vettebuyer6369

OK I went round and round reading this thread...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...t-block-3.html

but did not answer this question. I had a guy contact me with a 1963 FI engine that he says has been in the car since its October 1962 purchase. See the photos... the casting number is:

3983512

unless im more blind than I thought.

I cannot find ANYTHING on this number.

I know that 3963512 is a BB 454.

I also know about the replacement 3959512 small blocks (CE blocks).

I am completely confused. Guy swears its original. I say only 870 blocks in '63. Still cant verify this is the era-correct CE block. aaaaaagh.

He has not provided a pad or casting date photo yet.

JohnZ

Doesn't matter what he says - that's not a Flint block.

vettebuyer6369

So what's your guess? Not even a CE block, just a swap along the way? I cant find anything on this number.

JohnZ

It's probably some nondescript Service-only block that never had a production application. For that time period, if it ain't an 870 block, it ain't real.

vettebuyer6369

My thinking exactly. Thanks for the input.

wmf62

the picture certainly isn't a 63 FI unit...
Bill

MikeM

One of these number guys should be able to tell you that the casting number is too late for 1963.

Don't know why the plug in the front oil galley looks like it's flakey but it is.

I've never heard anyone claiming a block number other than 870 as being correct for 1963 so this guy can go pound sand.

Maybe some of you don't know that some 327's wound up powering Massey-Harris Combines. Don't know what block number they used. What is the casting dte on this mystery block?

vettebuyer6369

Shockingly, I did not receive a picture of the casting date or the pad. Just more "yes it is."

I agreed to disagree.

Boyan

The front oil plug may look funny because its probably a Tonawanda block and its not drilled for an oil plug.
Boyan

MikeM

I know. On my screen, it looks like the boss has been ground down and maybe welded on.

vetteworks

Those are pictures of two different engines.

DZAUTO

IF ANYONE HAS A LARGE JOURNAL, 512 SMALL BLOCK, AND IT IS NOT WANTED BECAUSE OF THE "INCORRECT" 512 CASTING NUMBER, I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!! But for certainly for a reasonable price.

vettsplit 63

I knew that. Back in 66' right before I got drafted, the town I was working at had a narrow bridge going out of town. A harvest crew was moving some brand new combines on trailers, I thought they were John Deeres but that was a long time ago. Anyway, they were brand new, never had cut a blade of wheat. One of them got knocked off the bridge by an old gentleman who disregarded the safety crew and drove onto the bridge from the opposite side. I remember that the combine had a 327-300 hp engine. I wondered if I could buy it for my 62, but the insurance company wouldn't sell it.

MikeM

With a closer look..................

The heads are totally different castings, not only right to left but in the upper and lower photos. Neither are '63 heads.

Frankie the Fink

So typical.

Because some guy has a motor that he wants to be worth a fortune or some part on his car he's convinced is a rare original piece...he wants megabucks for it regardless of what decades of research, testimony by people that built the cars and oceans of empirical evidence say to the contrary.

DucatiDon

Those heads were the first give away.....

I have a 512 block...but Im not selling!

vettsplit 63

I have a buddy who has a small journal 512- 2 bolt. I can't really think of a reason to be excited about getting one of those. Wish it was a large journal.

DZAUTO

I have ZERO interest in small journal 327 blocks. I got some. I want a (or some) large journal 327 (ie, 512) blocks. They are immediate and instant candidates for building a 383 to fit into ANY KIND of 67-earlier Chevy-------------------not just a Corvette. For example, the big journal 512 block is perfect for builting a factory correct engine to go into a 57 Chevy. Or, if a person had a 65 Chevelle and wanted to create their own version of a 383ci L79, a 512 block is just the ticket.
Now for me, I got a little creative with the latest engine for my 51 Chevy. Using a 512 block, I built a 388 (had to go .060 over) for it. Sorta made it look like a dressed up 283 to replace the tired 350 with 300K+mi.

W Guy

I love the black and orange heads. Kind of a Halloween motor, huh?

Verne

DZAUTO

Verne.
That was shortly before I pulled the 350 and replaced it with the 388. There was a leaky head gasket on the left side, so I removed the head and installed a new gasket. Painted the head and iron Q-jet manifold and put it all back together. Well, that didn't help much, so a few months later, I built the 388.