Numbers

[Ashley W.]

From what I have researched, the correlation between the engine block casting date, the engine stamp pad date (engine assembly date) and car,s build date seem to be roughly about 3-4 weeks between each date, starting from the block casting date. I realize that the time difference between each process can vary, but my question is, what is the maximum time one could expect between dates before alarm bells ring regarding the authenticity of the "original" block.
Also, is it fair to assume that the head casting date is around the same time as the block casting date. Many thanks.

[William C.]

Re: Numbers

OK, what year, and what engine are the mininum items of disclosure needed to intelligently answer your question, and to begin with, in the smallblock engines weeks is an anomaly as the blocks were trucked daily from Saginaw to Flint and the process was last in-first out. Some engines have been verifies as being cast, assenbled, and installed in a car within a few days, but this is an extreme case. Other variables are the rarity of the combination, a pallet of 250hp FI engines would not be used at the speed of a pallet of 230hp engines for example. The NCRS guideline is 6mo from casting to installation in a car, and that was designed to include occasional engines well outside the norm. That's a gross overview, now where are you in terms of specifics, year, HP. and transmission.

[Ashley W.]

Re: Numbers

Many thanks for the info. My query is based around early C3 bib block engines. As I am still learning, I wanted to get a general guide line as to what the NCRS experts think.