1968 427 short block verification

[Joe M.]

I am looking at a 1968 convertible. It is a 427 car. Seller says the short block stamp is CE 460831 on the engine pad. Can anyone tell me what this number would mean? Many thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 427 short block verification

I am looking at a 1968 convertible. It is a 427 car. Seller says the short block stamp is CE 460831 on the engine pad. Can anyone tell me what this number would mean? Many thanks

Joe-----


It means it has a replacement short block or complete engine. Given the "CE" prefix, the replacement likely occurred in the 1968 to about 1974 period.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1968 427 short block verification

Thanks for quick reply Joe. He says Heads, carbs and Intake are numbers matching. Any idea how this replacement block will affect the value of the car??

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 427 short block verification

Thanks for quick reply Joe. He says Heads, carbs and Intake are numbers matching. Any idea how this replacement block will affect the value of the car??

Joe------


Well, in general, it's going to decrease the value of the car. How much depends on other factors. One big one is the casting date of the block. If, by chance, the casting date is correct for the car, that's a plus and would likey result in diminished devaluation. If it's not correct, that would result in greater devaluation. In terms of actual dollar amounts, someone else will need to comment on that.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1968 427 short block verification

Thanks again. Can you determine the casting date from that number (460831) or is that stamped elsewhere on the block?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 427 short block verification

Thanks again. Can you determine the casting date from that number (460831) or is that stamped elsewhere on the block?

Joe------


The casting date will be found on the bellhousing flange of the block (to see, look down behind the cylinder heads). On one side will be the casting date code. It will be an alpha character followed by digits. On the other side of the bellhousing flange will be found the casting number. It will be a seven digit number beginning with 3. Both casting date and casting number are important as to correctness of the block for a particular car.

[John H.]

Re: 1968 427 short block verification

Joe -

That "CE" number says the replacement engine (short block) was manufactured at Tonawanda in 1974; no other information is included in that number. The casting date will help narrow down the date, and there is also usually a coded date stamped on the machined surface of the starter mounting pad on "CE" blocks.