Need help finding history of motor

[Sandra H.]

My '62 Corvette currently does not have the original motor in it.....the one it does have was owned (built?) by a guy named Matthews out of Oregon City, Oregon. Late husband (Ron Zacher) bought the motor from him about 1963. Came out of a '58 Chev...no numbers on the engine stamp pad, but engine casting number 3970010. Originally 350hp, but built to 400hp. Seems a little excessive for someone's Chev unless he was maybe racing it or ? My Corvette is silver/black, number 12000. Would like to find out about the guy...and a little history on the motor. If anyone knew (or knows) of him, I would be interested in some info.
Also am trying to locate who has the original engine.....is there any way to find out what the number on it may have been? The dealer went out of business in 1963. Last I had heard it was in the Canby, Oregon area being stored in a barrel of oil. (?) Any ideas, suggestions? or is this just lost to time?
Thanks, Sandra

[Jack H.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

While the '010 block might have come out of a '58 Chevy, that's not the block that was used back then... It's a 350 cu inch SB block that was used for a LONG time in Chevy cars/trucks beginning in 1969.

On classic cars like yours (first year of 327 SB), prior owners are often faced with the situation of repairing or replacing their car's original engine and have to decide which way to go. The attraction of installing a 350 to replace a 283 or 327 cu inch block is strong...

They're readily available, rather inexpensive AND you get more displacement + the higher HP that goes with it.

On what happened to your car's original engine, there's probably quite a bit of detective work there! Plus, in the end, you may find it was destroyed (freeze cracked or had catastrophic damage due to piston rod failure) and was recycled for scrap steel a LONG time ago...

[Sandra H.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

Thank you for the reply Jack. I was told that the motor was built with rocker rollers, cams, etc......would this be common to that motor?
There was nothing wrong with the original motor......late husband simply wanted a much faster engine. Until he died, it was a one owner car. Sadly, most of the info died with him.....I would have been asking more questions if I had known there was going to be a test later.
Cheers, Sandra

[Steven B.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

My '62 Corvette currently does not have the original motor in it.....the one it does have was owned (built?) by a guy named Matthews out of Oregon City, Oregon. Late husband (Ron Zacher) bought the motor from him about 1963. Came out of a '58 Chev...no numbers on the engine stamp pad, but engine casting number 3970010. Originally 350hp, but built to 400hp. Seems a little excessive for someone's Chev unless he was maybe racing it or ? My Corvette is silver/black, number 12000. Would like to find out about the guy...and a little history on the motor. If anyone knew (or knows) of him, I would be interested in some info.
Also am trying to locate who has the original engine.....is there any way to find out what the number on it may have been? The dealer went out of business in 1963. Last I had heard it was in the Canby, Oregon area being stored in a barrel of oil. (?) Any ideas, suggestions? or is this just lost to time?
Thanks, Sandra

Sandra, I would try an ad for info. in the Driveline(it has worked for me), search Matthews in/around Oregon City on one of the "white page" websites and people search sites, and contact any car club, car people in the area. I once got info. on my '57 by calling a Chevy Dealer in San Diego, California, a guy in Dayton, Ohio, and a pin striper in Auburn, Indiana! It took me about five years. It may take awhile and might be a long shot but don't give up. At least it is a chance!

Good Luck!!!

Steve

[Sandra H.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

Good ideas, Steve........
I will probably try them all....it would be nice to have some history on how the car came to be. It is something of a legend in the Canby area, and I get occasional calls asking if I still have it, so that may be a place to start. Didn't occur to me to really start asking questions until recently, so who knows what might turn up.
Thank you.....all my best, Sandra

[Loren L.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

Your better contact would be with the Newsletter Editor of the Northwest Chapter, asking him to run your story and if anyone knows the engine builder from Oregon City. You have a name and location, much more than most get.

[Michael W.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

Thank you for the reply Jack. I was told that the motor was built with rocker rollers, cams, etc......would this be common to that motor?

The 0010 block has been a favourite choice of hot rodders for almost 20 years. Probably half of the go-fast goodies at a speed shop were designed to fit it, so the actual spec of your engine would be difficult to tell without disassembly.

[Sandra H.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

Thanks Loren for that idea.....I will give it a try.
And Steve....the motor will get torn down just to see if there is anything to rebuild. So looks like I will have a chance to find out the specs. Don't know if a drag strip not too far from where the guy lived kept any records that would go back so far, but I might inquire.
Thanks to all for the good ideas......Best, Sandra

[Steven B.]

Re: Need help finding history of motor

Loren's idea is great. Maybe someone who went to the drag strip in the day may remember. It seems like alot of us never forget that stuff.