1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

[Paul S.]

What is the general thoughts on how far apart the casting date should be on a 67 big block to the stamp date on the pad ? I'm looking at a may '67 built car and the cast date seams close . As always , thanks for any help !!

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

Unlike small blocks that are built almost always within two weeks of being cast, big blocks were most commonly built between one and two months after the cast date but with a lot of variation outside those bounds. The closest spacing I have seen is three days, and I have a 66 390hp block that was built almost 6 months after casting. The original block for my 67 435 was cast January 25 and built March 9.

[Michael J.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

The '67 judging manual, page 96, says the block casting date cannot be more than 6 months before the vehicle assembly date. My '67 L71 has an Oct. 21 '66 casting date and the car has a Feb.14 '67 assembly date, no deductions on that.

[Tim S.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

My father has a 400hp car he purchased from the original owner in 1974. That engine is 5+ months if memory serves me right!

Tim

[Craig S.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

My 1967 Coupe 400 hp car has a January 25th casting date and a May 18th build date.

[Paul S.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

Thanks for the input. The car i am looking at , the block stamp is 6 days after the cast date i just thought it was too close together ( plus there was a saturday/ sunday between the cast and stamp dates ) but maybe we're ok.?

[Michael J.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

Thanks for the input. The car i am looking at , the block stamp is 6 days after the cast date i just thought it was too close together ( plus there was a saturday/ sunday between the cast and stamp dates ) but maybe we're ok.?

It fits what the judging manual says, nothing about six days before build being too close, just over 6 months before not being OK. Also, the judging guide is referring to the vehicle build date, not the build date stamp on the engine pad. But hopefully, that engine pad date is before or the same as your car's build date.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

Paul: If the stamp and pad look ok, the six days is not a problem. That said, if the engine build date is also very close to car build date, I would look at it more carefully since it would suggest that the dates had to be crowded to use a restoration block on hand.

[Tom L.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

A related question. In terms of the opinion of judges opinion of the stamp pad, how much of a time gap between casting and assembly makes a judge suspect foulplay. Just asking.

[Michael J.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

That would be interesting to know, if they would talk. The manual says nothing about that, but I have heard judges have some procedures and info they don't let the membership at large know about.

[William L.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

On my 67 435 the block casting date is D17 (1 Apr 67). The eng. build date is 06 06 (06 June). The trim tag date is K23 (23 June 67) The car has been through both NCRS Nationals and Bloomington Gold with no questions ever about the eng. or trim tag.

[Richard L.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

On my 67 435 the block casting date is C31 (31 Mar 67). The eng. build date is 05 12 (12 May). The trim tag date is K01 (1 June 67) The car has been through NCRS Regional and Bloomington Gold judging with no questions about the eng. or trim tag.

Rick

[Michael W.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

That would be interesting to know, if they would talk. The manual says nothing about that, but I have heard judges have some procedures and info they don't let the membership at large know about.

There's a difference between NCRS Flight Judging and authenticating the originality of an engine case and the car it's installed in. The two subjects continually become intermixed here and on that other discussion board.

[Joel F.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

My 1967 Coupe 400 hp car has a January 25th casting date and a May 18th build date.

This seems pretty consistent with what I have seen for 67 '351 blocks. Or more accurately and to the point, I have noticed about 10-12 very common casting dates and a number of assembly dates that stem from the casting dates. My believe is that Tonawanda cast larger batches of the raw blocks on these 10 or 12 days and machined and assembled them on more of an ongoing, as needed basis. I have seen early Aug castings, mid Sep, mid and late Oct, a few Nov, no Dec, and no Jan prior to Jan 25. After Jan 25 I have seen a lot of Mar, Apr, and May castings. It would be interesting to see a distribution of how many big blocks were ordered / sold by month.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1967 big block casting date vs build date on pad

November 1965 example:
Assembly date on block is T1102IL (actually stamped TII02IL) 427 390 HP from 1966 model year. Cast = J 8 5
(September 8th, 1965)

November 1966 example:
Assembly date on block is T1105IL Another 427 390 HP from 1967 model year. Cast = I 19 6
(October 19th, 1966, Just a few days after I turned 21...)