Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

[Richard M.]

Sorry guys, but this is driving me a little bonkers. For those familiar with the C6, where is the vin derivative located on the LS2 engine, cylinder block part# & cast date? Nobody on the other Corvette forums seems to know.

I may want to have this car judged in about 15 years and don't want to wait till the last minute to have my proper info available. Hmmm, maybe we should start working on a C6 judging manual now since these cars are "original".

Rich

[Terry M.]

[Chuck S.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Sorry guys, but this is driving me a little bonkers. For those familiar with the C6, where is the vin derivative located on the LS2 engine, cylinder block part# & cast date? Nobody on the other Corvette forums seems to know.

I may want to have this car judged in about 15 years and don't want to wait till the last minute to have my proper info available. Hmmm, maybe we should start working on a C6 judging manual now since these cars are "original".

Rich

Heh, Heh...Well, Rich, maybe you'll have that engine information at hand when the time comes, but barring a really good reason to pull the engine, maybe not.

The engine/VIN info is engraved on the driver side bell housing flange. You may be able to see it using an inspection mirror with the car on a lift, but quarters are pretty close in there. I have seen that info being engraved on a engine being prepped for installation at Bowling Green.

And, all this time we thought the engine pad info was hard to see on a C4.

Edit: P.S. If you have the Helms service manual, this location is shown in Volume 2, Engine. In the 2006 service manual, the page number was 6-319...regardless what year C6, that page number should be close.

[Richard M.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Okaaay, Thank you guys.....I was a bit worried. I have the full GM service history of this car and was wondering if there was an issue. Of course, first place I looked was the right front of the case. There is a huge pad there on the cyl case. It's blank(pic below). I'm a bit confused why they didn't use that area. It's so easy to see. Future judging checks for the assy/vin derivative is certainly going to be tricky then. Hmmm, a lift at every judged event???

Going to a buddies shop later.....maybe we'll check it out.

I actually have a Helms 3 volume manual set on the way. A few more pages than ST-12 for sure!

Thanks,
Rich

[Chuck S.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Rich, I haven't tried to see that info on my 2006, but I suspect my lineless bifocals would need to be telescopic in order to see it from under the hood...or from underneath. Even with telescopic bifocals, you will need an inspection mirror. Better read the info fast before it accumulates any dust.

[Terry M.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Chuck -- I just got the 2008 Helms. They are still in the shrink-wrap. I'll have to look. I've been avoiding opening them hoping keeping them wrapped will obviate the need to use them.

I don't know why they didn't use the traditional location for the VIN, but if you saw the machine that puts it on there -- it is HUGE. Computer driven from a scan of the bar code on the engine build sheet. A lot of pins to make a pattern of dots -- kind of like a super dot-matrix (remember those) printer without paper or ink.

BTW: I was told the software would not let them input a VIN out of sequence without the intervention of a supervisor -- kind of like needing a key to void a sale at the supermarket. Ah science.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Chuck -- I just got the 2008 Helms. They are still in the shrink-wrap. I'll have to look. I've been avoiding opening them hoping keeping them wrapped will obviate the need to use them.

HaHaHa... Open'em up and dig in; nothing bad happened when I paged through mine. You'll find some interesting info on repair of the Z06 aluminum frame.

...I don't know why they didn't use the traditional location for the VIN, but if you saw the machine that puts it on there -- it is HUGE. Computer driven from a scan of the bar code on the engine build sheet. A lot of pins to make a pattern of dots -- kind of like a super dot-matrix (remember those) printer without paper or ink.

When I commented on this machine a year or so ago, you may remember John Hinckley adding some more info. He was familiar with what I was describing...I thought it was a laser or something, but John said it was like a dot matrix needle gun printer that made the characters. The characters are SMALL and very precise. Is it just me, or is everyone printing label directions and other info as small as possible?

...BTW: I was told the software would not let them input a VIN out of sequence without the intervention of a supervisor -- kind of like needing a key to void a sale at the supermarket. Ah science.

The tour guide also told me about this feature. I was particularly interested because it appeared to eliminate the possibility of "grind outs" and double strikes. I'm not sure it's foolproof, but VIN errors would have to be so rare, they would probably have to train these new guys on how to fix a screw up (double-supervisor complicit-screwup? ).

[Richard M.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Here's the info from my just received 07 Helms. Vol2 Page 9-827.

Ok, I can guess the 2nd digit, but what's the 1st and 3rd. I think the Assembly Plant is somewhere in Missouri...oops.....I meant Kentucky. Hmmmm...now to search for the cast date on the block.

Rich
p.s. I think I just started writing the beginnings of the Mechanical section of the C6 Judging Guide.:-)

[Gary B.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

I wonder what numbers/information would be put on a replacement block?

[Terry M.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

There is/was a program to replace LS7 engines at Bowling Green -- yes the broken car was sent back to the Assy plant under warrantee. The engineers involved in that program talked about reapplying the VIN derivative to the new cylinder case with the assembly line machine. I don't know the details of that program beyond this, but I suppose out-of-sequence date codes would be the result.

[Gary B.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Thanks Terry. I was wondering about blocks replaced at dealers. I know of one that was replaced because of a bad casting which leaked anti-freeze into cylinders.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

I wonder what numbers/information would be put on a replacement block?

I assume you mean what is the modern equivalent of the old "CE" stamp?...That is one piece of information I would rather not have an opportunity to know.

Short of ordering a replacement block from your dealer, and reading that info off the replacement, I expect the only way to find out is to ask someone who sees replacement blocks routinely.

Even then, it would have to be someone with an essential need for that info in their job, such as a parts or inventory manager. A sharp maintenance technician might have noted the stamp, but the typical tech, probably not. Most dealer parts and service guys would think you are "a few bricks short of a load" for even asking. Now, Joe Lucia could probably dig us up an answer.

[Terry M.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

Best bet might be to go look at that car, if you can.
I sure hope we are all around to give witness to all this when NCRS begins to judge these cars. No offense, but I have my doubts. Patrick and his copadres will have to carry the torch.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Off topic, but "C6" Corvette.......

If such a block is installed in a real car, and you know the VIN, warranty maintenance history for the vehicle should be available online to any GM dealer...getting them to share it with you may be a little more difficult. The specifications and information on an identifiable primary part like an engine block is likely recorded in the maintenance history.