date codes on block and heads vs car build date

[Matt L.]

how close can an engine's casting date and head's casting date be in relation to the car's build date. what is acceptable? how close can it be?
my car's build date is oct 28 '63. the block i found is oct 12 '63. and the potential heads are oct 24 '63. i appreciate any advice.
take care,
matt

[Jim P.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

Matt,
My car was built a couple days after yours; Oct 30, 1963. I have the original block. I don't remember the exact date but it was in the first week of September, 1963.
Jim

[Joe R.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

how close can an engine's casting date and head's casting date be in relation to the car's build date. what is acceptable? how close can it be?
my car's build date is oct 28 '63. the block i found is oct 12 '63. and the potential heads are oct 24 '63. i appreciate any advice.
take care,
matt

Matt,

The only rule that I'm aware of is that the dates on the engine should make sense, should precede the car's birthday and can be up to six months prior to the the car's build date. The dates on the heads are not judged, you would have to pull the valve covers to read them. On the block, I assume the Oct 12 63 date you gave is what's on the stamp pad. What is the casting date? Bottom line, I think it'll fly, assuming the block casting date is prior to the stamp pad date.

If you haven't already, I would suggest getting the Judging Guide and Judging Reference Manual from the NCRS store. The judging sheets are available on this web site for download.

Joe

[Harry S.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

4/20/63 Car Build Date
4/15/63 Engine Build Date
4/05/63 Block Cast
3/28/63 Heads Cast
3/20 63 Intake Cast

[Matt L.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

hello,
thank you all for your replies. the casting date on the block is oct 12,1963. when i bought it, it had already been rebuilt and the pad had been machined off in the process. i think this block will be a great foundation for my car. i just want that warm fuzzy feeling knowing under the valve covers are the right date codes. ha,ha,ha.
i just want to do this car right. it deserves it. i am however still looking for the correct fuel injection unit and distributor for this car.so any leads would be greatly appreciated! after that i can start assembling the engine to place in the car.
thanks again,
matt

[Jack H.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

PS: In addition to casting dates, make sure what you have is also the correct CONFIGURATION before you sink money in! Both block and cylinder heads were made at Saginaw/Flint and Tonawanda. Only Saginaw/Flint supplied SB engines for Corvette.

It'd be a shame if you went by casting number/date only and after building a nice 'restoration' motor for your car wound up with a full deduction on the judging field because you acquired the wrong configuration of parts, eh?

[Matt L.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

the casting date reads exactly J1263 and is a 870 block. is that a flint or tonawanda? i don't have my books in front of me. please be flint...
tonawanda built passenger car blocks? and flint built only vette? is this correct?

[William C.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

Flint was the only supplier of blocks and heads for the '63 Corvette. Generally the date configuration used in Flint included only the last number of the year, while Tonawanda used the last two digets of the year as I recollect. There are other differences also, but I know that the current '63 judging guide references the single digit year for Flint blocks in that time period.

[Jack H.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

the current '63 judging guide references the single digit year for Flint blocks in that time period.

EXACTLY! Plus there are other minor differences between a Saginaw casting and a Tonawanda casting (size and placement of cast number emboss, casting clock, casting date configuration) as well as secondary operations performed on the raw casting at Flint vs. Tonawanda to make it into the final engine that savvy judges can/do detect.

That's why the text in the NCRS standard deduction table reads:

"Correct, normally configured casting number and case configuration"

The references to 'normally configured casting number' and 'case configuration' are the flags that result in a full deduction for a Tonawanda SB in a Corvette engine bay!

Yep, the 2-digit year code on this block is a tell tale saying it's a FINE donor block for restoring a 1963 police car/taxi cab...

Bottom line, if one is out to build a restoration motor for their Corvette, it helps to understand from the outset that it's MORE than just a matter of matching 'numbers' and matching 'dates'...

[William C.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

There are other easily discernible differences in the heads as the camel hump areas are not machined in the Chevy Buffalo assembly process where they were for Flint.

[Matt L.]

Re: date codes on block and heads vs car build date

anyone wanna buy a 327? i 'll chalk this up to a learning experience. i feel better i found out now than later when the engine is all nice and pretty sitting in the car. corvette's are a new breed to me. i am trying to absorb all i can. so i truly appreciate all the knowledge you guys are giving me.
anyone out there restoring a 64 police car? i've got a great little 327 for ya. lol


take care,
matt