1956 Bel Air Original engine?

[miller56]

So I am in the process of getting my 56 2 door bel air engine either rebuilt or putting in a crate motor. The person I bought the car off of claimed that the motor was original. When taking the engine out, I noticed that the casting number comes back to possibly a 1957 Chevy 283 motor (at least from what I have found from checking the numbers from some of the material I have seen). Is it possible that Chevy put in a 57 motor into a 56? If so, does anyone know where I could find documentation on that? Or does anyone know if there would be a build sheet for the tri-fives under the rear seat or elsewhere in the vehicle? Thanks in advance.

[Rick_L]

Chevy only put 56 engines in 56 cars. A previous owner could have put a 57 engine in your 56.

55-57 cars did not have build sheets.

[BamaNomad]

You have an answer to your question, but if you were to post additional information (engine casting number and cast date, assembly stamping, etc it would likely stir some additional comment that you might learn more from...?

[miller56]

Thanks Rick for the information. I figured it was that, but just wanted to make sure. Bama, the engine block casting is 3731548, another marking near the casting number (at the rear) is E217 and on the front passenger side of the engine block it is stamped with F523F.

[BamaNomad]

Totally confirms it's a '57 block (3731548) cast on May 21, 1957 (E217) and assembled in Flint, MI as a 2 bbl 283 engine for PG transmission on May 23, 1957 (F523F).

PS. All V8 engines (all of them 265 ci) assembled for 1956 model year have a cast number 3720991).

[miller56]

Thats what I figured. But was hoping I was just missing something. Thanks Bama for the information.