69' 302 CE numbers

[1968 Z28]

Didn't the LT-1's have floating wrist pins like the 302's?

I don't recall offhand - I don't deal much with Corvettes built after 1967. :-)

Nope, LT1 was pressed pin

Agree.....I have a CE LT1 short block manufactured in 1973 and it has pressed pins.

[x77-69z28]

Thanks guys. I thought maybe the guys at the engine plant were having a liquid lunch that day!

[bcmiller]

Gary if you ever find that GM Directive, I would be interested in seeing it.

From what I have seen, big blocks at Tonawanda generally did not receive a letter in the CE stamp, because fewer were produced and thus in general there was not a need to reuse the numbers.  There may be some cases where they were reused but I have not seen any.

Also from what I have seen, big blocks from Tonawanda received a stamp down on the pan rail near the oil filter area, which seems to be an assembly date stamp.  This would be something like T097 - T for Tonawanda, 09 for month (September) and 7 for last digit of year (1967 in this case).  I am looking for documentation of this.  I am only going off of what I could determine from the blocks that I have.

[69Z28-RS]

Byron,
I found part of it, #2 letter...  haven't found #1 yet, if there is a #1...  it's a photograph of the letter, re-jpged to fit in the requirements here; hopefully it is legible.  It is dated 14Aug1967 (tonawonda)..
I'm sure there was another letter, because this one doesn't have all the information I recall on it....

[69Z28-RS]

OK..  I found a bit more.   a #1 letter, but only the first page have I found so far..  posted here...

[Mike S]

 Interesting. Based on letter #1 mentioning the Georgia statutory requirements, I wonder now, if prior to this established practice to start for 1968, if there were engines and transmissions replace for warranty restamped possibly by the dealer with original numbers?
Especially so for years up to August 1967 for other GM cars.

Mike

[bcmiller]

Thanks Gary!  

What I find the most interesting in that Tonawanda letter is the part where is says...

It should be noted that the service identification number is required in addition to date stamp markings currently put on service assemblies.

I believe the "date stamp markings" are what referred to above as "something like T097 - T for Tonawanda, 09 for month (September) and 7 for last digit of year (1967 in this case)".

If you find any other documents which might clarify this, please post those too.

Bryon

[69Z28-RS]

I will Bryon.  I know I've seen/read additional GM letters re the CE marking requirement that originated in Aug/Sept 1967 for 68 amd subsequent models, but I haven't been able to find copies on my current computer.  I think I recall some 'back and forth' letters between the plants on how exactly to implement that order in that same time frame before they got it all ironed out.   I'm sure I saved them on whatever computer I was using at the time...  when I find additional info, I will post it here.

[Mike S]

Gary,

  What was the normal practice of post installation markings of warranty engine and transmissions (original parts with unique serial numbers) prior to this CE requirement listed in Aug/Sep of 67?

Thanks,
Mike

[69Z28-RS]

Mike,

From the little I know, it may have varied with the car type/plant..  Either John Z or Bryon Miller will know the answer to this question better than I...

[JohnZ]

Gary,

  What was the normal practice of post installation markings of warranty engine and transmissions (original parts with unique serial numbers) prior to this CE requirement listed in Aug/Sep of 67?

Thanks,
Mike

I'm sure there was a procedure issued for the installing dealer to stamp something on the pad, but I've never seen it, and apparently few dealers followed it. Most "CE" pads I've seen only have the engine plant "CE" sequence stamped. There were 6,000 Chevy dealers in those days, and few bothered with the little details. Prior to the "CE" program, warranty short blocks ("partial engines" or "fitted blocks") had blank pads.

[bcmiller]

I agree with John completely. 

I have never seen anything other than the original CE stamp on the pad for the 68 model year and later. Dealers may have noted the CE assembly number on the warranty paperwork.  But that probably varied from one dealer to another.

Earlier pads were left blank.  But I am pretty sure the earlier blocks still received that assembly date stamp down on the pan rail/oil filter area.   

It has been a while since I have seen a blank pad warranty engine.

[Mike S]

 Thanks Gary, John and Bryon,

   Interesting about the CE history. I'm guessing with the growing popularity of high performance motors back in the day, engine and tranny damage became more frequent leading to more warranty fixes. So a  better way to track warranty was needed though it sounds like the Georgia statutory requirements played a major role in the CE policy change.
  Back to an earlier question, was there such a thing as a 2-bolt main CE block? I have only seen 4-bolt main blocks. I'm sure 2 bold mains must have failed at some time back then.

Thanks,
Mike

[JohnZ]

   Back to an earlier question, was there such a thing as a 2-bolt main CE block? I have only seen 4-bolt main blocks. I'm sure 2 bold mains must have failed at some time back then.

Thanks,
Mike

Yes. "CE" blocks were intended to duplicate the original application's configuration, and were furnished as such; 2-bolt blocks were the most common, but there were 4-bolts as well.

[bcmiller]

Yes, 2 bolt and 4 bolt CE blocks.  I have one 4 bolt CE 427, one 4 bolt CE 396/402, several 2 bolt CE v396s, one 2 bolt CE 402, one 2 bolt CE 454.