My buddy just acquired this motor they told him it’s a 283 from a Vette (shocker I know right) anyways, there are a couple things about it that are confusing The casting number is ‘60-64 283 according to everything I can find, and it has casting boss for side mounts. So that rules out 55-57 blocks. Then he said it had suffix code G but everything I can find on that shows “G” as 57 283 but the casting number is later than that. He sent me these pictures and at first glance it does look like a “G”but now I think it’s probably a “C” a few other things I noticed are the exhaust manifolds don’t look like Vette either. So I’m thinking it must be a ‘60-‘64 283 that someone has put front mounts on probably to put into a tri 5 car at some point. Anyone else find anything different? Or am I missing something here?
That's not an original G stamp. The line was higher, and straight Did you find the casting date code on the back of the block? Why does a Vette motor have that oil pan? etc.
Also when they used that block casting, all the Vette suffixes were two letters. You need to tell your friend to ask you about this stuff BEFORE he buys the engine
In order to help nail it down, there will be a casting date code on the intake to the rear of the carburetor, and one on each cylinder head in between two of the valves. Something like C 5 2 would be March 5, 1962. By the way, Corvette engines never used a Rochester 4GC like this engine has. Of course, after 60 plus years, it could be made of parts from six different engines.
The block casting number 3789935 I.D.'s as a late 61 and possible early 62 Chev pass and Corvette 170 hp 283 with a manual trans. I sourced this from the Chevrolet by the Numbers books by Alan Colvin, taken directly from the G.M. Archives.
I don't remember what year Corvette my 283 came out of, but when I ran the numbers, it was '66 truck block, '55 heads (I think the 1st small blocks heads ever) and a '61 4 bbl manifold. I got this from a friend and don't doubt that he pulled it from a 'vette, but it's a real mutt. Gary
170 HP Corvette? That's the problem with reference material; I've yet to see a list of this sort that I could trust completely.
No. Not born-as. M is the code for the 1st GM 302 v8. One is MO I don't 100% recall the other, neither are the same as the vaunted DZ. Unless caution was a swear word and somebody punched it to 4.00 and kept the 3.00 crank...
The fact remains, the lowest horsepower rating for an early 1960s Corvette 283 was 230. A 170 HP engine had a 2 bbl. carburetor.
LOL I had a '64 Malibu SS that was a factory 283 2bbl car. At least that is what we figured out from the sheet of paper stuffed into the springs in the back seat. It became a Z28 car, but I left the SS fender tags on it. LOL I am not sure you could purchase a low performance Vette though. At least I never have seen one yet, I do know you could order some pretty off the wall crap back then. A good 283 block can become anything you want it to me. The numbers will not fly for a collector but if you are a hot rodder a good solid platform is all you need.
3spd manual C2 vettes are rare. Real rare. Why? Cuz who the hell would? An exponentially rare GTO, could be had with a 2bbl, rubber floor mat and chrome front bumper. I think they built 7. Wonder why? Get it? Get it? Huh, huh?
I know that, beginning in 1967, you could order a GTO with a 400 2 bbl. engine, and that SS Impalas and Malibus could be had with a six, but 283 2 bbl equipped '61 Corvette? NO.
True, I should have been more clear in my description. The casting number posted by the O.P. is for a late 61 and possibly early 62 283. the suffex code"C" indicates that this block was used in a 61, 170hp passenger car. This block casting was used in both passenger cars and Corvettes for all horsepower ratings, 170 thru 315 hp. All Corvette suffex codes were two digit and the lowest Corvette H.P. rating was 230.
Off topic around these parts, but my boss at the firehouse bought a 72 vette, been sitting for years and years! He got it at an estate auction. I've been going over to his place in the evenings to help him take it apart. When he was at the auction getting ready to bid on the car, I said man if that has the original engine it is probably a pretty decent core. Well, after tearing things down I checked the numbers. 1974 350 truck engine, something like 165 hp rating lol. I laughed and said every 74 Chevy truck on the road now has a corvette engine in it, and your corvette has a damn truck engine!! Lmao! Funny huh? No? OK, sorry
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