how can I decode the stamping on the passenger side front engine block

[Kenneth M.]

I have a 1963 Corvette Split Window and I would like to validate the motor as the original for my car.

The vin# is 30837S114004 - the stamping on the motor block (passenger side/front) is:

3114004 F03I4RE

Can I get some help

[Michael J.]

Re: how can I decode the stamping on the passenger side front engine block

Validating the motor is original to the car takes more than the numbers "matching" the build date time frame of the car and configuration, and the VIN. A very detailed and careful examination of the engine pad and these stamped letters and numbers has to be done by an expert, and even then it is not 100%.

The VIN on the motor is the same as the VIN you gave for the car, it is a VIN derivative (3 for the model year, then last 6 digits), not the entire VIN that was stamped on the motor's pad. The F is for the Flint engine manufacturing plant, which it should be, and the engine assembly date is March 14, 1963 (0314) the RE shows it to be a 340 HP, manual transmission Corvette engine suffix. It would be good to know what the body build date (stamped on the trim tag) is for this car, from the VIN sequence number, it appears to be a late April, 1963 built car.

But as I said, you need to get an expert, or two, to look closely at the stamps on the pad for a better opinion.

[Kenneth M.]

Re: how can I decode the stamping on the passenger side front engine block

Thanks Mike,
my car's build date is April 29, 1963