Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

[Markus S.]

I have a 1960 with a 7017320 F.I. unit. Chassis No 110 096. Not sure if it is a 290 or 315 HP version. What determines the difference in HP ?

[Edward B.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

Solid lifters and camshaft, for starters.

[John H.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

As far as I know, there was no 315hp engine in 1960; that engine was to have had aluminum heads, but according to the Spec Guide, none were built, and the iron-head "CS"-suffixed 290hp engines were used instead. What's the engine plant code and suffix stamped on your block pad?

[Bill M.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

I have a 1960 with a 7017320 F.I. unit. Chassis No 110 096. Not sure if it is a 290 or 315 HP version. What determines the difference in HP ?

290: small valve (1.72 intake)
315: big valve (1.94 intake) (few, if any, for 1960)

[Bob R.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

You need to find the suffix code on the engine block to determine the horsepower of the engine. According to the Corvette Black Book there were two fuel injected engines for 1960. 250 horsepower had a suffix code of CR or 290 horsepower had a suffix code of CS.

[Markus S.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

Thanks Bob and all. Suffix code is CS so looks like a 290 HP version.

[Chuck W.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

As far as I know, there was no 315hp engine in 1960; that engine was to have had aluminum heads, but according to the Spec Guide, none were built, and the iron-head "CS"-suffixed 290hp engines were used instead. What's the engine plant code and suffix stamped on your block pad?

I believe that there is a gentleman in Ohio, near Akron/Canton that has an original aluminum head 315hp '60. At least he did when I saw it about 10 years ago. Black as I recall.

[Jim L.]

Re: Horsepower of my 1960 corvette

I believe that there is a gentleman in Ohio, near Akron/Canton that has an original aluminum head 315hp '60. At least he did when I saw it about 10 years ago. Black as I recall.

Never say never when it comes to what slipped out the back door of GM nearly 50 years ago. So I suppose it's possible one surviving "CZ" 315 HP engine exists.

I think it's also possible, however, that someone bolted a pair of aluminum heads on a 283 and called it a 315 engine. There are, afterall, a surprising number of those aluminum heads "out there".

Jim