1960: A good one for the Forum!

[James S.]

While installing the front engine mount, I noticed that the passenger side portion sits flush to the water inlet hole, while the driver side rests partially on the head leaving a small gap about 1/64th of an inch. I could see from the original factory install, the back or the driver's side engine mount had a small crease from the head casting flashing when the mount is torqued. It appears to me that when the bolts are torqued, the mount is pressed flush with the water hole surface. This is normal I take it??? I've never torqued a part to the surface of any engine where this scenario is the case. I'm thinking this may cause problems down the road???

See picture for reference. I have edited the pic in white where you can see where the front mount rests on those protruding portions of the head.

Thanks in advance.

Goatster

[Bill M.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

While installing the front engine mount, I noticed that the passenger side portion sits flush to the water inlet hole, while the driver side rests partially on the head leaving a small gap about 1/64th of an inch. I could see from the original factory install, the back or the driver's side engine mount had a small crease from the head casting flashing when the mount is torqued. It appears to me that when the bolts are torqued, the mount is pressed flush with the water hole surface. This is normal I take it??? I've never torqued a part to the surface of any engine where this scenario is the case. I'm thinking this may cause problems down the road???

See picture for reference. I have edited the pic in white where you can see where the front mount rests on those protruding portions of the head.

Thanks in advance.

Goatster

I have two 519 blocks with 550 heads. They both have a gap between the water pump surface and the cylinder head surface on the driver's side, so the mount would pull tight to the block and clear the head.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

I've seen this problem and posted it a couple of times within threads but no one ever responded. As I understand the tonowanda head synbols are not machined and the Flint heads are. This would set up a problem with the early vette motor mounts.

I had noticed a few mounts cracked where it would interfere with the head symbol. The interference is so minute but apparently does cause a problem. It would be very easy to miss.

Wonder if this is just on T heads or if it happens with Flint heads as well?

[Jack H.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

You can also have a configuration issue with the water pump itself. Factory originals used a flat rear plate with low profile slotted head screws. Most pump rebuilders (those NOT doing factory concours work) like to use the later era rear plate on their pumps (the plate with 'lipped' edges) and hex head bolts to achieve better sealing characteristics.

The lipped edge of the later style rear plate and the hex head bolts cause the pump to demand more backside clearance than the factory original. Couple that with pump rebuilder due diligence in milling the attaching legs of the pump to eliminate pit/rust and achive a nice flat/true surface for the pump's gasket to seat against and it's possible to eat up the design safety margin in pump to engine clearance...

[John H.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

Jim -

What's the date code on the cylinder heads (under the valve covers)? Those may be Tonawanda heads (two digits for the year portion of the date code). It's hard to tell from the photo, but the front of the casting symbol on Tonawanda heads (not used on Corvettes) wasn't machined; the front of the casting symbol on Flint heads WAS machined flat, perpendicular to the deck surface.

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

Jim -

What's the date code on the cylinder heads (under the valve covers)? Those may be Tonawanda heads (two digits for the year portion of the date code). It's hard to tell from the photo, but the front of the casting symbol on Tonawanda heads (not used on Corvettes) wasn't machined; the front of the casting symbol on Flint heads WAS machined flat, perpendicular to the deck surface.

John

Do you think the Flint heads casting symbol was machined specifically to help clear the installation of the Corvette motor mount ( which would not have been necessary on passenger cars)?

Joe

[James S.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

Jim -

What's the date code on the cylinder heads (under the valve covers)? Those may be Tonawanda heads (two digits for the year portion of the date code). It's hard to tell from the photo, but the front of the casting symbol on Tonawanda heads (not used on Corvettes) wasn't machined; the front of the casting symbol on Flint heads WAS machined flat, perpendicular to the deck surface.

Hi John,

Thx for the response!

Please see pics of the heads; first two are passenger side; next two are driver. Looks like one head is a 1963 cast code. Interesting. K309 is Nov 13, 1959 right? And L263 is Dec 12, 1963 right?

According to Colvin's Corvette by the Numbers book, the 3795896 was used extensively in 2 BBl applications in 1964, and the Chevy II. Ugh!!! I should have checked prior to rebuild. Well, are the specs the same for both heads i.e., flow through characteristics, etc? I'll find another head if this is not the case.

Thx in advance.

JIm

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

Hi John,

Thx for the response!

Please see pics of the heads; first two are passenger side; next two are driver. Looks like one head is a 1963 cast code. Interesting. K309 is Nov 13, 1959 right? And L263 is Dec 12, 1963 right?

According to Colvin's Corvette by the Numbers book, the 3795896 was used extensively in 2 BBl applications in 1964, and the Chevy II. Ugh!!! I should have checked prior to rebuild. Well, are the specs the same for both heads i.e., flow through characteristics, etc? I'll find another head if this is not the case.

Thx in advance.

JIm

Looks like Nov 30 1959 and Dec 26 1958..unless the letter I was not used. ( can't remember ) DEC 26th would be an interesting date.

[James S.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

Looks like Nov 30 1959 and Dec 26 1958..unless the letter I was not used. ( can't remember ) DEC 26th would be an interesting date.

Yes, someone working over time because he didn't get a Vette for his Christmas present!!!

I'm gonna use a magnifier and seeif that's a "3" or "8."

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

http://midvette.homestead.com/Head_end_image_reduced.JPG

The above location has a photo of the broached cyl head end. Click on the smaller photo located on the website mentioned below to get the same view.

There are some words there - Don't know how accurate they are.

TD

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

...by broached I mean the Flint head. See Hinckley's post above.
Thanks
td

[James S.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

http://midvette.homestead.com/Head_e...ge_reduced.JPG

The above location has a photo of the broached cyl head end. Click on the smaller photo located on the website mentioned below to get the same view.

There are some words there - Don't know how accurate they are.

TD

Tom,

You've got me confused. John says the Flint head is flat, your picture depicts a raised cast portion on the end of the head that you refer to as Flint head, and from what Johnsays, that is a Towanda plant head.

Goat

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

I'm sorry - The raised "indicator" area of the head is still there, it's just been cut down some... on the Flint heads.

td

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

It has a "cast" texture on the Tonawanda NY heads.

td

[James S.]

Re: 1960: A good one for the Forum!

I'm sorry - The raised "indicator" area of the head is still there, it's just been cut down some... on the Flint heads.

td

Oh, okay. Well, I took a magniflying glass, and the date code appears to be a "3" and that conicides with the casting number. My question now is that I have a 59 and 63 head on this engine and I'm wondering if this engine will achieve balanced performance? Colvin's book shows that the bottom of the heads are very similar, but performance wise I'm just not sure.

Thx,

Goat