engine code and vin

[Edward M.]

Re: engine code and vin

OK, thoughts on this engine pad.....

[Eric T.]

Re: engine code and vin

My corvette vin is E56S03011 #2011 Best of my research is that this car was built about 6/28/1956 It was the 2 x 4bbl powerglide car.

After the above discussion I thought it might look at all the blocks I have around. The block I had been planning to put into my Nomad doesn't seem like a great candidate for my corvette but I thought I might get some feedback from the forum. It is the only one that would be easy to add a stamp letter to make a correct engine.

I have a very early 1956 engine. The stamp is 0052229 F56F with a cast date of J285 Sept 28, 1955.

This block would be easy to add the "G" to make it a F56FG block for a powerglide 2 4bbl 240 hp engine stamp. My car is 240hp, PG, 2 top car.

I think this engine is far to early for my corvette, Seems more appropriate to me that I should find a F56F or F56G block with a much more appropriate date for the car.

I'm wondering in terms of judging would this be degraded because of being far different that expected date and sequence number although a possible date & sequence ?

I would like any feedback on the forum that might help me in my considerations.

Thanks

Eric D Twombly (5888)

[Gary C.]

Re: engine code and vin

Eric,

Please keep in mind there were 2 engines series, if you will, in 1956. First series to approximately VIN 1700 (car 700). Second series after approximately VIN 1700.

Your VIN 3011 would have to have the second series engine with an appropriate cast date within 6 months of the estimated build date.

Gary
....

[Eric T.]

Re: engine code and vin

Gary:

Thanks for the info I was unaware of or forgotten that information. I was not expecting to think of this being what I would want to do anyway.

Thanks

ET

[David B.]

Re: engine code and vin

Eric, Check your research again. No 240 HP '56 Corvettes were produced with a powerglide transmission.
As an added comment: I know NCRS allows a 6 month lead time but the fact is because of the high demand for the SB V-8 in 1956 I personally question the 6 month time frame (there is always that rare possibility). If you are going to all that trouble I would suggest no more than a 2 month lead time.

[Eric T.]

Re: engine code and vin

This is very interesting. When I bought this car it had a newer automatic trans and a 327 with 2 4bbl carbs on the car. I was told it was a 240hp with a powerglide obviously the person I bought it from didn't know what they had. It was basically rolling frame with body and parts.

So it seems the effort in my mind to pay attention to what the car was and restore it to what I now know is entirely fictional is pointless. So since I have all the parts to be able to make it a 240 hp car.

I would just as well go for what I would like to do and go for a 240hp with a 3 speed trans with proper dates for the Vin. I just need to get a F56G block with the correct dates.

I would like to have feedback and thoughts about moving forward with that goal as a concept.

Thanks

[Edward M.]

Re: engine code and vin

This is very interesting. When I bought this car it had a newer automatic trans and a 327 with 2 4bbl carbs on the car. I was told it was a 240hp with a powerglide obviously the person I bought it from didn't know what they had. It was basically rolling frame with body and parts.

So it seems the effort in my mind to pay attention to what the car was and restore it to what I now know is entirely fictional is pointless. So since I have all the parts to be able to make it a 240 hp car.

I would just as well go for what I would like to do and go for a 240hp with a 3 speed trans with proper dates for the Vin. I just need to get a F56G block with the correct dates.

I would like to have feedback and thoughts about moving forward with that goal as a concept.

Thanks

Unless you are building a serious hotrod, forget the 240 hp (with the high lift cam). The 225 hp 2x4 engine is more than enough.

[David B.]

Re: engine code and vin

OK, thoughts on this engine pad.....

Rather interested in this suffix pad you listed. Seems too goofy not to be the real deal. Since no one has commented
about it, thought I might provide the following info. The earliest '56 engine I am aware of was 0001272 F56G that was utilized by GM Styling when originally designing the '56 Corvette. This engine was removed and installed in several prototype vehicles in '55 and early '56. I am also aware of an original engine taken from 1 of the first 10 '56 production Corvettes. It's stamp pad number was in the 0190500 range. Are you aware of the casting date for this engine block! etc.

[Edward M.]

Re: engine code and vin

Rather interested in this suffix pad you listed. Seems too goofy not to be the real deal. Since no one has commented
about it, thought I might provide the following info. The earliest '56 engine I am aware of was 0001272 F56G that was utilized by GM Styling when originally designing the '56 Corvette. This engine was removed and installed in several prototype vehicles in '55 and early '56. I am also aware of an original engine taken from 1 of the first 10 '56 production Corvettes. It's stamp pad number was in the 0190500 range. Are you aware of the casting date for this engine block! etc.

I believe that the casting date on this block is J 17 5 (October 17th, 1955). I am thinking that a sequence number 27,972 is REAL EARLY fora Corvette engine.

Possible, yes, probable, not quite so much.

NCRS would "allow" this engine to fit into a Corvette built as late as mid-April of 1956, approximately VIN 2000.

Assuming no other issues, it would "pass" judging, but it still would not seem "correct" to me.

[Edward M.]

Re: engine code and vin

So, to be honest, I do not know if this engine pad is correct or not, but one thing has struck me about it.

The engine pad is stamped 0027972 F56GR, and the characters look OK to me. Somewhere I have a better picture of the engine pad, and the brooch marks are clear on it. If I find the picture I will post it.

So, what can we tell from the numbers stamped on this pad.

The sequence number makes this the 27,972nd V-8 engine assembled at Flint for the 1956 model year.

The engine stamp says this is a 1956 Corvette 2x4 bbl, manual transmission car.

The sequence number, being as low as it is, makes me believe that the date code on this block would be late September to mid November of 1955. For some reason, I think it actually was Oct 17, 1955 (but I don't know why I think that).

So, lets say it was mid November of 1955.

1956 Corvette production started in January of 1956. So, assuming mid November of 1955 is accurate, this engine sat around for a month and a half before the car it was produced for started production.

Certainly possible, but it does raise a question. One that I do not have an answer for.

I recall judging a 1956 Corvette at an NCRS event many years ago that had the following info.

The car's VIN was high 3000s (actual number not revealed on purpose).

The estimated build date of the car was mid August of 1956.

The block casting date was very early August of 1956, something like H 2 6.

The engine code on the pad was F56GR, and the pad was beautiful. Nice clear brooch marks, all of the numbers lined up just like they should.

But, the engine sequence number was 309,000 range.

That sequence number is WAY TOO EARLY for an August dated block.

The car passed judging because there was nothing concrete to question.

I talked with the owner after the fact, and he told me the following.

When he got the Corvette, it did not have an engine. He found a genuine Corvette engine (F56GR) but the block was dated B 2 6.

He modified the date code from B 2 6 to H 2 6. Somebody with serious welding skills ground down part of the letter B, and turned it into an H.

Something like this...

He did not touch the front pad.

[Darryl D.]

Re: engine code and vin

Unless you are building a serious hotrod, forget the 240 hp (with the high lift cam). The 225 hp 2x4 engine is more than enough.

Are you joking? A 240 h.p. engine is mild by todays standards for h.p. in cars. I just put a 383 2x4 engine in my 57 that will likely dyno at 450-475 h.p. Why not do the 240 h.p. as there is little to no difference in the price to build it?

[Edward M.]

Re: engine code and vin

Are you joking? A 240 h.p. engine is mild by todays standards for h.p. in cars. I just put a 383 2x4 engine in my 57 that will likely dyno at 450-475 h.p. Why not do the 240 h.p. as there is little to no difference in the price to build it?

No, I am not joking. A 1956 240 hp engine with the high lift cam can be a bit much for normal street driving.

A 1956 265 is not the same as a late model 383.

I have driven a 240hp cars in the past, and I recall thinking at the time that it wasn't really as "streetable" as the 225 hp engines.

I suspect you are just looking at the horsepower ratings between the two engines, and not the overall characteristics of the engines.

It is not just about the horsepower; it is about the driveability of the engine.

A late model 350 crate motor of 300 - 350 horse power is considerably more streetable than a 1956 240 hp engine.

Just my opinion.

[Eric T.]

Re: engine code and vin

Thanks for the info.

The guy I bought the car from probably didn't know that much about it, so it would make a lot more sense that it was a 225hp car. The story of it having a 240hp probably just sounded better to him. I'll continue with the 225hp idea. Now I need to get down to work.

ET

[Jeff B.]

Re: engine code and vin

I once owned a 56 Corvette, E56S003913. Attached is pic of pad. The particulars are: engine #0592365, stamped F56GR. The cast date was either H66 or H86 (couldn't tell for sure). I believe the engine was original to the car.

[Darryl D.]

Re: engine code and vin

No, I am not joking. A 1956 240 hp engine with the high lift cam can be a bit much for normal street driving.

A 1956 265 is not the same as a late model 383.

I have driven a 240hp cars in the past, and I recall thinking at the time that it wasn't really as "streetable" as the 225 hp engines.

I suspect you are just looking at the horsepower ratings between the two engines, and not the overall characteristics of the engines.

It is not just about the horsepower; it is about the driveability of the engine.

A late model 350 crate motor of 300 - 350 horse power is considerably more streetable than a 1956 240 hp engine.

Just my opinion.

I owned and drove a 1958 283/290 h.p. Corvette for 9 years. There is nothing un-streetable about those cars.