I purchased my 1969 corvette from the 2nd owner who purchased it from the first. The first owner had it until 96. It was a survivor quality car with original everything. He performed a frame off restoration on it and due to finances he sold it to me recently. It is fully option with 300 hp, ac, side exh, pw, etc. It is tuxedo black with ZQ4 interior with all original paperwork. Sounds normal, however when I got into the car I noticed that the casting on the block is 3959512. The pad has the right number and everything matched the pop and the original inspection sheet and a local department of revenue doc with the engine info on it. I spoke to the original owner who swears that the engine, trans and rear end had never been out of the car when he sold it. He wrote me a letter confirming this. He said that he ordered the car with a L46 engine and an automatic. Then he received a call from the salesperson that they were on strike and he would have to wait. 2 mos before the expected delivery he received a call from the salesperson again stating that he could not order the car with an automatic and the L46 option and had to order a bb or a 300 hp with the automatic. He went back forth. Changed the order to a bb then back to a 300hp. It has a correct dated bb rear end, and rear sway bar. It had the original bb half shafts but durring the restoration he put the correct ones on for a sb car.
I looked up the casting on the internet and it matched up with a 62-63 327 200 hp. However the casing date is I27 68. I panicked and wondered how did this engine get in this car! Then I found this on a site:
3959512
This engine casting number is erroneously displayed on many Internet sites as a 1962-63 327-250 hp engine. This is a SERVICE block only. It was available beginning in 1969 as a replacement block, short block, fitted block, and apparently full engine due to some having the engine code stamped on the pad. It is a small journal block used to service 1962 to 1967 applications. It was never used in production of any car as the small journal production car use ended in 1967, two years before this block appeared
I fully believe that this is the original motor. I also know that the rear end is a correct 3:08 posi as ordered new , however it is a BB code AV. It is dated July 1969. I know it was built after the strike. The build date is M12. Like I said I have a full binder of original paperwork for the car and I seriously doubt anyone would re-stamp a 300 HP car. I know a lot of weird things happened from the plant. I have had a number of factory deviation cars in my collection. Any insight would be greatly helpful. I might have it judged if I can clear this up. As always thanks for your wisdom and your guidance.
I looked up the casting on the internet and it matched up with a 62-63 327 200 hp. However the casing date is I27 68. I panicked and wondered how did this engine get in this car! Then I found this on a site:
3959512
This engine casting number is erroneously displayed on many Internet sites as a 1962-63 327-250 hp engine. This is a SERVICE block only. It was available beginning in 1969 as a replacement block, short block, fitted block, and apparently full engine due to some having the engine code stamped on the pad. It is a small journal block used to service 1962 to 1967 applications. It was never used in production of any car as the small journal production car use ended in 1967, two years before this block appeared
I fully believe that this is the original motor. I also know that the rear end is a correct 3:08 posi as ordered new , however it is a BB code AV. It is dated July 1969. I know it was built after the strike. The build date is M12. Like I said I have a full binder of original paperwork for the car and I seriously doubt anyone would re-stamp a 300 HP car. I know a lot of weird things happened from the plant. I have had a number of factory deviation cars in my collection. Any insight would be greatly helpful. I might have it judged if I can clear this up. As always thanks for your wisdom and your guidance.
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