283 Identification help...

[steevano61]

I found and bought a 283 that has been sitting in a barn since the late 60's, The old man thinks it was a corvette motor he pulled from from a '54 chev PU that the owner had just dropped it into the truck and totaled out on its test drive in 1968 and its been sitting ever since. The block # is 3737739 build date D98 and stamping on front tab is F42IM. The intake is cast iron 4 barrel, the diameter of all 4 holes is identical but the depth on pass. side is less than drivers side, stamping # 3837109. The head # looks like 3731589 or 3731539 with a "T" and a "Tri-angle" underneath the stamp and a single "Tri-angle" on the outside end of the head, there is also a stamping of A2157. Exhaust Manifold stamping appears to be 3733975. Flywheel Stamping # 3714468. It came with 2 Distributors, 1 for mech tach and 1 with only oil tube but I cant find #"s on either. As far as I can tell its a '58 283 but beyond that I'm getting conflicting answers or no answers. Any help identifying if this is just a hodge-podge of old chev parts on a 283 block or the possibility it is a complete and original 283 and what the original application might be would be fantastic and appreciated. Thanks, Steve

 

[Philip]

The block was used from 58 - 64, the head casting 3731539 was used in 57 on the 283/283 hp FI engines. The A2157 date code shows it was cast in late January of 57. It would have staggered valve cover holes with the intake side being closer together than the exhaust side. I do not think it is a complete original engine. The date code on the block is early April 58. Not sure on the rest of the parts.

 

[steevano61]

thank you philip, I'm still baffled on the A42IM stamping on the front of the block...

 

[Philip]

Me too. Not sure what any of it means. It may be a different type of coding Chevy used in 58 from what was standard in the 60's.

 

[steevano61]

I've looked hi and lo and haven't decoded it yet... If the block and heads are original matching parts it would be wrong to separate them and I'd probably start looking for a '58 FI to make the motor factory correct or make it available to someone who is looking for one. If its a mix n match probably sell it as is.

 

[Philip]

The block and heads are not from the same engine, the casting dates are too far apart. However it would still make a killer retro 283 FI build. The important parts are the heads to make it look original. The internals of the block have also probably been changed and could be a good combination of parts. If it were mine I would start it up to see how it runs and use it if there are no issues.

 

[steevano61]

Thanks Philip, just might end up in the '47...

 

[hurst01]

It is entirely possible that even though the block has a casting number from 1958 that the 1957 heads would still have been used in the model year 1958. They would not have shelved or scrapped a butt-load of good heads that had the same specs because of a model year change. I have seen many instances where the manufactures used up parts from prior years.
Like you, I am unable to come up with the suffex code from the engine. It is also possible that it could have been a GM replacement engine for the year, which is now called a crate engine. That would leave it with a completely different suffex code.