1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

[Peter M.]

A friend of mine has a 1964 Iso Grifo A3C continuation car that was originally built in Italy and equipped with an original factory supplied 1964 Corvette engine and transmission. Some historians believe that these original Corvette 327 engines were sourced from the Swiss GM importer and came with a somewhat unusual and perhaps unique suffix of P, Q or RE, from the batch purchased for use in early Iso Grifo sports cars. The stamp pad and part\casting #s on this Corvette 327 engine are as follows:

Stamp: F06073P - Block: 3782870
Stamp: F03045Q

Can anyone shed light on these engine numbers in terms of source or origin, build date, original purchaser, etc., etc. Any information or direction will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter Mihaltian
NCRS #47240

[Mike M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

only Q suffix from the chevys of the 60's was stamped in the 61 409 engines. i see no P suffix used in early 60's chevy sbcs. the RE suffix was used on the 62,3 and 64 327's installed in corvettes with 340 hp engines(1962 and 1963) as well as the 64 365 HP engines. are us sure the machine assembly stamping is as you've typed? F03045Q has an extra numeric.could the "5" in your example be something other than a 5? mike

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

I have only seen one Iso Grifo 327 and it had an ordinary RE suffix. However, the VIN was unusual in that it had a star stamp preceeding the numbers.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

Thanks, Mike. What about the block part #3782870? Do you have any information on this part # or casting # ?

[Mike M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

3782870 blocks were used in 1962 thru end of 1965 327 chevy engines installed in corvettes and most, if not all, 327 pass car chevys. some were cast in michigan(all 1962 thru 65 sbc corvettes got these flint mi cast blocks) and some were cast in tonowanda ny(these 870's were only installed in some 327 sbc chevy pass full size pass cars from 1962 thru 1965. mike

[Peter M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

3782870 blocks were used in 1962 thru end of 1965 327 chevy engines installed in corvettes and most, if not all, 327 pass car chevys. some were cast in michigan(all 1962 thru 65 sbc corvettes got these flint mi cast blocks) and some were cast in tonowanda ny(these 870's were only installed in some 327 sbc chevy pass full size pass cars from 1962 thru 1965. mike

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your help.

P.

[Monte M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

Peter,
On the opposite flange as the 3782870 casting number there is a casting date. It will be a letter with a few numbers after it. For example: "A 10 3" D 3 4" and many other options.
The letter represents the month the engine was cast. A = January, B = February, C = March, and so on. The next number or numbers are the actual day of the month it was cast. And finally the last number is a single digit that represents the last digit of the year it was cast. Making the example "A 10 3" January 10, 1963 was the day this engine would have been cast.

Do not know if this will help or not, but at least you will know a bit more about the engine you are dealing with.

Best of luck,
Monte

[Dino L.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

Looking at the picture, the engine resembles a 1964 L76, 327 365 hp.....from the picture, I see an aluminum intake, should be a 461.... Should be an 870 block and 461 double camel back heads, I see the idler pulley, correct water pump pulley and a correct carb spring retainer and chrome oil fill tube, the cap looks more like a 350 hp L79 version, and the corvette aluminum finned covers.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

Thanks to ALL you guys. You're the BEST and your expertise and assistance is greatly appreciated.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

I have only seen one Iso Grifo 327 and it had an ordinary RE suffix. However, the VIN was unusual in that it had a star stamp preceeding the numbers.

Upon second thought, I think the engine I saw was from a Bizzarinni. I believe there is some close association between Bizzarinni and Iso Grifo so they probably both got the Corvette engine in the same form- with an RE code like a complete crate engine would have. However, the star symbol in the VIN may be unique to Bizzarinni.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

Peter -- a good friend (Peter), is into Iso Grifos as well as Corvettes. He had this green one (shown at one of the local Corvette club show-and-shines). Now sold and shipped to someone in France. He bought another one in Germany and it's being prepared for shipping to Canada. Peter also has a 427 Grifo (one of 66 made); has a hood scoop shaped like a low-rise pagoda. I haven't seen this one yet. The BB has to be a '68 or 9; I should ask him what model year the mouse motor is, and maybe check the stampings, if the car is not stored too deeply in his shop.

[Edward M.]

Re: 1964 Corvette 327 Engine #'s ??????

Peter;

You didn't answer the questions about the number stamped on the engine pad.

Could you please confirm the stampings on the engine pad.

Stamp: F06073P - Block: 3782870
Stamp: F03045Q

F = Flint
06 = month of assembly
07 = day of assembly
3P = ????

F = Flint
03 = month of assembly
04 = day of assembly
5Q = ????


Anyway to get pictures of the engine pad(s)? Thanks.