60 Engine Judge needed??

[Dick G.]

Should my 1960 corvette engine have the VIN number of the car stamped into it's engine pad? I always believed so. My car's VIN number is 8264? Early June build. I have found a corvette(?) block with a corvette assembly stamping (suffix code CS) but no VIN number from a car. The assembly stamping is FO4I6, which should be April 16, Correct? Problem: The block was cast E180 : May 18 1960. Assembly date stamping dated before casting date, What! This engine must be a restamp. Right, or am I missing something here? I will have to dig out my JG for this one. Isn't January A in 60 dating.
Thanks DG

[Joel F.]

Re: 60 Engine Judge needed??

Hi Dick,

I saw this engine on ebay as well. It is a curious piece to be sure. Will be interesting to see what others think.

Is your vin tag on the column? I would think late 60 would have it on the pad but I don't know the cut off date. Sorry . . .

[Dick G.]

Re: 60 Engine Judge needed??

Yes, my VIN tag is on the column. I cannot see any broach marks on the pad just sratches. I too, am curious what others think of this engine dating. At this time I must assume it is an incorrect dated restamp. Just because someone saw a 60 corvette engine with a VIN number on the pad, are they absolutely positive it is not an incorrect restamp clouding the actual time GM began stamping the VIN on the pad in 1960? Is anyone positive of the start time? I would appreciate a 60 judge to address this.
Thanks for your time.
Dick Gutman (13180)

[Mark P.]

Re: 60 Engine Judge needed??

My 1960 is a May 27, 1960 build and is #8065. I had a block restamped for me with my VIN. The Judging Manual says the VIN stamping started with VIN#1800 in mid-December 1959. Mine was stamped with "108065 F0510CT" for a May 10, 1960 assembly date and is a E20 block, which is May 2nd, 1960. The block casting date for the engine on EBAY doesn't make sense for the April assembly date.

[Tom D.]

Re: 60 Engine Judge needed??

My 1960 is a March, 1960 build and is #5631. All indications point to the orig. block having the VIN stamped on it.

TD

[Bob B.]

Re: 60 Engine Judge needed??

Dick,

Either the engine is a restamp or it was put together 4/16/61, which is pretty late for a 5/18/60 casting. I haven't looked on eBay, but it sounds like you'd probably need to rebroach and restamp anyway, so don't pay a premium over any other correct date block.

For a VIN as late as yours, you need the VIN derivative on your pad and it should be gang stamped.

Bob

[Dick G.]

Re: 60 Engine Judge needed??

Thanks for the replies.
DG