57 Exhaust

[Ken A.]

Hello. We just purchased a 57 270hp with 2x4's, and 3sp. I'll spare all the details other than the frame & engine have been restored but the body & paint are about 10' quality. I have 2 questions.
First) The seller seemed quite knowlegdeable about 57's and everything he told me has been verified by a couple of solid axle friends. I've had Corvettes since 73, but never a solid axle, so my knowledge is limited, although I know enough to ask the right questions. My concern is the engine. I know the heads are 327, but the block is in question. The VIN is #411 and the stamp pad reads FI23CD. He claimed there is a Chevy or GM website that lists that block as not only passenger car, but also Corvette. The 'F' is Flint, but is the rest I23 or 123? If the latter, it seems too convenient to be correct.
Second) This should be easier. It needs exhaust. I don't have the Judging Manual yet, but going through my catalogs, I have concluded that it should have round mufflers and a crossover pipe. Is this correct? I would just as soon not have to buy a different exhaust system if I decide to go to NCRS with this car, although it will need fiberglass work before that happens.
Thanks, Ken

[Joe L.]

Re: 57 Exhaust

Ken-----

Suffix code "CD" was not used for 1957 Corvette engines. It was used for 1957 passenger cars and trucks with 265 cid engines and 1958-63 283's in passenger cars with 2 barrel carbs. That's it. Most likely, it's a 58-63 passenger car engine. That's also probably why that it has the 327 heads as the heads that were part of the original engine assemblies were not really a performance head, at all.

The "F123" is just that, regardless of whether the character "I" was used in place of a "1". No alpha character would have been used following the "F", so it has to represent a "1".

The casting date and casting number would "tell all" in this regard and "erase" all the uncertainties and "claims". That's just about the most important information, but you didn't mention it in your post.

I believe that your 270 hp car would have been originally fitted with the "round" mufflers.

[Robert C.]

Re: 57 Exhaust

Ken,

The round mufflers sounds right, but I believe the crossover pipe is only for
a fuely. Good Luck. Robert

[Dave Suesz]

Ken Keyser did an excellent article

a few years ago, with GM drawings P/Ns, etc., and was kind enough to correspond with me on this and other detailing questions. All 55-57 were supposed to have the 4" dia round mufflers. I think you'll find the solid-cam fuelie and 2x4 had the crossover tube, which by the way would increase hp even if you are not "supposed" to have it.

[Ken A.]

Re: 57 Exhaust

Thanks Joe. Looked last night. The block is the correct casting number, 3731548, but the casting date L206 I read as December 20, 1956. From the Black Book, our VIN indicates the car was assembled before the end of October 56, so this is not the correct block under any circustances. BTW, are the numbers stamped on the block an assembly date code? FI23CD, is that Jan,23 ?
Ken

[John H.]

Re: 57 Exhaust

Ken -

The F123CD indicates a Flint Engine assembly date of January 23, 1957; the 2x4/270 cars didn't use the crossover pipe - that was only used on the 283/283 solid-lifter fuelie, and all 57's had the round mufflers.