1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

[Garry B.]

Guys, looking at a 1960 283 block. Casting date is A40 and engine assembly F106. Is two days typical for a 1960 Flint block to go from casting to assembly in two days? I know that with the earlier model years, it was possible, but I don't know the 1960 model year that well. BTW- it does have a serial number stamp and does have a Corvette suffix. Engine stamp is definitely the real deal, still sorting out the VIN stamp.

At first I read the F106 as October 6th, but when I obtained the casting date it must be January 6th. When did they go from three numbers to four? I believe it was some time in mid-January from my archive research, but would like your input as to this.
Thanks.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

I believe you've made it to the plateau where pictures are required. Why? Because internal GM documents suggest VIN stamping began AFTER
THE STRIKE ENDED IN MID-JANUARY. In short, no one was assembling motors at the Flint engine plant on Wednesday January 6, 1960.

[Garry B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

Loren......very interesting. If this isn't an original engine stamp, it is one of the best I have ever seen. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[Garry B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

BTW- I do see the horizontal lines, but when I zoom in, I don't see shadows of anything previously stamped. Trying to sort out the VIN derivative as well. Thoughts?

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

In short, no one was assembling motors at the Flint engine plant on Wednesday January 6, 1960.

Interesting. What about Jan. 5th, 7th and 12th?

[Chuck B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

This is a real stamp. Block casting date L309.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

Well, let's look at the bright side - every one who owns a Dec or Jan 1960 Corvette has located their camera! Somehow it doesn't help to have dug out the strike dates at the engine plants IF YOU CAN'T ACCURATELY REMEMBER WHAT THEY WERE. Back at work at Flint on DECEMBER 14, 1959 and no new contract until January 15, 1960. My apologies! The background files will be consulted IN ADVANCE in the future. Now I'm convinced that 2018 HAS TO BE BETTER.

[Garry B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

Loren, so what you are saying is that they went back to work December 14th, 1959 and worked without a contract until January 15th, 1960 when a new contract went into force? Right? Not trying to make you feel any worse than you already do, just want to be sure I understand the sequence. Thanks for responding.

[Garry B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

Anyone have any thoughts on this block stamp?

[James G.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

60 Corvette vin #1617 stamp attached. FI208CQ stamp. One of the earliest stamps I have.

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

Here's one a bit earlier Jim, kind of hard to read but it's #1322 F1014CU

[Garry B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

Guys, what I notice is a very convoluted pattern of the three digit versus the four digit date stamps on the engine assembly stamp. I see early VIN's with four digit dates and later VIN's with three digit dates. Do you see the same thing?

[Edward M.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

The leading zero for the month of assembly occurs between January 15th (Friday) and January 18th (Monday) of 1960. The engine assembly pad for Jan 15th is FII5CQ. The engine assembly code for January 18th is F0II8CQ.

This change, of course, applies to Flint engines. I am sure that Tonawanda engines also changes at some point, I just do not know what it is.

All Flint engines starting with 1957 to January 15th will NOT have a leading zero for the month part of the assembly date. All Flint engines from January 18th and beyond WILL have lading zeros for the month part of the assembly date.

So now the question is, what about the 16th and the 17th (Saturday and Sunday) of January? Perhaps no engines were assembled on those two dates.

Inquiring minds...

Here is an "interesting" engine pad. See anything unusual in this stamp?

[Garry B.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

EN instead of EM? I don't think there was an EN. Wild guess.

[Edward M.]

Re: 1960 block casting and assembly schedule question

We just talked about it...a leading zero for the month part of the assembly date on a 1957 engine...NOT!

Ops, the restamper, I mean the restoration engine pad developer, made a slight mistake.