[Jeepracer427]

I know this thread is old but I am having trouble finding my engine casting number. I've looked all over the driver side rear by the casting numbers but I can't find the year casting. It's a 283 but I'm not sure which one

[poncho62]

Is the suffix code there?...Its on the machined pad in front of the passenger side head.

[Jeepracer427]

GF but there are 2 versions of the 283. the 2bbl one and the fi one. mine has a 4bbl intake that appears factory

[poncho62]

GF 1955 265 m/t, 3 spd, a/c - -
GF 1957 283 turglide FI car
GF 1965 283 Powerglide 195 2 full size

OK...If it is a 57 block it wont have the bosses for the side mounts.

[Jeepracer427]

Ok thank you didn't know that. Guess someone put that intake on there at one time

[hcompton]

Originally Posted by Jeepracer427

Ok thank you didn't know that. Guess someone put that intake on there at one time

Were you able to find the build date? It in a small chunk of metal that is machined flat on the front pass side. Usally there is something in front of it making it next to impossible to find on many late model cars. If you got and old block or know someone tat does its alot easier to find it on a cleaned block out of the motor. But its located right where the heads bolt to the block in the front pad. If you cant find it im sure someone has a picture.

I have not messed with many of the early blocks. I may be wrong about the casting clock location. Its been on every chevy i have ever worked on but got to say i never ripped into an 57 engine.

[cobalt327]

The date code should be where it's shown circled below. The code on this block is F 18 1:
F = June
19 = 19th day of the month
1 = year ending in 1.

You can tell this is a 1961 block because of the road draft tube hole (red arrow), there was no '51 Chevy V8, and the '71 didn't have the road draft hole.


Also it's not unheard of for the date code to be missing altogether. But usually there are enough clues to tell the exact date or darned close to it. In your case, different casting numbers were used during the run of 283 SBC engines, so between the casting number, the suffix code, the aforementioned side mounted motor mount bosses (or the lack of them), rope rear main seal used from 1955-'58, etc., can all help to determine the date it was made.

More on ID'ing Chevy engines here.