Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

[Steven B.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Thanks John and Jeff. John, I certainly don't want to put you to any trouble but I certainly won't try to disuade you from calling the guy with the vette block to see if it's worth pursuing. I'm really out of my league on this one. Jeff, thanks for your input on Crane's. Yes, the web site is sort of all over the place but it's nice to know his goods are decent. Can any of you guys help me with this whole "restamping" issue? I'm assuming that there is now a way to restamp parts but why exactly would someone do that if the date was already part of the exterior casting? If the block needed to be resurfaced and that removed the stamp, wouldn't that information need to be restamped? If so, is that what creates the controversy - since, at that point, I suppose any # sequence could be substituted for the original. Even so, if the date was already "correct" what is the advantage or disadvantage of "restamping"? Sorry - I'm sure this is something very basic to those "in the know." Unfortunately, I'm just confused. Thanks again guys,
Mike

Mike, restamping has been discussed dozens, if not hundreds, of times on the TDB. Do a search and you can come up to speed pretty quick. Also, search broach marks, the machine marks left on the pad before the factory stamping was done. There are some very sharp NCRS members who can detect restamps and broach marks.

Steve

[Rob M.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mike,

Welcome to "addiction" that is Corvette restoration!

Asking questions is key. Ask lots of them because if you aren't confident in your knowledge this hobby can be pretty costly (don't ask how I know).

A suggestion to help you in your search would be to join the local CA chapter of the NCRS and ask some of the members for help on finding a block in CA. There are great guys here who might know just where to find you a block for your car.

Regards

[Garry B.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

BTW- the craigslist '58 corvette engine is in reality an early '60 CU engine with earlier 550 heads. The casting date on the block according to the owner is J199 which would put it at the early production of the '60 model year. Although I could never get the guy to send me pictures of the engine, it was reported by him to have a stamping of F1111CU (November 11) which does closely match the casting date of October 19, 1959. And it is a CU (270 hp) and it is early enough in the sequence not to have the VIN number that started mid-December. A very narrow window for a great '60 engine if you had an early production VIN number. The bad news is he emailed me last night and said that he had sold it to a "guy down the street". Don't be surprised if it shows up on ebay.
Garry 18531

[Paul J.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Thanks John and Jeff. John, I certainly don't want to put you to any trouble but I certainly won't try to disuade you from calling the guy with the vette block to see if it's worth pursuing. I'm really out of my league on this one. Jeff, thanks for your input on Crane's. Yes, the web site is sort of all over the place but it's nice to know his goods are decent. Can any of you guys help me with this whole "restamping" issue? I'm assuming that there is now a way to restamp parts but why exactly would someone do that if the date was already part of the exterior casting? If the block needed to be resurfaced and that removed the stamp, wouldn't that information need to be restamped? If so, is that what creates the controversy - since, at that point, I suppose any # sequence could be substituted for the original. Even so, if the date was already "correct" what is the advantage or disadvantage of "restamping"? Sorry - I'm sure this is something very basic to those "in the know." Unfortunately, I'm just confused. Thanks again guys,
Mike

Mike:

There are some in this organization that believe that restamping a block is dishonest, and anything other than the original stamp is not acceptable, even if the block was decked and the original number put back.

There are also those that feel that there is nothing wrong with restamping as long as it is not misrepresented to a potental buyer as being original.

Then there are all of those in between.

The concern for dishonest sellers is great enough that an entire study has been made of block stamps and broach marks. Several discussions on this are contained in the archives, along with some informative pictures.

You'll have to decide for yourself how you feel about it.

Paul

[Bruce B.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mike,
It appears that both 3737739 and 3756519 casting number 283 engines were used in early 1959 Corvettes.
Do you have any preference?
Bruce B

[Mike Z.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Thanks Rob - and everyone else thats helping out. I think I did join the local SoCal NCRS chapter - or something called the Solid Axle Club - or both when I bought the car. I quickly got it up and running and then ran into some unexpectedly demanding work projects and had to put the whole restoration learning curve on the back burner. Obviously, since I'm not even sure if I'm a member of these clubs, I'll need to check that out. There must be a file around here somewhere. I have learned to keep every not and referral "just in case" but I suppose I'm lucky insofar as my car hasn't really needed anything yet that has forced me into the "you better read up before you get runover" phase. That can't last forever - hence, my cries for help with the big step that might involve changing the engine & trans. The NCRS feedback has been a very welcome and apprecieated surprise. I should have done this sooner. Thanks again.
Mike

[Rod K.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mary Jo Rohner, mj@vettegal.com, deals in parts for the straight axle Vettes and is in the San Diego area. Good person to get to know if you're going very far with restoring your car. Not a source for your block but might provide leads to area dealers who would be.

[Jeff C.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mike,
There are many opinions on restamping. However, the NCRS Judging Reference Manual on page 5 gives an example of an exceptable "To Restore" which is restamping a 435 HP block to conform to the date/serial number of the original 435 HP Corvette in which it is installed. This does not mean it is OK to make a SB car into a BB car nor a 390 HP in to a 435HP. That would be counterfeiting. Also you should not represent the restamped block as original to the car if it is not. All of that said there are many NCRS members who want only an original part and that is difficult when it comes to engines if you don't have the original engine with the original broach marks. The best that you can do is find a block with the correct casting # and a casting date that works with your VIN. restaming is then up to you.
Good luck,
Jeff

[Don E.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mike, I sent you an e-mail with a few specifics on an engine.

Cheers,

Don

[Mike Z.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Hi Don - I don't think I received your e-mail - at least I can't find it. If it was sent directly, our company's span thingy probably grabbed it. Perhaps you can try again or? Thanks.
Mike

[Richard P.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mike,
I sent you an e-mail about a block that I have and am willing to sell. It is a 3756519 casting number with a K258 date code (Nov. 2, 1958) I'll let others on this board comment on whether that is in the acceptable date range for your Feb. 12 car. E-mail me if you are interested as we are not supposed to buy and sell on this board. I'm only posting this here because you said you didn't get Don's e-mail which means you might not have gotten mine.
Cheers,
Richard Perkins

[Garry B.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

If the objective is to purchase a correct block, the November date would pass for NCRS six month criteria, unfortunately the casting date "as stated in the email" would indicate that it is a passenger car that came out of the Tonawanda, NY plant. What is currently on the stamp pad? Does it start with a T or F? Could it in fact be November 25, 1958?
Garry 18531

[Pat H.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

RE: 59 engine. I purchased my block from Tracey Performance and no issues. Be sure you check the fuel pump boss on the bottom. The one with a "T" and a number are most likely Tonawanda blocks. The Flint ones only have a number.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

Mike,
Check your messages.
Bruce B

[Richard P.]

Re: Pre Feb 59 engine wanted

This block is a Flint block. The stamp pad is F120ID (non Corvette). It has the threaded hole in the block behind the water pump. The Tonawanda castings didn't have that. The date casting is K258. You are probably right in saying it is Nov 25, 1958.