Early 1965 396

[Charles S.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Then that brings up the question about what is the pad stamp, since casting dates are not very definitive for build dates.

I have the car in storage and when I go there I will get the answer.

[Steve B.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Duke,
If this is the "cast" date it would translate to February 29, 1965...or, am I missing something?

If that's the case then there's a problem. 1965 was not a leap year.

[Michael J.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Good catch!

[Duke W.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Duke,
If this is the "cast" date it would translate to February 29, 1965...or, am I missing something?

Yeah, but he said "engine date code" so I thought Tonawanda data and VIN-derivative stamped on the RH block deck. Sometime after I made my post I realized that B295 is the block casting date, but figured someone else would point that out.

We could use a good photo of the "stamp pad" with the Tonawanda and VIN derivative data.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Early 1965 396

If that's the case then there's a problem. 1965 was not a leap year.

20th century leap years from a Web search:

"...while years 1901 - 2000 had 25 leap years and 75 non-leap years: 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000."

The 28th was a Sunday, so Monday was March 1 not Feb. 29. Foundry error? If so there are probably other "B295" 396 block date codes out there.

I recall way back in the early 2000s there was a very active L-72 owner on the CF... kind of a braggart. Then one day he pressure washes the engine and it knocked off the casting numbers, which were just Bondo or some other filler material. I was somewhat surprised he admitted that he'd been had rather than just disappearing, but he did disappear not long after.

You never know...

Duke

[Leif A.]

Re: Early 1965 396

If that's the case then there's a problem. 1965 was not a leap year.

So, the mystery continues...

[Patrick B.]

Re: Early 1965 396

The block casting date can be hard to read. B-20-5 was the casting date for several early 396 cars. It may be that the casting date is really B-20-5 rather than B-29-5. Pictures are needed.

[Owen L.]

Re: Early 1965 396

The block casting date can be hard to read. B-20-5 was the casting date for several early 396 cars. It may be that the casting date is really B-20-5 rather than B-29-5. Pictures are needed.

Agreed that casting numbers can be very difficult to decipher given the lack of detail in the numbers 0, 3, 5, 6, 8, & 9. It seems worse with engine casting numbers compared to manifold, head, and water pump castings - at least to me!

[David H.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Discussion also on CF (with some photos) at:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...396-coupe.html

[Patrick B.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Nice pix of the car but no details about the engine.

[Jack M.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Sometimes, I forget some of the resources I've researched/saved/purchased... along with those I've already posted before.
Herez one example from a previous post... I've now made a new composite of the important 396 intro dates and references:

1965 Corvette 396 Intro Timeline.jpg

[Michael J.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Thanks Jack!

[Leif A.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Jack,
A veritable plethora of hard to find, reliable, factual information. Thank you Jack!!

[Joseph S.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Great job as usual Jack!!

[Duke W.]

Re: Early 1965 396

Sometimes, I forget some of the resources I've researched/saved/purchased... along with those I've already posted before.
Herez one example from a previous post... I've now made a new composite of the important 396 intro dates and references:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]123638[/ATTACH]

Is it correct to assume that "in production at the Assembly plant" means the engine assembly plant - Tonawanda - and not available for installation at a vehicle assembly plant?

A guy I knew in high school - a year ahead of me - got a very early L-78, I recall it was March, but that seems a bit early based on the above, so maybe it was April or even May. I recall the first time I ran across him we got into a little match race, and he blew me off in the first second although I may not have been in the right gear.

If he was still around I could probably contact him through my high school alumni association to see if he remembered anything about the car or had any documentation, but he passed away in 2018.

It's looks like we're not going to get a photo of the stamp pad for the subject vehicle in this thread.

Duke