Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

[Jacob A.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Thanks Michael! I certainly appreciate it. I tried 5 times to flip the picture over, and it just kept coming back backwards. Again, Thank You!

With solid documentation only going back to 1988 so far, there is no way to tell... but I'm feeling that this is the original stamp and am so mad at myself for letting my engine builder deck the motor. It used to have broach marks!

The only thing that gives me any hesitation is a Saturday Casting Date. Maybe it was third shift Friday night, and rolled into Saturday early a.m. I will check the little clock on the block.

Thanks for all your input!

Anyone work in the Flint Plant back in 56? Did you guys work on Saturdays?

Again Thanks,
Jacob

[John H.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

The only thing that gives me any hesitation is a Saturday Casting Date.

Jacob

Jacob -

There's nothing unusual about a Saturday casting date.

[Joe L.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Thanks Michael! I certainly appreciate it. I tried 5 times to flip the picture over, and it just kept coming back backwards. Again, Thank You!

With solid documentation only going back to 1988 so far, there is no way to tell... but I'm feeling that this is the original stamp and am so mad at myself for letting my engine builder deck the motor. It used to have broach marks!

The only thing that gives me any hesitation is a Saturday Casting Date. Maybe it was third shift Friday night, and rolled into Saturday early a.m. I will check the little clock on the block.

Thanks for all your input!

Anyone work in the Flint Plant back in 56? Did you guys work on Saturdays?

Again Thanks,
Jacob

Jacob------


Just to clear up some possible misconceptions here, casting dates are a function of the FOUNDRY where the part was cast. Virtually all blocks machined at Flint were cast at Saginaw, MI. In this case, that was Saturday, November 10, 1956. The blocks were then transported to Flint, MI for machining and assembly into finished engines. The STAMPING on your block indicates it was assembled at Flint on Monday, November 12. That sort of date fully supports the casting date of November 10, a Saturday.

[Jacob A.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Thanks John, That's a pretty good answer! I certainly appreciate it!

Very Best,
Jacob

[Jacob A.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Thanks as well Joe,

That makes me feel much better about the engine being an original corvette engine!

Very Best,
Jacob

[Steven B.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

In the mid 70's I worked near Defiance, Ohio and the GM Powertrain foundry and had some employees who had previously worked there and friends who did at the time. It was common for them, and us, to work Saturdays and Sundays. It isn't practical to shut down and fire up furnaces except for maintenance or emergencies.

Steve

[Jacob A.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Steve,

THANK YOU A TON! This is a great answer!!!

Very Best,
Jacob

[Floyd B.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Would one of you knowledgeable blokes comment on the "E" in the suffix code? I know nothing of C1's but to my eye, the curly bottom stroke of the "E" makes it look like an "F" that was converted to an "E" with an etching tool. I've never seen that font on a C3 engine pad - not that I've looked at all that many.

[Joe L.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

Would one of you knowledgeable blokes comment on the "E" in the suffix code? I know nothing of C1's but to my eye, the curly bottom stroke of the "E" makes it look like an "F" that was converted to an "E" with an etching tool. I've never seen that font on a C3 engine pad - not that I've looked at all that many.

Floyd-----

Yes, looking closer I see what you mean. I do not know if the configuration of the "E" was typical for the C1 era stamping fonts. However, I do know there was another engine which was being manufactured at the time this block was cast and assembled which used the "FG" suffix code. That engine was a 245 hp 283 Corvette with Powerglide. So, the basis for such a suffix code conversion did exist. However, those were quite a bit more rare than 270 hp engines (but not necessarily more desirable now).

[Dan P.]

Re: Casting Number Question (SATURDAY CASTING DATE?)

I have owned at several 548 blocks .Buying and selling them for years. All the passenger car blocks with 6 and 7 Characters line up straight and A lot of the corvette ones do also. What about the 7 character blocks assembled in 56? I had a December FD block 2x4 Powerglide that ALL characters line up.Standard bore ,frozen up, rusted with 997 heads correct passenger car valve covers also rusted. I do not think it was restamped. And written on the side of the block in paint was FD were the orange engine paint had come off . They painted the suffix on the side of the block so they new what components went in the block without have to look at the pad which was on the bottom because the block was upside down to install the crank. It is highly unlikely they could stamp the 6th and 7th characters perfectly straight. I have A EH block that the H is clearly HAND stamped and right on the side of the block is painted EH.So is it possible that sometimes they took a E block and hand stamped the 6^Th