CE engine, what was installed on it?

[Dan H.]

In the early 70s, when the CE engines were still available, what would have been installed on a short block assembly as it came to a Chevrolet dealer? What internal and external components did it include. What wasn't included. Assume the heads, flywheel, balancer etc were used from the current engine assembly? Were they both dealer installed and 'over the counter' to a customer? Thanks!
Dan

[Don H.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

Dan, I have a CE engine in my '60. It was still in the original shipping crate when I purchased it. It was a complete short block with cam, pistons, crank, timing chain & cover. It did not have heads, oil pan, water pump, lifters, etc. Don H.

[Dan H.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

Thanks Don, could you order a specific horsepower with appropriate pistons and cam? Then add from the 'donor' engine the remaining components. Was the oil pump installed too? Thanks,
Dan

[Don H.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

Dan, I can't tell you about the ordering, only about mine. It is a 283 for high HP Fuel Injection (& possibly high HP dual quad?). It had the correct pistons and the "Duntov" cam, no oil pump. I still have the original wood crate it was shipped in too. Don H.

[Jim T.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

My CE was installed in my new 1970 Corvette coupe as replacement due to the fact the original engine failed within minutes leaving the dealership. I did not see the CE engine before it was installed in my new 1970. Today the replacement CE block is still unpainted like it was when received at the dealership. I did not do a crawl on the floor flashlight inspection when I picked up my car and did not notice the unpainted block until later doing my first oil change. My replacement CE block is supposed to be a 350/300. The dealership transferred the original engine's cylinder heads, oil pan, intake&acarb, distributor, timing cover, and water pump. Over 160K on the CE replacement engine now.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

In the early 70s, when the CE engines were still available, what would have been installed on a short block assembly as it came to a Chevrolet dealer? What internal and external components did it include. What wasn't included. Assume the heads, flywheel, balancer etc were used from the current engine assembly? Were they both dealer installed and 'over the counter' to a customer? Thanks!
Dan

It came with everything in the cylinder case. There are many threads about this John Z explained it well in one thread. Gm used a plastic timing gear in the late 60'S & 70's that failed quite often. Teeth would brake off or would come apart from the metal hub which is not good when driving at 70 MPH. My brothers 70 GTO blew with only 1000 mi. on it.

[Patrick B.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

Besides, short blocks, the CE designation followed by a number was also applied to fitted blocks, which consisted of only the block with pistons and rings

[Dan H.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

Thanks Patrick, do you have any info on numbers/codes used to tell if it was a short block or fitted block?

[Patrick B.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

Thanks Patrick, do you have any info on numbers/codes used to tell if it was a short block or fitted block?

It don't think there was any effort to distinguish. The CE was followed by a 8 or 9 digit sequence number exactly like those seen on a CE short block.

[John H.]

Re: CE engine, what was installed on it?

do you have any info on numbers/codes used to tell if it was a short block or fitted block?

Dan -

There was nothing on the engine itself that would ID it as having started out as a short block or a fitted block - the "CE" pad stamp only showed the year of manufacture and the engine sequence number. "CE" short blocks or fitted blocks were ordered by part number to match the correct usage, but that part number only appeared on the shipping paperwork and on the crate the block came in.