Help with '62 Engine Numbers

[Christopher R.]

A seller tells me that his 3782870 (1962 327) engine block has a casting date of "K181" and is stamped "F1111R".

I interpret these numbers as being cast on November 18, 1961 and machined in Flint on November 11. That didn't happen.

1. Has the seller read the numbers incorrectly?
2. Have I interpreted the numbers incorrectly?

[Dennis C.]

Chris, I think you're interpreting...

...correctly. I hope the seller needs glasses. These passenger car R stamping blocks are such wonderful doners for RE & RF applications - RC & RD, too.

[Dennis C.]

Re: Chris, Of course, my radar always...

...beeps when I see IIII assembly stamping date.

[Dennis C.]

Re: Especially when IIII is Saturday Nov 61... *NM*

[Christopher R.]

Re: Chris, Of course, my radar always...

What's the deal on "IIII"? Is there something fishy about that stamping?

[Dennis C.]

It just makes me suspicious...

...Some bozo could make that (date) stamp with a screw driver. Not that some engines weren't assembled on November 11th of some years. But when November 11th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, I usually like to take a deep breath before I start shelling out the frogskins. I want to be personally inspecting "museum quality" broach marks... in addition to the rest of the stamped characters.

[Christopher R.]

Re: It just makes me suspicious...

Oh, I see. I guess if you were going to forge stampings, the "I" would be the easiest. Hmmm, learn something every day.

I now note that both the "K181" (November 18, 1961) casting date and the "IIII" (November 11) stamping date are both Saturdays. I sometimes work on a Saturday. Did the foundry (Would that be Saginaw?) ever work on a Saturday? Did the Flint engine plant ever work on a Saturday? Did either of them work a Saturday in November of 1961?

[Dennis C.]

Of course we still have to deal...

...with the issue of stamping a cylinder case before it's been cast. Now, THAT is pretty darn tricky...

I'm not qualified to answer your question about working Saturdays, but I suspect it may have happened on ocassion. Expert knowledge is out there that would know.

[Mike M.]

Re: Of course we still have to deal...

they worked an occassional sat(overtime was overtime even in '61). don't think i've ever judged what i thought was an original block cast and machined on a lord's day(unlees it was hit by rev mike). mikie

[Patrick H.]

Re: Of course we still have to deal...

...and the fact that, HELLO, November 11 is Veteran's Day???
There ain't no chance the union had them working on a national holiday which ALSO was a Saturday.

Patrick

[Mike E.]

Re: Of course we still have to deal...

I've seen several real anomalies on 62's that were undisputed originals. One was assembled the day before it was cast.
My best take on this: Should have been stamped FII2IR---someone forgot to change out the I and the 2--that follows what was reasonably often the case--2-5 days between casting and stamping.
However, that creates a real bind for the guy who wants to put it in a corvette as correct!!!

[Loren Smith]

Re: Of course we still have to deal...

Maybe the 1111 was Roman numerials - January 3rd, February 2nd, or March 1st. Seriously, the seller might be dyslexic. Could you talk the seller into emailing you pictures?

[John H.]

Re: Of course we still have to deal...

Pat -

Veteran's Day wasn't a Big 3 holiday in those days, and both Saginaw Foundry and Flint V-8 frequently worked on Saturdays; still begs the question of being assembled a week before it was cast

[Patrick H.]

Re: Of course we still have to deal...

Thanks John.

You mean the UAW has added holidays to the mix in the last 42 years? I can't believe that.

Patrick