66 Engine casting ID

[Cecil L.]

Re: 66 Engine casting ID

Cecil -

The 348-409 "W" block may have been cast at Grey Iron, I will need part numbers.
Corvette by the Numbers by Al Colvin describes the 3892657 cylinder & case;
"1967 327 300-350HP 2-bolt This block was used for most 1967 small block applications excluding the 283. This block was designed also for the new 350 engine, which was released only in the 1967 Camaro. This block had heavy truck usage as well." The early Z28 302's may have used this case too.

Mark

Mark,
All the W blocks were cast at Tonawanda until late 62 when they shifted to CFD. If your source is Flint only then they wouldn't likely be in there.
Thanks for the info.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 Engine casting ID

Mark,
All the W blocks were cast at Tonawanda until late 62 when they shifted to CFD. If your source is Flint only then they wouldn't likely be in there.
Thanks for the info.

Cecil------


That's interesting. I wonder why the change? As far as I know, all Mark I big blocks were machined and assembled at Tonawanda. Also, the Tonawanda foundry did not shut down until 1984. So, I wonder why they transferred casting of the Mark I from Tonawanda to Saginaw?

[Cecil L.]

Re: 66 Engine casting ID

Cecil------


That's interesting. I wonder why the change? As far as I know, all Mark I big blocks were machined and assembled at Tonawanda. Also, the Tonawanda foundry did not shut down until 1984. So, I wonder why they transferred casting of the Mark I from Tonawanda to Saginaw?

Joe,
I've never been able to find out exactly why, but all W blocks from late 62 on have CFD and Julian dates instead of casting dates. One of my other hobbies is researching the W engines and I find them challenging and just as interesting as Corvette history with less documentation available.
One example that many aren't aware of is broach marks. Everybody is looking for the standard longitudinal lines on the stamp pad, but W blocks never had them. A virgin W block has the typical swirl marks from a rotary cutter or stone. Can't prove anything but my guess is because of the 74 degree angle on the deck not being compatible with the broaching machine.
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

[John H.]

Re: 66 Engine casting ID

A virgin W block has the typical swirl marks from a rotary cutter or stone. Can't prove anything but my guess is because of the 74 degree angle on the deck not being compatible with the broaching machine.

Cecil -

A friend of mine also follows the "W" blocks, and said the same thing; the oddball-angle "W"-block decks were machined with rotary cutters, not broached.