replacement blocks

[Don_Lightfoot]

Bill and Sam, thanks for your input. This subject has come up on numerous occasions over on Team Chevelle and my above response was the general consensus of the feedback provided. Also, if I recall, there was some sort of "GM Service Bulletin" quoted by a TC member stating this actual fact. Furthermore, there seemed to be evidence from people who had experienced this 'way back when' that the procedure could in fact be different from dealer to dealer.

I am not in a position or have any kind of evidence to confrim this. My CE block has the VIN on it, but I am not in a position to confirm who and when it was stamped, and frankly, it doesn't really matter to me.

Could be one of those "no concrete consistant evidence available" type of circumstances

Additional comments and input obviously more than welcome

[Schonyenko2]

There were also factory warranty replacement blocks that were coded for the car that needed the replacement. ie; if you needed a bare block for a 70 Z28 4 spd they shipped you a CTB block with no sequential vin #. Theres a very good article in one of my Year One catalogs about these. I can copy it and send it for posting if you like. Schonye

[yountto]

CE never had a vin # on the block.....No bare block would ever have a horsepower designation on it,only long blocks would have this designation,and none meant for warranty purposes..thats why bare blocks were sometimes sold as blank pads,otc motors had the HP designation down on the boss at the starter IF they were assembled by GM.warranty had ce buy not usually a build code......Thats why 99% of unstamped virgin blocks had build dates by the starter...Reading books is dangerous.

[Schonyenko2]

I actually have one of those warranty blocks. It is a 1970 4 bolt 010 350 stamped on an undecked pad CTB without the sequential vin#. I had not seen one either until I got this one. I then read the article from Yr 1. I'm just passing on the info, not startin a spittin match. Schonye

[yountto]

How do you know it was a CE replacement if it has a CTB on the pad,unless you yourself had the item warranty replaced in 1970.....it could be a motor that came from a car that wasnt vin stamped..or it could have been a long block OTC motor that was stamped on the pad rather than the customary starter area,how do you know it came from GM as a bare block???..No "spitting match" intended...

[Schonyenko2]

I'll try to get that article posted from YR1 tommorrow. Maybe this block started life as an unstamped otc motor. Schonye

[GMH454]

Have a race car that has a LS7 from Nickey dropped in it in 1974 coded by the factory, can't read the code but it 3 digit alpha code and not CE.
Had a A/Prod Vette with a Crate L-88, (saw the crate lid, and yes it had the part number and L-88 on it.) That was a L-88 short block and it was stamped CE. Also from 1974, have a copy of the parts invoice for it
No logic here.

[rpoz11]

I agree with Yountto's thinking here. I have pondered here a moment and I would think that legally, only the Manufacturer is allowed to ID these as they were installed at the time AND place of assembly. In no way would a dealer be allowed to re-stamp original #'s on anything. Isn't it against the Law to alter any of the original stampings? Obviously, I would think that there is a liabilty issue granted to GM, FORD, Chrysler...etc to be allowed to issue the VIN's accordingly. However, where do all these "Gang-Stamping" tools appear from anyways!??? Seems there are several people around capable of re-stamps...Thoughts here...?

[Keith Tedford]

As crude as it may sound, GM used a gang stamp and a big hammer to number the blocks and transmissions. The trucks were still being done this way well into the '80s. Our L78 Chevelle had the short block replaced in '71 and has the block stamped CE1XXXXX on the deck surface. These replacement assemblies also had a limited warranty and the XXXXXX number allowed GM to identify them.

[JChlupsa]

From the April 14th 1969 Chevy Dealer Service Information Bulletin Re-Issue 69-I-I Page 6
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Service Usage

The following system will be used to identify service engine and transmission assemblies* including replacement parts. Manufacturing plants will number each service assembly as it is produced. The first letter will designate the G.M. Division which produced the Engine.
C- Chevrolet
B- Buick
L- Oldsmobile
P- Pontiac
K- Cadillac

The second letter will indicate the type of unit "E" engine or "T" Transmission. The number following the letter will designate the Model Year "9" for 1969. The last five digits specify the service replacement unit sequence number.
------------

It goes on to list the plants/engines and the serial sequence number but I dont think they wil line up here on the fourm so Ill scan them and post that info later.

Example: Number CE900175 designates Cheverolet Engine- 1969 year, and the 175th unit oproduced for service at Flint Motot Plant (L-6)

For trannys it states that hydra-matic transmissions will be numbered with the letter "H" regardless of the G.M. Division using the transmission.