66 427 dates

[Jeff D.]

I'm looking at a 66 427 425HP conv to buy from a local guy. The engine appears original to me. The VIN is clearly correct on the front pad. The cars birthday was oct 12 65. The block was cast I2265(sept) and assembled Sept 28 65. Does this sound OK or are the dates to close? The car is a total basket case now needing total restoration. I think this is the original engine. What are your thoughts on the dates?

[Wayne W.]

Re: 66 427 dates

I would expect that number to be I225 not I2265. But Six days to assemnly from casting is normal.

[Joseph T.]

Re: 66 427 dates

Jeff,
I owned a 1966 427/390 HP convertible with original casting date E106 (May 10,1966) and engine assembly date of TO518IL (May 18,1966). The block should be original.Good Luck.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: 66 427 dates

I would expect that number to be I225 not I2265. But Six days to assemnly from casting is normal.

I agree date tag would be I 22 5. Months were letters IE. A is JAN
KEN BARRY 7808

[John K.]

Re: 66 427 dates

Could a casting date of C96 with a assembly date of T0513 be correct with car bulid date of June 9th?

[John H.]

Re: 66 427 dates

Could a casting date of C96 with a assembly date of T0513 be correct with car bulid date of June 9th?

Yes, it could; it's not uncommon to see a month or two between big-block casting dates and engine assembly dates.

[John K.]

Re: 66 427 dates

Thanks John

[Michael W.]

Re: 66 427 dates

If you're about to pay the 'original engine surcharge' for this car, best have someone like Al Grenning look at the pad.

[Gary S.]

Re: 66 427 dates

Yes, it could; it's not uncommon to see a month or two between big-block casting dates and engine assembly dates.

NCRS uses that six month rule and I think most of us have not seen such a spread. I can attest to a 67 435 coupe in my town in the hands of the original owner, and a car I have known since new, that has a block casting date of September xx (can't remember), 1966 and an assembly date of Feb 10, 1967...close to 5 months. This is an original motor car and will show up on the judging field in another year or so for the very first time.

[William C.]

Re: 66 427 dates

The real issue is the "last in first out" inventory control when blocks were delivered to the engine plants from the foundries. If production was "normal" 24-72 hours from casting to finished engine was likely the norm, but if there was a problem at the foundry and the inventory got low, the blocks from the "back of the pile" started being used to maintain production. The only real attempt to "clear" the system would have been at model change when the next model required a different block. That's also when some factory altered casting numbers (ground off and stamped) are (very occasionally) seen.