1957 Engine Question

[Jeremy M.]

Hi Guys I am looking for an original engine and tranny for my vette and am just wondering what time frame is acceptable for the engine build date. My car's serial number is 5587 which should put it as being built the first week of August. I think I read somewhere that most engines were built about a month prior to the car being built but I can't find the article anymore. Any info would be great. Thanks!!!

[Tom P.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

For strict NCRS judging, 6mo prior is allowed.
Your understanding of 1mo prior is much more realistic.
Also, all 57 283 blocks (car or Vette) are ONLY 548 castings.
The date codes that are cast on the rear of the block MUST end in a single digit (7) for the year (1957). This would be a Flint manufactured engine, which was the ONLY engine used in Vettes, and also used in pass cars.
If the cast date code ends in 57 for 1957, then it was a Tonawanda manufactured engine, and Tonawanda engines ONLY went into pass cars!

One added caution. There was also a 265 V8 in 1957. It was ONLY a 2bl carb version, and it was ONLY used in pass cars. The 57 265 engines also had a 548 casting number (same as a 283 casting number), and unknowledgeable or unscrupulous vendors will often times try to pass off a 57 265 block as a 283 block. So, if you find an acceptable 548 block, be sure to measure the bore first.
Now, your next question, can a 57 265 block be bored out to a 283 bore (.125in oversize)? SOME people SAY they are the same block and that the 57 265 548 blocks were just bored out to become a 283 bore. I am VERY skeptable of that!!!!!!!!!

[Mike M.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

For strict NCRS judging, 6mo prior is allowed.
Your understanding of 1mo prior is much more realistic.
Also, all 57 283 blocks (car or Vette) are ONLY 548 castings.
The date codes that are cast on the rear of the block MUST end in a single digit (7) for the year (1957). This would be a Flint manufactured engine, which was the ONLY engine used in Vettes, and also used in pass cars.
If the cast date code ends in 57 for 1957, then it was a Tonawanda manufactured engine, and Tonawanda engines ONLY went into pass cars!

One added caution. There was also a 265 V8 in 1957. It was ONLY a 2bl carb version, and it was ONLY used in pass cars. The 57 265 engines also had a 548 casting number (same as a 283 casting number), and unknowledgeable or unscrupulous vendors will often times try to pass off a 57 265 block as a 283 block. So, if you find an acceptable 548 block, be sure to measure the bore first.
Now, your next question, can a 57 265 block be bored out to a 283 bore (.125in oversize)? SOME people SAY they are the same block and that the 57 265 548 blocks were just bored out to become a 283 bore. I am VERY skeptable of that!!!!!!!!!

tom: were the 265 ci 548 cast blocks built both in flint and tonowanda?regards,mike

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

Hi Guys I am looking for an original engine and tranny for my vette and am just wondering what time frame is acceptable for the engine build date. My car's serial number is 5587 which should put it as being built the first week of August. I think I read somewhere that most engines were built about a month prior to the car being built but I can't find the article anymore. Any info would be great. Thanks!!!

Jeremy, my '57 with original driveline has an engine (block and heads) cast 4 weeks previous to the cars assembly.

Steve

[Tom P.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

tom: were the 265 ci 548 cast blocks built both in flint and tonowanda?regards,mike

Well, I don't know, I just never had enough interest in 57 265 blocks to check the casting date for Flint or Tonawanda!
I'll start checking----------------when I find a 57 265 block to examine.

[John H.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

My '57 (#4275, built May 30th or thereabouts), had a 548 block cast May 13th and assembled May 16th.

[Barry H.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

My 57 early April car (#3298) - 548 block cast C147, built 3/27)Barry Holmes #940

[James G.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

Hi Guys I am looking for an original engine and tranny for my vette and am just wondering what time frame is acceptable for the engine build date. My car's serial number is 5587 which should put it as being built the first week of August. I think I read somewhere that most engines were built about a month prior to the car being built but I can't find the article anymore. Any info would be great. Thanks!!!

Mike Hunt had your car being built Thursday August 1, 1957. vin 5584 was copper, and 5586 was painted silver. No info on engine data that late, but cars that have engine data range two to five weeks prior. example, 4314 built May 30, 1957 has its engine dated F501FK.

VIN 2433 built Feb 19, 1957 has its engine dated F213EL, only 6 days apart.

Mike was killed in a terrible motorcycle accident in late June 2007. Many of us old 57 freaks hope his records will come forward some day soon.

[Brice T.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

Not a very good photo, but is this a 1957 correct block cast number? Don't really know what it should look like. Thanks!!

[Mike M.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

the photo is so poor, i'm not sure its a cast # or a casting date. can u wire brush the area. where is the area located on the block? it should be on the drivers side of the blocks flange that the bell housing bolts to. the casting date, however, is on the passenger side of said flange. mike

[James G.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

Not a very good photo, but is this a 1957 correct block cast number? Don't really know what it should look like. Thanks!!

It appears to be ''C857'' which makes it a TONAWANDA block. Only FLINT blocks were used in 1957 Corvettes. Same casting number 3731548, but only the number 7 as a last number in the cast date. So, same cast date should be C87 for March 8, 1957. The casting number was only the casting number used in all 283 cu. inch Chevrolet's in 1957.

[Darryl D.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

Hi Guys I am looking for an original engine and tranny for my vette and am just wondering what time frame is acceptable for the engine build date. My car's serial number is 5587 which should put it as being built the first week of August. I think I read somewhere that most engines were built about a month prior to the car being built but I can't find the article anymore. Any info would be great. Thanks!!!

WOW! That has to be one of the last 57s built?
I have a 1957 283 engine that will make someone a good buy but it is way to early for your car as it was cast Dec. 6th of 1956 and stamped Dec. 7th 1956.
Good luck in your search.

[Brice T.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

My 1957 was built in August. (5958) The 3740997 cylinder heads have the casting numbers E177 and E207 on them. Are those castings too early to be "original" to the car?

[Mike M.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

they will do just fine. u r lucky to have them. if u had to buy a pair, 2-3K/pr. mike

[Dan P.]

Re: 1957 Engine Question

Both built in Flint and Tonawanda . Both 548 . In 1957 the 283 was a over bored 265 . .125. The 265 block can be bored to standard 283 . NO problem