My New Nomad need love ID help too?

for more tri-five info, go to www.trifive.com.

 

Ok, After being at a hockey tournament all weekend I have been following the thread via phone... and I finally got home...

The block number on the front boss stamp was in fact a "C" and not an "o"
Making it a TO225C

On the Door plate is VC57T ... no other "N" or anything like that... and body know what that means... the full sequence is "VC57T 221261"

 

Ok, I just ran out and looked again, because I spaced the side motor mount check which it DOES have... which make me think it's not a 265... (in addition the valve cover's don't' appear to be staggered...)

So now I am curious... is there a quick way to ID whether it's a 283 or a 327? I am having one heck of a hard time getting behind the motor to see those stupid block castings... are the front numbers enough?

 

According to my Chevy engine code book, the C suffix could be a '57 265, '58-'60 185 horse 283 with manual trans, or '60-'64 170 horse 283 with manual trans.

 

V= V8 C= belair(all nomads are belAirs) 57= Model Year T=Tarrytown NY

 

Your intake manifold number 3844459 is '63-'65 327 4 bbl, used in full-size cars, Chevelle, Nova and Corvette.

 

If it has side engine mounts (which it does) can it be a 57?

 

No, if it has bosses for side mounts, it's not '57.

 

Hey thanks for the detective work... My guess is that is the same intake that has been on that engine for a while... hasn't run in 26 years and won't for another 6 months as I am getting it ready for storage (snowed today)... but that makes sense to me, based on all the previous comments.

 

Can you make out any numbers to the left of the"4T" at the back of the block...that should be your casting number. If you can get the last few digits, I can look it up in my book. Also, pull a valve cover...the last three digits on the head casting number will identify your heads, which are likely 1.94 intakes, though they could be 2.02.

 

Oh, you might consider joining the Nomad/Safari group here on the HAMB.

 

I put in to join the group a couple of weeks ago... is there like a whole thread on them or something... i can't seem to find a link.

 

Sign up here

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=158

I haven't put a lot on here yet, but hopefully will soon.

 

Done!

 

If I am correct, 1957 Nomad came with the 283. Double hump heads and non-staggered valve covers mean engine swap. So many parts interchange on small blocks. Google search chevy engine ID numbers and
several sites will come up that list the blocks by code. Nice find for sure. Tri five Nomads and Safaris are the coolest wagons to roll off the GM line.

 

Find a "Chevrolet by the Numbers" book and check out the casting numbers, block, heads and intake. Like has been said it could be a lot of things put together. Valve covers are at least '68, would say Chevrolet or have the rectangle for a decal if earlier. Nice car, have fun!! I'd be proud to own it.

 

Sweet find!

 

The old timers on here should be able to tell whether it's a 283 or 327 block by the rid cast directly above the timing cover. If I remember correctly, the 283 had a tighter space between the rib and the water pump boss than the 327. I'll go out to the shop and look.

 

Youngsters can tell it's a 283 block because it says C on it.

But that sounds like a neat trick...let us know!

 

Squirrel is correct about the suffix code, but you can also tell at a glance because your finger won't quite go in there flat on a 283 block, but the 327 rib is a bit farther over, and '68 up blocks had no rib.

 

ok so let me get this straight. you found this in a barn. it looks this good if you got it for anything under 10,000 you stole it. and you call your self a preacher. you should send it to me in michigan and i will have someone pray for your soul and maybe you won't burn in hell for eternity...but if you feel that strongly about it. I hear its a dry heat and you'll have that sweet ride to get there in... lucky S O B..

 

Doesn't that look like an AFB carb. If so it would be another clue it is a 327.

Frank

 

its very possible that the block, heads, intake, carb, and valve covers are all off of different motors.

from what ive reasoned out of this post, it has side mount provisions so it is for sure a 58 and up block. It would really be nice if you could get to those block casting numbers. Can you get a scraper or a screwdriver down there to scrape the grime, then try to clean it off with carb cleaner (or the like)?

The heads look like camel back/double hump heads. Ive got a '62 327/300horse that has those. Im not sure, but other models might have used the same heads.

as far as the valve covers, from what I can see, they dont have the "chevrolet" script, and they dont have the raised area for the 327 sticker. It looks like they are the plain covers with the raised center area that runs the full length of the cover. I dont know when they started using those, but I know they used them at least as late as 1978 (had a vette with them).

like said before, it would really help to know those casting numbers.

btw, is the motor stuck? If not, it will probably run to some capacity.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't recall ever seeing double hump heads on a 283 from the factory, and putting later fuelie heads on a 283 generally drops the CR. Probably a high performance 327. If I saw double hump heads on a car with 4:11's I would certainly think that someone was having fun. Remember too that Nomads, sedan deliverys and station wagons were big in stock class drags in the '60s. Either way thats not the original 283 (which is a good thing if you have a built 327!)
-Dean

 

Yeah the engine turns over just fine... I just parked it in a barn for winter storage, but I can't wait until March when I get to figure out what it is... I will keep you all posted in about 6 months!

 

Preacher, you need to move down here to Arkansas, where the weather allows us to work on cars year 'round!

 

You might clean the number on the front of the block off a little better. If the last 2 digits happen to be SC, then it's a 250 HP Corvette (REALLY) engine. The AFB looks like it might have an adaptor plate under it. You might pull the carb and see what it looks like.
Larry T

 

Great score!!!!

 

if so, then it was assembled in month ZERO

T022SC
T 0 22 SC

get it?

 

I can't believe after all this he can put it in the garage for 6 months not knowing if it runs and what it really is!! The suspence is killing me.