Differences in CE and DZ block

[68Zproject]

I was just looking at my CE block for my 68 Z28 and a DZ that was in it.  They look very similar except for where the distributor hole is in the lifter galley.  The CE just has a hole which is close to the floor of the lifter galley.  The DZ has a mound with a hole in the top and a small one on the side almost even with the top where the intake goes.  Does anyone know why this is or what this does?  Both blocks are 302 and 4 bolt mains.  Any help?  Thanks.

[sam]

I don't believe there is any difference between a DZ block and any other 4 bolt 350 block. DZ is just a suffix code for a Z/28 and I don't think it has anything to do with the material of the block. DZ,CE ,010 etc I believe are just a 4 bolt SB.

[Mark]

Look at the casting numbers on the back of the block.  They are probably different, a 68 block will be 3914678, while 69 blocks were either 3932386, 3932388, 3956618 or 3970010, depending on when it was cast during the model year.  Oh and 68 Z28's didn't have DZ coded blocks, they had MO coded blocks.

[68Zproject]

Yes, thanks, I know the diff about the blocks for 69 and 68.  The DZ is a 388 and the CE is 010.  I was wondering why there is a boss on the DZ where the dist. goes in the block and there isn't one on the 010.

[sam]

Probably just casting differences. I don't know if the blocks were casted at different foundries or not.

[Jonesy]

Yes, thanks, I know the diff about the blocks for 69 and 68.  The DZ is a 388 and the CE is 010.  I was wondering why there is a boss on the DZ where the dist. goes in the block and there isn't one on the 010.

Do you have a picture of that 388 block with the DZ stamping?
I still dont know if I have ever seen an original 388 DZ block. Almost all 388 blocks I have seen came out of Tonawanda engine. I thought Flint engine bulit all the 302 engines in 69.

[JohnZ]

Simply stated, a block is a block; they had different casting numbers as various changes and improvements were made over the years. No such thing as a "DZ block" - it's just an ordinary 350 block that got machined for 4-bolt mains, and the internals that were assembled in it resulted in the "DZ" suffix code; that same block could just as well have wound up as a 2-barrel L-65 or as a truck engine. All 302's were built at Flint V-8.

[68Zproject]

Ouch, I guess I should have known better than to try to cut my words short and not be precise. I meant to say the 388 block that had the DZ stamp and the 010 that had the CE stamp. I was just trying to ask if the differences in these two blocks, as far as the distributor hole, was a change to the casting numbers, just the 010 casting or did it vary from year to year?  Or has nobody seen what I was talking about? I was concerned that my old dist. wouldn't work somehow or oiling may be affected.
 I have a picture on the TC site of the block stamping for the 388, it was a Flint and is now scrap. John or Kurt may be able to post it here as I sent it to Kurt.

[bigblknmbrs]

Your correct, Tonawanda didn't build ANY small blocks with aluminum intakes (eaasiest way to put it). The original 302 block was made one way and the CE (or replacement) block fit many more application. Any differences between the two are inconsequential, they won't affect the function in any way.

Someone ordered a fitted block or short block to an assembly number that corrosponded to a Z-28 302. That assembly was stamped with a CE code.

[JohnZ]

I was concerned that my old dist. wouldn't work somehow or oiling may be affected.

Nope, no functional difference at all - distributors/blocks are all interchangeable.

[68Zproject]

That's a big thank-you.  I didn't want another 302 going to the scrap yard.