1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

[David G.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

I remember this....

I think that Ed was wearing this shirt in Bowling Green in 83.
He was adamant about NO CZ code engines.

Dave

[James O.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

regarding the fonts, there is always a lot of discussion especially regarding the characters 0,1, and 4 coming out of the flint plant. i recently did a lot of research with the help of other members (some of who joined this post)on the "4" and reported my findings to ncrs officials with the hopes that the next judging manual would address the subject. most of the "4" s appear like the type used in this post with the vertical line and the diagonal line connected at the top. all lines straight. your pad shows the "open 4" with a curved diagonal and it is open at the top (does not touch the vertical). i found many pads from known original blocks with original broach marks that use the identical open 4 like yours. i have many photos and tracings as examples if anyone is interested. there is even one pad with both types of "4" on the same date code. another thing i found was that all flint blocks for corvettes and passenger cars were stamped along the same assembly line using the same fonts on a given day but when a font wore out or broke they were not that fussy about replacing it with an identical one. the real point here is that there is lot of variation because no one was worried about judging back in those days.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

The OP also indicated that this engine was a dealer replacement. One theory is that the dealer stamped the engine when it was installed in the car. I have seen a number of over the counter engines that had absolutely blank pads.
A dealer stamping this pad would explain the format issues. Just a thought....

An over-the-counter dealer-installed block should have factory broach marks (even with a blank pad). This block was resurfaced.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

I think that Ed was wearing this shirt in Bowling Green in 83.
He was adamant about NO CZ code engines.

Dave

Did he have his Pedro hat on?

[Dan A.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

The car vin 00867S101189 in this auction has 3 digits for the engine build date.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1960-Chevrolet-Corvette-Unrestored-Survivor-270HP-4-Speed-Totally-Original-48k-/221216505318?_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&forcev4exp=true

00867S101189stamp.jpg

[Edward M.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

So this brings up an interesting research possibility. Assuming the engine stamp is correct, and it certainly appears to be, perhaps early 1960 engines used a three digit assembly date.

So, let me pose the following questions:

What is the earliest 1960 4 digit assembly date that anyone has seen. What is the latest 1960 3 digit assembly date that anyone has seen.

I think that this example is valid of 9 23 (September 23, 1959) for this early 1960 Corvette. Also interesting is that this car (#1189) has an ALUMINUM VIN tag that is attached in THE DOOR JAM area. Note that the digits are embossed (raised from the back) in this example.

Who else has an example of a 1960 Corvette engine assembly date. 3 digits or 4 digits (months of Oct, Nov, and Dec of 1959 will not tell us anything).

There is some belief (unconfirmed) that the 4 digit date code started in January of 1960. So a January 5th 1960 engine would appear something like F0I05xx.

[Edward M.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

OK, a quick followup. I located two different 1960 Chevrolet engines with what "appear" to be original pads. Neither are Corvette engines. A January 15th assembly date for a Tonawanda 348 engine has a assembly date of T0II5FE. A January 22nd Flint engine has an assembly date of F0I22xx (can't make out the engine suffix code, the picture is too fuzzy).

So, we have a Sep 23, 1959 engine (for an early 1960 Corvette) that has F923CU (3 digit date code), and a January 22, 1960 engine that has F0I22xx (4 digit date code).

[Dan A.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

Ed I like your suggestion that this is worth looking in to. Because even when I recall something being discussed here I have to admit I must be "search" challenged, among other things. So for search purposes and because this is sort of a sequel to the original posters' question, should a new thread be started?

[Edward M.]

Re: 1960 CY (Aluminum Head) Pad

Point taken, and a good suggestion. OK, new thread on 3 vs. 4 digit date codes coming up.