Need 1966 late production small block info.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Jim,

How did your Driveline study turn out? Any luck?

[Tom H.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Hi Jim !!

I recently sold VIN #23929. It had block casting # 3858174 cast May 31st and assembled on June the 1st. Stamped HE. 300 HP, 4 spd. Car was built June 13th.

Tom

[Jim C.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Hi Ron,

Unfortunately my Driveline ad met with an overwhelming "lack of response." Actually I did receive one response. Gathering raw data has proven to be much more frustrating and tedious than I ever expected it would be. I have to admit that I really did expect a few more responses from the Driveline ad. The lack of responses could be the result of several factors to include the possibility that there aren't too many 1966 small blocks still out there at, or above, the 23000 serial number. Maybe the topic just isn't big enough to garner much interest. Who knows? I'm really looking at a very small percentage of Corvettes that were produced between June and July of 1966. Excluding the big block cars, how many small blocks does that leave? A couple thousand give or take? After 45 years, how many of those late production 1966 small blocks are still on the road, and/or still have their original cylinder cases?

I'd like to think that I didn't get many responses because there just aren't that many late production 1966 small blocks still out there. But again, who knows???

Jim C.

[Jim C.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Thanks Tom!! Funny, but I already have that car in my data, however it was provided by someone else last June. Maybe the buyer?? Thanks again.

Jim C.

[Tom H.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Thanks Tom!! Funny, but I already have that car in my data, however it was provided by someone else. Maybe the buyer?? Thanks again.

Jim C.

I'm sure it was probably posted by the past owner. "MT". I bought the car from him. I just sold the car last Friday. Figures, the one car I had the info on, you already had !

[Jim C.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Yes Tom, the info was provided by MT. Thanks again for trying.

Jim C.

[Tom H.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Yes Tom, the info was provided by MT. Thanks again for trying.

Jim C.

If any more late 66's come through here, I'll post the info for ya !

[Jim C.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

That would be great Tom!! I'd appreciate that!!

[Ronald L.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Jim,

With many things in life, cars grow up too, in the case of these 66's, some added 100 CU IN up front

[David D.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Jim, You are talking less than 1000 cars (actually about 920 cars), both big block and small block, that may have used 1967 cylinder cases, not 1000's of car's. Most all of these cars, would have been built in July, 1966 and would be in the 26800 to 27720 serial number range, as far as I can tell. Hope this helps. Dave

[Jim C.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Dave,

I think we're generally talking about the same numbers. Maybe my prior post didn't really spell things out. Using my starting point at VIN 23000 would actually give me a potential pool of about 4700 cars. Factoring out all big blocks and small blocks that no longer exist or no longer have their original motors probably knocks out another couple thousand at least. When it's all said and done, there's probably only a couple thousand small blocks left between 23000 and 27720, give or take, that are still on the road and with their original blocks. That's really how I arrived at my very rough estimate of "a couple thousand" cars. I wasn't saying that I expected a couple thousand 1966 cars to have the 1967 blocks in them. I was really just referring to the total pool of potential respondents between 23000 and 27720. I fully expect that only a small handful actually will have 1967 blocks.

I think that looking at June and July cars would give me some idea as to when the first 1967 block showed up in a 1966 Corvette. I'm not expecting to see any in June, but I'm never going to know for sure if I don't try to gather some information pertaining to that time frame. I actually have found two blocks with the 1967 casting number that were cast in late June, 1966. They were installed in "July cars," but who knows, maybe there are late June cars with 1967 blocks. The more information I can track down, the more accurate my conclusions will be.

Based on the limited information I've gathered so far, it looks like the 1967 cylinder cases probably didn't start showing up in cars until mid to late July, 1966. More responses would make my conclusions even better. You mentioned that cars receiving the 1967 blocks "would be in the 26800 to 27720 serial number range." How do you know that? Do you have any information that will assist me? I'm just trying to figure out how you were able to come to that conclusion? Have you already done a study? If so, can we combine our information? Thanks for your response.

Jim C.

[David D.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Jim, Sent you a PM. Dave

[Jim C.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

A couple weeks ago, Ron L. checked in to ask me how my survey was going. It was going pretty slow to be honest. Well, as a result of pushing the topic back to the top of the Board, it generated several VERY helpful responses.

So, I'm just giving this topic a "bump" to the top of the Board again, hoping for more responses. Can I do this? Well, I guess it's better to ask for forgiveness versus asking for permission. Please keep the responses coming. Some of the results have been pretty interesting so far. Like I said earlier, if I can get enough useable information, I'd like to write an article for the Restorer. Thanks.

Jim C.

[Cecil L.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Aside from just documenting Corvettes with the 657 casting, I assume you are looking for more evidence of authenticity of such use. You might consider expanding your search to include all late 66 Chevy models. If Flint was using 657 cases in production in late 66 model year, you can be sure they would also be used in Corvettes. Look for the earliest 657 casting date out there, not just Corvette application....Impalas, Caprices, etc. There are surely engines/blocks out there coded for Corvette application long ago separated from their cars and the current owners may not know, or care what they originally came out of.
I've seen quite a few 657 blocks/engines for sale locally and haven't really paid much attention to the casting dates since I had two dated Dec 66 and no specific use for them. Now I will pay more attention.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Need 1966 late production small block info.

Jim,
Cecil has a great idea, try the Chevelle forum, Impala and others that were in production in 1966.