Ls7

[Patrick B.]

Re: Ls7

Michael,

I bought a 70 LT-1 in 1972. The original owner complained of oil consumption (he didn't understand LT-1s), and the friendly dealer installed a fitted block at 4,000 miles. I still have the warrantee receipt for the fitted block installation. The fitted block had a CE and sequence number like a short block.

[Michael H.]

Re: Ls7

Michael,

I bought a 70 LT-1 in 1972. The original owner complained of oil consumption (he didn't understand LT-1s), and the friendly dealer installed a fitted block at 4,000 miles. I still have the warrantee receipt for the fitted block installation. The fitted block had a CE and sequence number like a short block.

That's interesting. I've never seen a fitted block from that era with the CE pad stamp. By chance, is the part number of the new block on the receipt? Should be if it was warranty.

[Ricky M.]

Re: Ls7

[quote=Patrick Boyd (9110);523502] I do not think complete crate engines used a CE designation. They would have used the whole Tonowanda stamp on the pad with a code for horsepower. They would have simply been missing the VIN derivative.

This may explain a 454 engine with a "71" dated block I have. It's a "512" block with a "CRR" suffix code with no vin stamping. Wasn't sure what it was since I thought all crate engines had the "CE" designation. I didn't know if it had been decked just enough to lose the vin but still leave all else visible( if that's even possible). Was this probably a complete crate engine over the counter?

[Joe L.]

Re: Ls7

[quote=Ricky Moore (51863);523515]

I do not think complete crate engines used a CE designation. They would have used the whole Tonowanda stamp on the pad with a code for horsepower. They would have simply been missing the VIN derivative.

This may explain a 454 engine with a "71" dated block I have. It's a "512" block with a "CRR" suffix code with no vin stamping. Wasn't sure what it was since I thought all crate engines had the "CE" designation. I didn't know if it had been decked just enough to lose the vin but still leave all else visible( if that's even possible). Was this probably a complete crate engine over the counter?

Ricky------


If it has an engine code suffix then it was originally a complete engine assembly. If it had a VIN derivative, then it was a PRODUCTION engine originally installed in a vehicle. However, "CRR" was a suffix code used for 1970 Chevelles and El Caminos equipped with an LS-6 and THM-400. So, if this engine has a 1971 dated block, it could not have originally been installed in such a car.

[Joe L.]

Re: Ls7

Patrick,

I think both bare and fitted blocks would have a blank pad. Partial/short blocks would be stamped CExxxxx though. At leas this is the way it was in the late 60's to at least the mid 70's.

Michael------


A partial engine assembly may have had a "CE" stamping if it was obtained through a warranty replacement program. However, I don't think that partial engine assemblies generally had any stamping on the stamp pad. I purchased a 350/300 partial engine assembly (GM #3970655) in 1975 and it had had nothing on the stamp pad. My friend who also is original owner of his 1969 blew up his L-46 bottom end in 1984 and replaced it with a new GM LT-1 short block (GM #3966921) and it had no numbers stamped on the pad.

[Joe L.]

Re: Ls7

Yup, and they were part number 3994025 in 1973. The original number in 1970 was different though but it too was a cast iron head.

Michael------


The original LS-7 was scheduled to receive aluminum heads, the same GM #3946072 as used for 1969 L-88, L-89, and ZL-1. Whether any such engines were ever actually manufactured, who knows? The 3965774 did have cast iron heads, so it was not really manufactured to the original specs.

[Michael H.]

Re: Ls7

Michael------


A partial engine assembly may have had a "CE" stamping if it was obtained through a warranty replacement program. However, I don't think that partial engine assemblies generally had any stamping on the stamp pad. .

Joe,

I don't think there was a difference between an "over the counter" partial engine and one used for GM warranty. If there was a difference, the GM warehouse would have had to stock two different identical partial engines for each part number with the only difference being the CEXXXXX stamp.

I agree that some have a blank pad but most partial engines assembled after 1969 would have had the CE stamp.

There are a LOT of CE blocks floating around but I can't imagine all of these were once complete engines used for warranty. GM definitely did not replace engine assy's or long blocks under warranty very often.

[Michael H.]

Re: Ls7

Michael------


The original LS-7 was scheduled to receive aluminum heads, the same GM #3946072 as used for 1969 L-88, L-89, and ZL-1. Whether any such engines were ever actually manufactured, who knows? The 3965774 did have cast iron heads, so it was not really manufactured to the original specs.

That would make sense. I think the original LS7 was supposed to be the the 454" version of the L88 so it would have had aluminum heads.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Ls7

Michael,

My warrantee receipt from Sport Chevrolet in Silver Spring, MD , dated 3/5/71 lists the fitted block part number as 3966920 with a price of $321.75. I think Rickie's engine is typical of a complete crate engine with the whole plant, date and hp codes, not CExxxxxx.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Ls7

That would make sense. I think the original LS7 was supposed to be the the 454" version of the L88 so it would have had aluminum heads.

the original version for the corvettes had the aluminum heads and the "sunken" 454 intake where the carb set lower than the intake ports same as the 70 450 454 chevelle. i guess GM was not planing on using the L-88 hoods on the corvettes. there was no reason for the 450 HP 454 chevelle engine to have sunken intake manifold unless GM planned to also use that engine in a corvette because i changed mine to a high rise the day i brought the new 70 chevelle home.

[Michael H.]

Re: Ls7

Michael,

My warrantee receipt from Sport Chevrolet in Silver Spring, MD , dated 3/5/71 lists the fitted block part number as 3966920 with a price of $321.75. I think Rickie's engine is typical of a complete crate engine with the whole plant, date and hp codes, not CExxxxxx.

Thanks Patrick, It's begining to look like some fitted and partial engines were stamped CE and some weren't stamped at all.

[John H.]

Re: Ls7

Block casting#3963512,Machine stamp CE165673.Boy,you guys sure have a lot of old info,great education for me,thanks again for the replies.

Tag -

That stamp says it was built at Tonawanda in 1971.

[Tag W.]

Re: Ls7

Thanks John,that would go with what the seller said,too bad there is no documentation from the dealer who did warranty work,as Chuck said makes for interesting story.

[Brian G.]

Re: Ls7

Looks like the original selling dealer may still be in business.......

Ed Smith Chevy-Olds
131 Kingston Ave.
Port Jervis, N.Y. 12771

Phone# - 914/856-5104

Contact Person: Ed Smith

[John N.]

Re: Ls7

What would be a value range for a NOS LS-7?
Regards