Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

[John M.]

This is my first technical post!

I finally took delivery on my 65 coupe.

1 lady owner since new, well documented (window sticker, POP, and more), very original, in need of much work, but very complete and intact. Off the road since '85.

OK - This car has double bump heads but window sticker does not show any optional motor. All the dates seem to line up including the heads.

POP - F0811HF C
VIN - 145
Block - H84
PAD - F08ITHE
Head Date - H104

Motor has all original Paint, there is an H(?)F(definitely) in pink crayon on the front of the RH cyl head about 2" tall. Frech locks still in place on exh manifolds.

From what I have read , this car should have "pyramid" heads, but everything seems to line up nicely. See pics, I have to believe this is the way the car came out of St Louis.

Expert opinions welcome. See pics.

[John M.]

more pix

more pictures


thanks again

[John M.]

Re: more pix

oops, forgot to mention, correct tag wcfg, and large cast iron thermostat fitting

[Larry M.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

John:

The latest (fifth) edition of the 1965 Judging Manual states "All small block cylinder heads are cast iron painted engine color with a "Double Hump" casting symbol on both ends of the head". It further states "correct casting number is #3782461."

Larry

[Brawley M.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

The number code (3782461)on your cylinder head signifies that it belongs on a small block 327 engine correct for an engine assembled from '63-'66. According to the Catalog of Chevy V-8 Eng Casting Numbers:"Few heads have been more misunderstood or misidentified than the "double hump" small block chevy head. Three different head castings bore this mark from '62-'68. The 461,462, and the 291. These heads were all installed on both standard and high perf vehicles with appropriately large or small sized valves.External casting marks used by enthusiasts for years to identify Chevy small block heads can be misleading." The order codes for your 1965 327 engine are L75-300HP;L76-365HP;L79-350HP;L84-375HP(fuelie). Congrats on your new purchase! Brawley

[Duke W.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

The '65 base 327/250 has 461 heads from Flint. The '62-'64 versions used small port (283 size)/small valve (1.72/1.50") 896 heads and a small port inlet manifold.

Even though the 461 heads are "big port" with 1.94/1.50" valves, the '65 base 327/250 retained a small port inlet manifold and 400 CFM WCFB. What the hell were they thinking?

The 327/250 is a strange animal. I never understood why it was the base engine from '62-'65, and the '65 461 head version is genuinely weird.

The fifty buck cost of the L-75 was well worth it, but I doubt if the manufacturing cost of the 300 HP varied from the 250 HP version by more than a few cents.

Duke

[Brian M.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

I bet the pink crayon writing is HE as in the engine code.

This is my first technical post!

I finally took delivery on my 65 coupe.

1 lady owner since new, well documented (window sticker, POP, and more), very original, in need of much work, but very complete and intact. Off the road since '85.

OK - This car has double bump heads but window sticker does not show any optional motor. All the dates seem to line up including the heads.

POP - F0811HF C
VIN - 145
Block - H84
PAD - F08ITHE
Head Date - H104

Motor has all original Paint, there is an H(?)F(definitely) in pink crayon on the front of the RH cyl head about 2" tall. Frech locks still in place on exh manifolds.

From what I have read , this car should have "pyramid" heads, but everything seems to line up nicely. See pics, I have to believe this is the way the car came out of St Louis.

Expert opinions welcome. See pics.

[John H.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

The P-O-P error ("HF" instead of "HE") isn't unusual - the clerk at the end of the line who created the P-O-P on an Addressograph machine took the engine machine code from a hand-scrawled note written by the Engine Dress Line inspector on a Broadcast Copy, not from actually looking at the engine. I have numerous examples of P-O-P errors, both from St. Louis and from the two Camaro plants.

[Chris E.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

John, welcome to the forum. Nice car too! We hope to see you at the local North Central Chapter events.

www.northcentralncrs.org

[Timothy B.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

John,

Congratulations on your corvette, don't be so fast taking it apart. You may want to have a experenced NCRS judge look at it because it's only original once..

[John M.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

Thanks everyone for all the help. I had an older book that called for the "pyramid" heads. I received my new judging book today.

My concerns with the POP have also eased based on responses.

No hurry to take it apart, I have not even attempted to start it yet.

I am still in the process of ordering parts I obviously need, fully photographing all areas, preparing the shop, and creating a reasonable plan of attack to get it to "driver" quality by summer and ready for paint this fall.

Originality is my thing, but some of the stuff, especially interior, is just way too far gone.

[Rob M.]

Re: Factory Error In My Favor? Opinions?

Hi John,

Register your car and start a weblog on the C2Registry so we can follow your exploration!!!

regards,
Rob