Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

[Domenic T.]

Block in my 67 coupe is a 3916321 casting with a CE on the stamp pad CE51463? My notes from the forum says the year built is somewhere in the CE code. My notes say that after the CE is the year built? Block # 3916321 said late 67 to early 68.

Dom

[Joe L.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Block in my 67 coupe is a 3916321 casting with a CE on the stamp pad CE51463? My notes from the forum says the year built is somewhere in the CE code. My notes say that after the CE is the year built? Block # 3916321 said late 67 to early 68.

Dom

Dom-------


As far as I know, the number sequence following "CE" is a sequence number and does not include a date code of any sort.

[Paul D.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Joe, was the CE code only assigned to warranty replacement engines or components? Would the CE number Dom references indicate a bare block replacement? Would a replacement engine or long/short block have more information such as suffix code indicating internals or HP rating? If not, how would you feel confident you had a correct, replacement engine. Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide and also for sharing your wealth of knowledge in these matters with us on this TDB.

[Mark F.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Two John Hinckley posts follow (hope these help):

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html

"Here's a summary on the "CE" engines, from the "Engine" section of our CRG (Camaro Research Group) website, http://www.camaros.org:

Quoting from a Chevrolet Dealer Service Information Bulletin dated 14 April, 1969, on the new identification scheme for 5/50 warranty components:

The first letter will designate the GM division which produced the engine. C-Chevrolet L-Oldsmobile K-Cadillac B-Buick P-Pontiac
The second letter will designate the type of unit "E" engine or "T" transmission. The number following the letter will designate the model year "9" for 1969. The last five digits specify the service replacement unit sequence number. The group of numbers to be used by Chevrolet manufacturing plants [for engines, CRG] are as follows:

• Flint motor plant (L-6 engines) 00001 to 19999
• Flint V-8 engine plant 20000 to 49999
• Tonawanda motor plant 50000 to 79999

Example: Number CE900175 designates Chevrolet engine - 1969 year, and the 175th unit produced for service at the Flint motor plant.

This numbering system applies to service engine assemblies, partial engines, fitted cylinder cases, cylinder cases, transmission assemblies and transmission cases.

Note that engine plants took some liberties with this scheme and the sequence coding changed somewhat over the years, including some added characters whose meaning is unknown."

And here's more about what he said in Post #9 in 2014 https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?107482-CE-stamped-blocks-numbers-do-they-identify-the-HP&highlight=CE+Block

"CE" replacements were furnished either as short blocks or fitted blocks, and the innards were configured (pistons, cam, etc.) to be compatible with the horsepower level of the failed engine, as the bolt-on parts (heads, intake, water pump, pan, were to be swapped from the failed engine. "CE" short blocks were ordered by part number from a horsepower/application matrix, and that part number only appeared on the shipping paperwork and on the shipping crate. The numbers following the "CE" stamp said nothing about the internals - only the year of manufacture and the sequence number for that year from a specific engine plant.

There was no such animal as a "CE" bare block; you just ordered a bare block, and it arrived with a blank pad."

[Frank H.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

also:http://chevellestuff.net/qd/engine_stamp_numbers.htm
"It's been reported that beginning in 1970, if more engines were needed at a given plant in a year than the range of sequence numbers allotted, the plant would re-use the numbers using the letter "A" after the "CE" and year designation. For example, Tonawanda was assigned the sequence range of 50,000 to 79,999 so if more engines were required the numbering would start over again at 50,000 but the "CE" prefix would become "CExA" where 'x' is the year such as CE0A50000."

[Richard F.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

As verification of Mark's post I've attached a copy of a receipt for a block I purchased in 1971. As you can see the actual page from my parts book I used in 1971 listing a Partial Block 3970166 (SP. H/Per.,FI) and the actual receipt for my purchase. You simply ordered a short block for a particular application and the only proof of application was on your receipt or on the crate.

Two John Hinckley posts follow (hope these help):

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html

"Here's a summary on the "CE" engines, from the "Engine" section of our CRG (Camaro Research Group) website, http://www.camaros.org:

Quoting from a Chevrolet Dealer Service Information Bulletin dated 14 April, 1969, on the new identification scheme for 5/50 warranty components:

The first letter will designate the GM division which produced the engine. C-Chevrolet L-Oldsmobile K-Cadillac B-Buick P-Pontiac
The second letter will designate the type of unit "E" engine or "T" transmission. The number following the letter will designate the model year "9" for 1969. The last five digits specify the service replacement unit sequence number. The group of numbers to be used by Chevrolet manufacturing plants [for engines, CRG] are as follows:

• Flint motor plant (L-6 engines) 00001 to 19999
• Flint V-8 engine plant 20000 to 49999
• Tonawanda motor plant 50000 to 79999

Example: Number CE900175 designates Chevrolet engine - 1969 year, and the 175th unit produced for service at the Flint motor plant.

This numbering system applies to service engine assemblies, partial engines, fitted cylinder cases, cylinder cases, transmission assemblies and transmission cases.

Note that engine plants took some liberties with this scheme and the sequence coding changed somewhat over the years, including some added characters whose meaning is unknown."

And here's more about what he said in Post #9 in 2014 https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?107482-CE-stamped-blocks-numbers-do-they-identify-the-HP&highlight=CE+Block

"CE" replacements were furnished either as short blocks or fitted blocks, and the innards were configured (pistons, cam, etc.) to be compatible with the horsepower level of the failed engine, as the bolt-on parts (heads, intake, water pump, pan, were to be swapped from the failed engine. "CE" short blocks were ordered by part number from a horsepower/application matrix, and that part number only appeared on the shipping paperwork and on the shipping crate. The numbers following the "CE" stamp said nothing about the internals - only the year of manufacture and the sequence number for that year from a specific engine plant.

There was no such animal as a "CE" bare block; you just ordered a bare block, and it arrived with a blank pad."

[Domenic T.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Thanks for all the info, but my CE is followed by a 5, and it's on a 67/68 block 3916321. So did the do this in 1965 before the block was made, or did they get a leftover block from 67/68 and stamp the # in 1975, or is this a bogus stamp?
Can anyone decode it? CE51463.

Dom

[Mark F.]

8https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...light=CE+Block

September 2nd, 2014, 02:05 PM#11 Domenic Tallarita (51287) Default Re: CE stamped blocks numbers, do they identify the HP?

Michael, I've got my CE #s off my 435 BB as I told ED I would. CE851463. Casting- 3916321 H 15 7 = August 15 67 Dom

Then John H. replied to you saying (after copying your quote):

September 2nd, 2014, 08:40 PM#12 John Hinckley (29964)

Dom - That says the engine was manufactured in 1968, and was the 1,463rd "CE" engine made at Tonawanda that year (Tonawanda's assigned block of "CE" sequence numbers started with 50,000).

The "5" is not the year - it's the first digit in sequence numbers assigned to Tonawanda

Maybe you forgot what he said back then? dunno - I'm just reading what I'm seeing. thx, Mark

[Patrick B.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Thanks for all the info, but my CE is followed by a 5, and it's on a 67/68 block 3916321. So did the do this in 1965 before the block was made, or did they get a leftover block from 67/68 and stamp the # in 1975, or is this a bogus stamp?
Can anyone decode it? CE51463.

Dom

The 321 block was only made in late 67 and early 68. What was the casting date? Your 51463 number falls into the number sequence assigned to Tonawanda, but the date digit is missing. The examples given were 69 and later blocks. Maybe yours was marked before the need for a year digit was established. 1967 bare blocks did not have any CE numbers at all, so maybe the system evolved with the first 68 blocks bearing no year designation. I doubt anyone would stamp a CE number but the factory. Post a photo and we can see if it is in typical factory stamp fonts.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Guys,
Thanks for the help, just got home from the shop. Patrick the casting date is H 15 7.

Dom

[Mark F.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

The 321 block was only made in late 67 and early 68. What was the casting date? Your 51463 number falls into the number sequence assigned to Tonawanda, but the date digit is missing. The examples given were 69 and later blocks. Maybe yours was marked before the need for a year digit was established. 1967 bare blocks did not have any CE numbers at all, so maybe the system evolved with the first 68 blocks bearing no year designation. I doubt anyone would stamp a CE number but the factory. Post a photo and we can see if it is in typical factory stamp fonts.

Dom, got a photo of the "CE" stamp?

[Duke W.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

As verification of Mark's post I've attached a copy of a receipt for a block I purchased in 1971. As you can see the actual page from my parts book I used in 1971 listing a Partial Block 3970166 (SP. H/Per.,FI) and the actual receipt for my purchase. You simply ordered a short block for a particular application and the only proof of application was on your receipt or on the crate.

Do you know what camshaft was installed in that '62-'65 SHP/FI mechanical lifter short block?

Duke

[Domenic T.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Mark,
Will get it.

Dom

[Tom L.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

FWIW, my early '72 has a CE block in it. the casting is spring of '72 (Don't remember the exact month). I ASSUME it was replaced under warranty since it was cast within the 12 month warranty period. Whoever dropped the block in, I'm ASSUMING the dealer, was nice enough to stamp the date and application code on the deck before re-installing the heads. BTW, the heads on the car are dated les than 2 weeks from the build date. Below is a pic of the pad.
IMG_8857.jpg

[Richard F.]

Re: Confused about the CE block code info on my 67 BB.

Duntov cam

Rich