Paging Dr JohnZ

[64VetteMania]

hi john..your like my doctor now lol...ok john this is the situation now...you know im looking for a motor for my 64 coup and i found one and just want to be sure about the date part. this is my info on my car.....my vin is 40837 S (june15th) and my trim tag is F04 ...style 837....A-1184 body ,,,,,,,,and i found this one for sale...............Stamp pad is F1230RF 4108866 and the date code is L83 ....do you think this one is ok? thanks doc

[JohnZ]

From an NCRS judging perspective, it's outside the six-month "window" that's allowed between the block casting date (December 8, 1963) and the car assembly date (June 15, 1963) by a week, which results in a 263-point deduction - that alone would kill any shot at Top Flight, as you can only lose 270 points (out of 4500 for the whole car) and still make Top Flight. If the casting date was within the six-month "window", you'd only lose 50 points (for non-matching VIN stamp and the "RF" code, unless your car is a fuelie), assuming the pad surface is OK.

The most important items are the block casting number (350 points) and the casting date within the "window" (175 points); the pad gets 25 for the engine plant code stamp date and suffix being correct, 25 for the VIN stamp being correct, and 38 for the appearance of the pad (broach marks, etc.).

[64VetteMania]

thanks again john for the important info....im happy i joined this forum and learning alot of good info from you and the rest of the ppl in here...since im outta the "6 month" range i guess ill keep looking for another motor..ive been calling some places and checking on the net and keep falling on blocks to early or to late...but im sure ill land somthing soon...i found this block that just went up on ebay and got confused again...the date code looks very good but what stumps me is the "S" on the suffix and i checked a sight on the net for suffix codes on the 870 blocks and it tells me the "S" is from a full size car.....can you tell me if this is right or is there an error on info on that sight....this is the block on ebay.......Item number: 2432428893............and this is the web page that tells me its a full size car block........[url]http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/spcode6.html
thanks again

[JohnZ]

Good date for you, but I'd pass on it - too many flaws. It's already .040"-over, and still has bore distortion at the top of #8, the chip-out at the bottom of #7 is a stress riser looking to expand, and crack at the starter boss will only get worse. Keep looking and be patient.