1969 CE Engine Stamping Inquiry

[Joe]

Never thought much of the pad stamping on my 350/350 as it's not an original motor. However in doing some research I've concluded that the engine is a factory replacement which was done under warranty. Code is CE9B40055. According to my research it translates as follows:

C-Chevy
E-Engine
9-69(I think)
B-Feb(I think)
40055(Flint)

This engine was made in Feb of '69, and my vin tells me my car was built in St. Louis, 10 months later, in December of '69.

I've been told that their is some mystery to these "CE" engines, and that most of them read CEXXXXXX or something like CE123456. I've not heard of them having a number, in my case a "9" in the third slot, or a letter, in my case a "B" in the fourth slot. Any help would be great.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 CE Engine Stamping Inquiry

Joe-----

I have seen of some variance in the way these "CE" engines were coded. I think that there may have been some year-specific changes in the system used. Anyway, what is the casting number for the block? If the engine was built in February, 1969, then I would expect a casting number of 3932386 or, more likely, 3956618 . A Corvette small block built in December of 1969 would almost certainly have used an engine with the 3970010 block casting. I don't know, though, if the 3932386 or 3956618 casting would be considered incorrect for judging purposes for a December-built car. I doubt, though, that you'll find any 3932386 or 3956618 casting dates after about May, 1969. Similarly, I doubt that you'd find any 3970010 casting dates prior to May, 1969.

[george romano]

Re: 1969 CE Engine Stamping Inquiry

In the early 80's, my 69 350/350 had a CE engine in it too. It was stamped CE4243. 3970010 block.
FWIW.

George

[John H.]

Re: 1969 CE Engine Stamping Inquiry

Joe -

I've done a fair amount of (continuing) research on the "CE" engine ID over on the 1st-Generation Camaro side of my hobby, based on the original Chevrolet Service News issues that announced it and on data gathered from 50 or so "CE" engines (including the one in my '69 Z/28).

There were a number of variations in pad stamping for these 5/50 warranty engines, and it wasn't always consistent, even within the same engine plant. What we (think) we know so far is that the first (number) digit after the "CE" (which is present on every "CE" engine we've documented) is the calendar year of engine assembly (not model year), and if they have an alpha character after the year digit ("A", "B", etc.), that seems to indicate a "rollover" code where that plant has already exceeded its pre-assigned block of 30,000 "CE" numbers for that calendar year and is starting over again in that same block of numbers (Flint V-8 was assigned 20,000 through 49,999, and Tonawanda was assigned 50,000 through 79,999 per Chevrolet Service News).

It was initially believed that the alpha character referred to the month, but none have been documented with anything other than "A" or "B", and it's unlikely that all "CE" engines (actually short blocks or fitted blocks) were built in January and February; at the rate they were needed (FAR more than was ever projected), they'd have needed a warehouse the size or the Rose Bowl to store them all.

I'd call yours as being in the second 1969 calendar year "rollover" cycle at Flint V-8; mine is in the first "rollover" cycle in early 1970.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1969 CE Engine Stamping Inquiry

Article information from the Corvette News Fall Edition 1983 Tech Questions and Answers in response to James H. Erickson of Milwaukee, WI who purchased a 1970 LT-1 in June of 1982 from original owner who owned the car when a short block was replaced under warranty. Replacement block is CEA137600. James question was how to determine it was a LT-1 short block.
Answer- There's no way to verify it from the outside. CE indicates the Chevy Engine Plant-Flint, the A 137600 indicates it was made January 13,1976. Check the oil pan rail section for a six to eight digit mumber which would help naarow the verification porsess, since the number you supplied isn't conclusive. Or, next time your engine is apart, check the forge number found under the pistons. These numbers can be verified at you Chevrolet dealer for your answer.

My original owner 1970 Corvette has a warranty replacement short block. It was replaced in August 1970. It is stamped on the front pad with CEOA47538. It is the correct block casting 3970010 with a casting date D260. My Chevrolet dealer did not even paint the block, it is to this day still unpainted.