Block Switch - 1961

[Mike B.]

Does anyone know of the date or VIN when GM switched from "519" to "935" blocks? I've read that it affected the last 1000 or so cars which by my guess would have been somewhere in the middle of June 1961. Any specifics pinning down the date or car is appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

[Jack H.]

Where's the mystery????

Your copy of the current '61-62 Judging guide states the 3756519 block casting was used ALL through '61 production and the 3789935 block casting was used at random from approximately VIN 9500 to the end of the modely year....

[Mike B.]

Re: Where's the mystery????

Thanks for the reply. The confusion is on the random nature of 519 blocks persisting through the model year. Somewhere I read that GM ran out of the original 519 blocks as they were tooling up for the new 327 cu in engine and simply diverted 935 blocks that were destined for passenger cars from that point forward to finish out the 61 Corvette model year. The judging guide makes one think that the 519 and 935 blocks were installed helter-skelter whichever happen to be available at the time right up until the end, which is probably what happened.

At this point, I would like to hear from others who actually have or know of the 935 block in cars with the pedigree to document the original engine.

As always, thanks for the excellent advice on the board.

[mike mccagh]

Re: Where's the mystery????

if i had a late vin 61 that lost it's original engine and i was looking for a repo block, i'd get a 519 case appropriatly date coded. 935's raise flags of suspicion. mike