[RIX 64]

Hi all, new to the forum & hope one of the guru's out there can help me out. I have a '64 Chevelle with a tired 283 & looking to replace it with a 327. I found a block with a date code stamp of F103 (May 10, 1963). The owner claims it came out of a '64 Impala. My question, in what month of '63 did Chevy start casting blocks for the '64 models. I'm trying to find a period correct block for my project. Thx in advance for any help.

rick

[Tom Mobley]

Rick, where in Az are you? I'm in Phx/Glendale, near Arrowhead.

3/10/63, might be close enough to to call it a 64 model block.

[Tom Mobley]

can somebody who really knows this stuff comment here?

[Lionel-n-Chevelles]

Hi Rick,
Welcome to Team Chevelle. I also have a 64 and my 283 was replaced with a 327/300 out of a 63 Impala. The Impala was also a 4 Speed car.
If you want a period correct block, please post the buld date from the cowl tag. A 870 Block and 461 Heads cast 2 weeks and up to 2 months prior to the build date is an acceptable range.

[DaleM]

I could be wrong but I don't think any 327 was available in the Malibu until March of 64. Anything a year earlier wouldn't be period correct IMO.

[RIX 64]

Tom, I'm in Tucson

Originally Posted by Tom Mobley

Rick, where in Az are you? I'm in Phx/Glendale, near Arrowhead.

3/10/63, might be close enough to to call it a 64 model block.

[RIX 64]

Thx for the info. The tag is 11 C (November, 3rd wk). So, any block date stamped from Sept. to Nov. of '64? I was under the impression that blocks cast in '63 were used for the '64 models. I just didn't know where the cutoff date was in '63.

rick

Originally Posted by Lionel-n-Chevelles

Hi Rick,
Welcome to Team Chevelle. I also have a 64 and my 283 was replaced with a 327/300 out of a 63 Impala. The Impala was also a 4 Speed car.
If you want a period correct block, please post the buld date from the cowl tag. A 870 Block and 461 Heads cast 2 weeks and up to 2 months prior to the build date is an acceptable range.

[DaleM]

So we just disregard the fact that Chevelles didn't get a 327 until March?

[Mike]

Apparently

[RIX 64]

Not disregarding any facts, just was informed that '64 models had a '63 date code. I've searched the internet for info on the subject, but came up with nothing. If you could direct me to a site, I would very much appreciate it.

rick

Originally Posted by DaleM

So we just disregard the fact that Chevelles didn't get a 327 until March?

[DaleM]

Originally Posted by RIX 64

Not disregarding any facts, just was informed that '64 models had a '63 date code. I've searched the internet for info on the subject, but came up with nothing. If you could direct me to a site, I would very much appreciate it.

rick

Quite true. Back in the day, the model year (such as 1964 Chevelles) began sales around September of 63 so parts for early model year cars were built the previous calendar year. The 64 model year stopped production around July/August of 1964 to change over to the 1965 model year which introduced new (1965 Chevelles) in September of 1964.

This was pretty much a standard cycle for a number of years. Nowadays car makers introduce a new model year just about anytime they want to. Here is it just March of 2012 and both Ford and Dodge have 2013 models on their web sites.

1964 Chevelle engine codes showing the 327s weren't available until at least March of 1964. In anticipation of sales these probably had casting dates of maybe January or February, maybe even earlier. Point was an a 1964 Chevelle with a body date of 11C (November, 3rd week of 1963) wouldn't have had a 327 as an option so there is no really 'date correct' 327 engine for it.

http://chevellestuff.net/1964/engine_id_codes.htm

[RIX 64]

Dale, thx for the info & the link. This definitely clears up a lot of confusion. I wish I'd found this forum a while back, could have saved myself a lot of problems. Anyway, I think I have the info I need to move forward & thx again for the help.

rick

Originally Posted by DaleM

Quite true. Back in the day, the model year (such as 1964 Chevelles) began sales around September of 63 so parts for early model year cars were built the previous calendar year. The 64 model year stopped production around July/August of 1964 to change over to the 1965 model year which introduced new (1965 Chevelles) in September of 1964.

This was pretty much a standard cycle for a number of years. Nowadays car makers introduce a new model year just about anytime they want to. Here is it just March of 2012 and both Ford and Dodge have 2013 models on their web sites.

1964 Chevelle engine codes showing the 327s weren't available until at least March of 1964. In anticipation of sales these probably had casting dates of maybe January or February, maybe even earlier. Point was an a 1964 Chevelle with a body date of 11C (November, 3rd week of 1963) wouldn't have had a 327 as an option so there is no really 'date correct' 327 engine for it.

http://chevellestuff.net/1964/engine_id_codes.htm

[Verle]

There are documented examples of original, unmolested cars with engine block casting dates as much as six months before car build.

This is not to counter Dale's point that there are no documented 64 Chevelles with 327 from the factory until late in the model year.

Numerous dealers across the country did install 327s in 1964 well before the factory did, usually high performance Corvette engines.