'63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

[Bobby G.]

My recently acquired '63SWC has an assembly date of F0619S stamped in the correct location. However, I am obviously concerned about the single suffix letter. Also it doesn't have the vehicle serial number derivative stamped beside the assembly date. The born date is approx. 5/21/63. Any good explanations for these differences would be greatly appreciated. I did find several, apparently confirmed cases, of the engine assembly date being 4to5 weeks past the born dates in the Restoration '63-'67 book.

[Bob R.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

It looks like the engine in your car did not start life in that car. Chevy did use the "S" suffix on other models but not on the corvette. The only suffix used in 63 on Corvettes with an "S" are SC for a 250 hp auto trans and SD for a 300 hp auto trans. You didn't mention the hp of your car. If I read your note correctly F0619S is stamped onto the engine block. I'm not sure what you mean by the born date. The serial number of the car should give you aproximate build date of the car. If the car was built in May you should not find a June engine in it. If you check in the archives there is some information on how to identify a Flint block. Corvettes only used Flint blocks. I suspect your block with the "S" suffix is a Tonawanda block which was used in most other chevy's of that time.

[Loren L.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

My recently acquired '63SWC has an assembly date of F0619S stamped in the correct location. However, I am obviously concerned about the single suffix letter. Also it doesn't have the vehicle serial number derivative stamped beside the assembly date. The born date is approx. 5/21/63. Any good explanations for these differences would be greatly appreciated. I did find several, apparently confirmed cases, of the engine assembly date being 4to5 weeks past the born dates in the Restoration '63-'67 book.

"apparently confirmed" is a REALLY LONG REACH. I certainly hope one of them is not my car, which is thusly listed, thanks to a typo by Noland.

[Cecil L.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

It looks like the engine in your car did not start life in that car. Chevy did use the "S" suffix on other models but not on the corvette. The only suffix used in 63 on Corvettes with an "S" are SC for a 250 hp auto trans and SD for a 300 hp auto trans. You didn't mention the hp of your car. If I read your note correctly F0619S is stamped onto the engine block. I'm not sure what you mean by the born date. The serial number of the car should give you aproximate build date of the car. If the car was built in May you should not find a June engine in it. If you check in the archives there is some information on how to identify a Flint block. Corvettes only used Flint blocks. I suspect your block with the "S" suffix is a Tonawanda block which was used in most other chevy's of that time.

Flint also built S code engines for pass cars.

[Michael F.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

My recently acquired '63SWC has an assembly date of F0619S stamped in the correct location. However, I am obviously concerned about the single suffix letter. Also it doesn't have the vehicle serial number derivative stamped beside the assembly date. The born date is approx. 5/21/63. Any good explanations for these differences would be greatly appreciated. I did find several, apparently confirmed cases, of the engine assembly date being 4to5 weeks past the born dates in the Restoration '63-'67 book.

Not a good day for you. Bummer.

[Tom H.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

I would say the guys here are correct. This engine is not original to this car.

[Chuck G.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

Over the years, I've seen a number of engines of that vintage stamped with just the assembly date and either the suffix "S" or "R", "S" being used for automatic transmissions and "R" being used for manual transmissions.

I have been told that these were over the counter engines from back in the day, and the difference between the "S" and "R" stamped engines had to do with the flywheel/flexplate/torque converter/clutch, etc. areas.

True? Dunno, but I do know that these engines are highly sought after.

Also, your stamping of F0619S......... the "F" indicates it was assembled in Flint, so it would be a Flint block.

Chuck

[Edward M.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

'S' suffix code (in this case) is a 1962 to 1964 327, 250 hp engine, installed in a passenger car, with a powerglide transmission.

Passenger car engines of this time frame did not have VIN derivatives stamped on the engine pad.

Sounds like what you have is a "period correct" replacement engine.

These are desirable engines because the engine pad and associated broach marks do not have to be ground off. One can simply add the apprpopriate letter after the 'S' suffix to "convert" this engine to a Corvette engine (i.e. SC or SD). Of course, the VIN derivative also needs to be added.

Obviously, this would not work if the car was a manual transmission car. You would need to start with a 'R' suffix code engine in that case.

This concept of "adding a letter" to make a single character suffix code passenger car engine into a Corvette engine pretty much works for engines from 1955 to 1964. If I recall, all engine codes became two characters starting in 1965.

[Bobby G.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

"apparently confirmed" is a REALLY LONG REACH. I certainly hope one of them is not my car, which is thusly listed, thanks to a typo by Noland.

I don't have the book with me right now but as I recall it had an 8/03 engine into a June body built date. Was that your car and was it an error? I believe there were a few others but without the 5 week spread. I guess now I must worry about typos in researching this cr_ _.

[Bobby G.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

Thanks for all the input. I bought the car at B-J auction 4/10 as a 300hp powerglide. I am now finding many indications that it is or was a 340hp. Intake manifold, tachometer, air-cleaner, valve covers, differential combination 308:1/positraction, and others. I still need to check the cam, feels like a Duntov, and the pistons. Any other suggestions on that subject? Also, discovered it was once a 4sp and maybe came with the powerglide or a 4sp. I love these mysteries.

[Jack H.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

In addition to the 'S' being a passenger car engine for PG applications, it we equipped with a 2-Bbl carb. Hence, the Corvette version of the engine with a 4-Bbl carb had a two character suffix code...

[Cecil L.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

In addition to the 'S' being a passenger car engine for PG applications, it we equipped with a 2-Bbl carb. Hence, the Corvette version of the engine with a 4-Bbl carb had a two character suffix code...

I would have to disagree. For 62-64 the single character R code and S code engines were both base 250 hp 327's with 4 barrel carbs either WCFB or Rochester 4GC, otherwise identical to the Corvette RC and SC engines. The 300 hp pass car engines were RB and SB. There was also RA and SA 250hp engines coded for A/C.
I don't believe there were any 2 barrel 327's until the 67 Camaro 210 hp.

[Tom H.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

Thanks for all the input. I bought the car at B-J auction 4/10 as a 300hp powerglide. I am now finding many indications that it is or was a 340hp. Intake manifold, tachometer, air-cleaner, valve covers, differential combination 308:1/positraction, and others. I still need to check the cam, feels like a Duntov, and the pistons. Any other suggestions on that subject? Also, discovered it was once a 4sp and maybe came with the powerglide or a 4sp. I love these mysteries.

Hey Bobby !

Wanna solve some mysteries in a hurry ?? Post a few pictures of this car for us. Especially the engine compartment. Let's have a look and see what we can tell you about it.

[Richard M.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

Bobby, I see you're a recently new member......welcome!

Is yours the Daytona Blue, white interior coupe? I spent much time looking at that one at the auction in April. Very nice car. When I first looked at it the hood was down. Later in the day the hood was up and I noticed the engine pad as not being "typical". I saw no vin derivative and didn't know the vin# as the tag was inaccessible(doors closed). I had just completed a partial restoration of our 63 Silver Blue 300 hp PG coupe so I was comparing.

I did like the correct style/placement A6 A/C compressor aftermarket hookup. FYI you may want to put a shield over the A6 pulley to keep the oil from spattering the hood underside.

By now as you can see that the engine in yours appears to not be original to the car. The BJ listing never stated those "matching numbers" words, so it is what it is I guess. Hopefully you considered that when you acquired it. If not, you are not alone.......there are many of us here that had similar experiences before.

IMO you have a very nice swc to drive and enjoy.

Rich

[Bob R.]

Re: '63 Engine stamp date 1 month past body build date

It can be very difficult to find the original configuration of these cars. They are 47 years old and most have been through many owners. I have owned my 63 for 13 years and have taken alot of the car apart but I do not know how my car was originally equiped from the factory. The only items I am certain of are the color of the exterior and interior and the fact that the car originally had an am fm radio. Most of the parts you mentioned are bolt on pieces and are easy to change. My car had a powerglide in it and I changed it to a 4 speed all the parts are bolt on. The tach would probably be the most difficult or time consuming and expensive part to change. You should be able to figure out if you have a solid lifter engine or a hydraulic lifter engine but that doesn't mean you have the original engine. A 340 hp solid lifter engine would have a 6500 red line the 300 hp wold have 5500 red line. You could try to track down previous owners to get a history of the car.