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| | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 | I have a small block chevy, and am having some trouble with the year of manufacture. The casting # is 3849852, the casting date is E144, and the only number that I can find for an engine I.D. code (stamped,on boss on block in front of r.hand cylinder head), is F05I5D. The engine also has a generator and road draft tube. It would seem to be a 283 manufactured in May of 64, but the road draft and gen. confuse me. Did the truck continue with these after 1962? Any suggestions? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | According to my book, that engine was built in the Flint plant on May 15th in 1958, 1959 or 1960. It's a 170hp 283, 2bbl small block.
Best I can do,
Scott | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 | Thanks for the info. Larry | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | If it's got the original cylinder heads on it, the valve cover bolt hole spacing will be wider on the bottom than the top. I believe they changed to even-spaced valve cover bolt holes in 59. Those original heads with the offset holes are fairly scarce and expensive, BTW, if a restorer needs them.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 | valve cover bolt holes measure 8-3/4" center to center, top and bottom. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | It sounds like you've got newer heads than the block, or the engine was made post-1959. There are several websites where you can research head and block casting numbers, but there's a very strong possibility newer heads have been installed sometime during the past 50 years. The shape of a machined pad on both ends of the heads can give you an idea of which ones you've got. There were several different valve sizes and compression ratios on 283's over their production run, as that engine was used for everything from big trucks to Corvettes, and there were several engine options with different horsepower ratings on regular passenger cars.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 | Listed as:
283 Engine
Block Casting # 3849852
Block Casting date: May 14, 1964
Engine assembly: Flint, May 15. "D" code ??
Truck 1958 - 1967
Passenger 1958 - 1962
-Tom
1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 | I agree with the block casting date of 1964, however I am confused about why the engine would still have a road draft tube and a generator after 1963. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 64 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 64 | ive got a 66 c30 extended wheelbase w 10k gvw, its got a road draft tube, but the alternator on it may have been put on later i suppose.....
everybody is ignorant @ something.the more we work together, the less ignorance there is floating around
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | F= Flint
05=May
15= 15th of May
D= 283 of either 1958,59 or 60
Mortec Tech says it was cast from 58-66
I don't see any listings for a "D" code 283 in 1964 which would explain the road draft tube!
Scott
Last edited by 48bigtrucks; 04/13/2010 2:13 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 | What is the generator Model #.
-Tom
1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235
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