car rolled off the assembly line.

Furthermore, wouldn't the engine block be cast before the intake manifold and heads?

Thanks

Mark

Mark-----

1955 engines did not have an engine assembly date stamping----only the model year and suffix code.

As far as when the castings were manufactured, there was no reason that the block had to be cast prior to the heads and intake manifold----it's even possible that all might have been cast on the same day. However, it's also possible that the heads and/or intake were cast prior to the time the block was cast. Certainly, any of the casting dates would have to be prior to the assembly date of the car except in the EXTREMELY unlikely case of an engine repair performed at St. Louis well after the build date of the car. Theoretically, this is possible, but it's so unlikely it's really not worth even talking about.

[Mark A.]

Re: '55 Intake Manifold Date

Joe:

Thanks for the post.

That's what I thought, just a stamped serial number then F55FG (in the case of a 1955).

I understand what your saying on casting dates and I agree (or don't disagree). I have just always assumed that the block(s) were cast earlier or first. Maybe it was my assumption that there was more machine finish work to do once the casing was done, or even more fundamental to introduction of the V8 to get the blocks casted up early. I don't why I always thought that it was that way.