goofy block.....

[Bill W.]

I bought a car that has a small block chevrolet engine with the following numbers; cast# 3959512, date A230, stamped CEOA 38252. Does anyone recognize the casting number? I checked Covin's book but it is not listed. It was represented to be a 327, is it? Bill

[Dan H.]

Re: goofy block.....

Bill, it's a 'Chevrolet Engine' 'CE' that was a replacement short block etc. from Chevrolet Dealers. They used the 512 casting number. The other numbers are mfr sequence numbers. Archives have more details on decoding it.
Dan

[Tom H.]

Re: goofy block.....

I believe that casting would be right for a 327.

[Bill W.]

Re: goofy block.....

Thanks guys. I wanted to confirm that I have a 327 in there, not a 283. Bill

[Dan H.]

Re: goofy block.....

Bill, the date is probably for 1970, that's during the time the CE engines were available.
Dan

[Jim T.]

Re: goofy block.....

Bill, the date is probably for 1970, that's during the time the CE engines were available.
Dan

Dan I believe you have posted the correct information in identifing CE0A. I have a CEOA 47538 but it is a 3970010 block with a casting date D260. I know my block is a 350. I have had it for 39 years this month and know when it was installed at the dealer.

[Joe L.]

Re: goofy block.....

Thanks guys. I wanted to confirm that I have a 327 in there, not a 283. Bill

Bill-----

It's definitely NOT a 283. The 3959512 block was a 4" bore block, so it could not be used for a 283. There's a possibility it could have been built into a 350 cid engine (with small journal crank), but it's very unlikely.

[Chris W.]

Re: goofy block.....

I bought a car that has a small block chevrolet engine with the following numbers; cast# 3959512, date A230, stamped CEOA 38252. Does anyone recognize the casting number? I checked Covin's book but it is not listed. It was represented to be a 327, is it? Bill

The '512 Block was a service replacement and was usually sold as a short block or fitted block back in the late '60s or early '70s. It was of a 327 configuration with the vent on the back by the distributor. This block is based on the '010 350 patterns but had the vent and was usually machined with small journal mains. It will have the numbers "010" behind the flywheel and in the timing chain area. It is a very good block to make a vintage race engine out of for a mid year as the main webs and cylinder walls are thicker then the earlier 327 blocks. These blocks can be easily machined for 4 bolt mains and large journal cranks.

Number wise, this block is not usable for a "Numbers Matching" restored car.

I hope this helps.

Chris