Thread: Small block ID..I think it is an old Feulie!

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Hey guys, thanks for your patience. I am new here, but have been over on club cobra quite a bit. Anyway, I have an old 29 model A rat rod that I just kinda wound up with and started working on this winter doing some basic work. It needs a valve job so I thought it would be a good ID to check and see if I could ID the parts (block and heads). I could not find the numbers on the heads, but I did find the block numbers. They are : F0502CS. and below stamped a little crooked is 107596. I think the second is a Vin or partial VIN, but I haven't gotten that one figured out. The other looks like from my initial web surfing a 58 vette feulie motor. It does have the double hump heads. Can anyone confirm that for me? If it is, is it worth anything? Honestly, I was thinking about going with a little more HP and a 383 stroker or something when I got around to getting serious about finishing the build. It runs, but it has this little 283 with a 4 speed Muncie, feels like a close ratio, and ford 9 inch with 4:56 a$$ end. I was going to put a nicer SBC and a tremec and lower the ratio in the rear to get a better set up. any comments? Anyway, any comments you could give me would be most welcome.

Thanks
Buzz

I am looking and it appears that the transmission in the vette fuelies should be a 3 speed. Mine is a 4. I doubt it is a numbers matching unit. I have yet to get under the car to number search

holy sh*t, it looks like as I further search this out, in 58 they only made 504 of these.

http://www.fatherlarryscorvetteshop....age_3.htm#1960

I am not a small block historian, but I don't think the double hump heads came out that early, I think they were a 327 item. The hot heads for the 283 were the "Power Pack" heads. I could be wrong, I have been before! That block might be worth something to a restorer even if the heads don't match.

Pat

Buzz, you need to take off the valve cover to see the casting number on the heads.

For you, and Pat, here's a sbc head guide:
http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/randysr...Headguide.html

OK, I got the valve covers off. First from the above link provided by Bob, they look like style F. The numbers were a little hard to read, but I think I have it. 3(or 8)78246(or8)1. One the variables, the castings are a little tough to read, but the first number is pretty clearly a 3 on the drivers side and an iffy 3 on the passenger side. I am thinking 3. On the drivers side the second questionable number looks like a 6, and on the passengers side I am pretty sure it is a 6 as well after a second look. my first impression was that it was an 8. Also there is a large GM in the middle with a 5 I think under it. and off to the side of the casting number there is a J298. also some other smaller numbers kind of cock eyed next to the casting number. I have a digital camera if that would help. Have not crawled under fro the trans numbers.

If this does turn into a rare engine...any thoughts on value. I am wondering if it has ever been entered and if so what the bore would measre. How would be the best way to measure it (tool)...maybe I will pull a head and mic it. I just don't have the mike and would have to buy one. anyway, any help as always is hugely appreciated.

Buzz

head casting number is 3782461 ...I went back and check about 30 times to be sure (smiles)...OK what do I have? The engine block is a 58 (by the numbers) and the heads look a little older. I know someone could have switched them easy enough. Did they ever use older blocks for newer cars? Now I am wondering what the tranny is and if it goes with the engine or not.

OK Buzz, your heads are 461's (1.94 intakes) which makes them '62-7 327 heads. So much for a complete "rare" engine. If you read the whole page from the link I posted that author thinks there's a good chance you've got some cracks. Well that's an opinion, a magnaflux test would prove or disprove.

You're probably expecting the block to be a '58 fuelie because of the CS at the end of the stamping. Could be. But be warned, Chevrolet reused codes for various engine designations. For example, a 250 ci six is also a CS code. So, you need to get the block casting number as Richard suggested and then go to Mortec. Be advised that the same 283 casting numbers were used from '58-64, but the fuelies were only 283 based until '61, so the casting date code would be necessary to prove value as well.

If you look around you can rent a bore mic.

OK I have about every number nailed down now. The trans number is 3885010. The casting date looks like D290, and the casting number is 3756519.

OK, is there anything else I need to find out before we get this ID'ed? With that info what do you guys think?

it's looking like a 60 Vette that had the heads changed isn't it? I wonder if there is any way of checking on what engine options it had? Would this have any value? The CS is still puzzling to me. Maybe that would indicate it was a fuelie? Anyway, it was a good distraction for the day!

If it is a fulie with maching heads you should, get all the work done to it, paint it origional colors and then sell it for 6- 8 thousand to a vette restorer or someone who just restores cars. They will probly pay it and you could use the money to buy/ build a 350 Small block that will crank 350- 400 horses with the money aquired from the vette motor. Fullies are worth bucks to restorers. When the people were putting Vette fulies in there cameros and other muscles in the 70's, there were and still are a lot of fulie powered vettes were left motorless. You may have a fulie.

I guess the kicker is..how do you know?

I would suggest googling block castings for fullie motors. I do not know any sites myself that contain fullie info.

what about the partial VIN number..is that traceable. I wonder if there is a complete number somewhere else on it?

Also, what about the internals. Does anyone have the specs/numbers for the FI option for a 60 Vette? I am wondering if the thing is still virgin and if I should break it open to find out what cam (are they numbered?), etc it has in it. The induction is aftermarket.