Quick answer needed 58-60

[Darren H.]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']I am looking at a 58....and the listing is "period correct" engine.[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The block numbers can be the same for the 58,59 and 60's. The stamp pad date/suffix is right, but again according to the black book....this may be the case also for these years. [/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']How am I to know for sure that this is a :[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']"True Numbers matching car" or a "Numbers right for the period car"[/font]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Would there be an easy way to tell if there is a 1960 engine in this 1958 car??[/font]

[Tom B.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

Saying period correct sound like they are admitting that it isn't the original engine but one that looks like it with correct type components. If the casting number is correct and the stamp pad is correct then check the casting date on the rear of the block on the opposite side from the casting number.

The casting number starts with a single letter for the month starting with "A" for January and followed with a digit or digits representing the day of the month. The casting number ends with a single digit that is the last digit in the calander year. Example would be 8 for 1958. If your casting date is shortly before the stamp pad date and that is shortly before the build date of your car then it is at least a correctly numbered car.

Don't forget to also check the numbers on the heads, intake, carb, starter, generator, distributor ect. All of this stuff can really add up if it isn't right and you want to make it right.

Tom

[Darren H.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

The casting number is 3756519. I have read on prior posts that this would be a late one for a 58. The pad stamp date is in Dec....is this one year apart or seem correct??

I presume they phrasing "period correct" is the give away. I will ask...
Thanks for the quick reply

[Tom B.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

According to the Spec Guide a 519 block could be in the car beginning in mid to late '58. The 3737739 block was used also through '58 into early '59. I'd check that casting date to be sure you have a late '58 519 block.

I didn't notice earlier that you were a new member. Welcome aboard.

Tom

[Gary C.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

Darren, make sure it's a Flint block. Small 1/8" pipe oil plug right above the water pump on passenger side and single digit year date code; 1958 would be 8. If no pipe plug and/or two digit year date code (58) it's not a Flint block. C1 Corvette V/8 engines were always Flint blocks. Gary....

[Bill M.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

The casting number is 3756519. I have read on prior posts that this would be a late one for a 58. The pad stamp date is in Dec....is this one year apart or seem correct??

I presume they phrasing "period correct" is the give away. I will ask...
Thanks for the quick reply

NCRS Judging Guide has 3737739 block in all 1958 Corvettes.

[Tom B.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

Thanks for the info Bill. My Judging Manual is a little old (1990) and my Spec guide is first addition also. I have made the proper notations. If I was more involved in judging I'd just get a new one.

Do they still show the 739 being used into early 1959 and is there a note about what car number this ended with?

Tom

[Stephen R.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

I'm interested in this answer also.

[Bill M.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

Thanks for the info Bill. My Judging Manual is a little old (1990) and my Spec guide is first addition also. I have made the proper notations. If I was more involved in judging I'd just get a new one.

Do they still show the 739 being used into early 1959 and is there a note about what car number this ended with?

Tom

Tom and Stephen: They do show the 739 being used into 1959

Here's the entry:

1958 and early 1959:........3737739
late 1958 thru 1960:.........3756519

Maybe that makes sense to you...all I can figure is that the top listing refers to model year and the lower listing applies to calendar year.

I can tell you that Flint was using the 519 in mid. Nov. 1958.

Bill

[Stephen R.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

Thanks, I have a March 26, 1959 Vette with a 519 block so I'm good to go.

[Tom B.]

Re: Quick answer needed 58-60

My '59 is a mid November '58 built car. I have the original heads, carbs ext. but the short block is MIA sometime before I got it in 1969. It has a '61 block with light truck stamping. I have always wondered which block I should be looking for. Obviously I haven't been looking too hard over the last 40 years. I have checked every 283 block I have come across for casting dates though.

Tom