870 Block Identification - New Member Needs Help
Dear NCRS members:
My name is Peter Cook and I am a new NCRS member. I have been reading your technical discussions for the past few weeks and I have been impressed by the vast pool of knowledge and how helpful everyone is. I hope that you can all help me with proper identification of this 870 block.
My vette is a 1964 roadster (VIN 40867 S107393 and "D18" assembly date) which I purchased two years ago without the original motor in it but with a block, crank, pistons, rods and heads which were purportedly the original block and heads for the motor. The block and heads were severely rusted from being left out in the elements for many years.
A month or so ago I finally got around to trying to disassemble the engine but it was so rusted up I needed to bring the block to a machine shop for disassembly. During my attempted disassembly of the block, pistons and rods I noticed that the following: i.) all of the main, cam and rod bearings were brand new; ii.) the distrbutor was no longer attached to the engine but the distributor shaft was still there with its gear enmeshed with the camshaft; and iii.) there were no numbers or letters on the engine stamping pad. I discussed these facts with the machine shop and they seemed to believe that the block had been rebuilt many years ago (including the block being decked) and the distributor gear failed at initial start-up or shortly thereafter causing the engine to be shelved.
Before sinking anymore money into this block I want to identify this block so that I can be sure of what I am dealing with. The block markings and information are as follows:
1.) Engine block no. 3782870;
2.) Foundry date on rear lip of block is "K28";
3.) No engine pad stamps (apparently block was previously decked);
4.) Ten dot forging clock above block no.;
5.) Tell-tale Saginaw/Flint plug above timing chain area;
6.) The numeral "3" next to the letters "GM" directly below the casting number; and
7.) The machine shop has confirmed that this is a small journal block.
Questions that I trying to get answered include the following:
a.) Why does this block with a K28 casting date , apparently November 28, 1963, have no year included in the casting date?
b.) According to my calendar November 28, 1963 was the fourth Thursday in November (viz., Thanksgiving day), was the Saginaw foundry really working on Thanksgiving day back in 1963?
c.) Does the "3" next to the letters "GM" indicate that the block was cast in 1963?
d.) Why does this block have a 10 dot clock on it if forged in 1963 (other threads indicate that this was feature did not appear uintil some time in 1964)?
I look forward to your responses.
Best regards,
Peter Cook
Direct view of pics from photobucket
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/09062008_870_1.jpg
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/09062008_870_2.jpg
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/09062008_870_3.jpg
My name is Peter Cook and I am a new NCRS member. I have been reading your technical discussions for the past few weeks and I have been impressed by the vast pool of knowledge and how helpful everyone is. I hope that you can all help me with proper identification of this 870 block.
My vette is a 1964 roadster (VIN 40867 S107393 and "D18" assembly date) which I purchased two years ago without the original motor in it but with a block, crank, pistons, rods and heads which were purportedly the original block and heads for the motor. The block and heads were severely rusted from being left out in the elements for many years.
A month or so ago I finally got around to trying to disassemble the engine but it was so rusted up I needed to bring the block to a machine shop for disassembly. During my attempted disassembly of the block, pistons and rods I noticed that the following: i.) all of the main, cam and rod bearings were brand new; ii.) the distrbutor was no longer attached to the engine but the distributor shaft was still there with its gear enmeshed with the camshaft; and iii.) there were no numbers or letters on the engine stamping pad. I discussed these facts with the machine shop and they seemed to believe that the block had been rebuilt many years ago (including the block being decked) and the distributor gear failed at initial start-up or shortly thereafter causing the engine to be shelved.
Before sinking anymore money into this block I want to identify this block so that I can be sure of what I am dealing with. The block markings and information are as follows:
1.) Engine block no. 3782870;
2.) Foundry date on rear lip of block is "K28";
3.) No engine pad stamps (apparently block was previously decked);
4.) Ten dot forging clock above block no.;
5.) Tell-tale Saginaw/Flint plug above timing chain area;
6.) The numeral "3" next to the letters "GM" directly below the casting number; and
7.) The machine shop has confirmed that this is a small journal block.
Questions that I trying to get answered include the following:
a.) Why does this block with a K28 casting date , apparently November 28, 1963, have no year included in the casting date?
b.) According to my calendar November 28, 1963 was the fourth Thursday in November (viz., Thanksgiving day), was the Saginaw foundry really working on Thanksgiving day back in 1963?
c.) Does the "3" next to the letters "GM" indicate that the block was cast in 1963?
d.) Why does this block have a 10 dot clock on it if forged in 1963 (other threads indicate that this was feature did not appear uintil some time in 1964)?
I look forward to your responses.
Best regards,
Peter Cook
Direct view of pics from photobucket
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/09062008_870_1.jpg
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/09062008_870_2.jpg
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq87/xcookpac/09062008_870_3.jpg
Often hard to tell 3's from 8's in small castings.
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