I purchased a 57 2 door hard topi am trying to find out what motor is installed in it. The #’s on the right front is CE9B35438. Can anybody help?
Thanks
Unfortunately, an engine stamping that begins with "CE" doesn't give you any info. CE usually means "crate engine" and it could apply to any replacement engine.
What you need to do is get the block casting number from the bellhousing area, and the head casting number from under the valve covers. A photo of the engine would be useful too.
Actually the CE9B35438 means it's a 'Chevrolet Engine' built as a Service/Warranty Replacement. The '9' indicates it's a 1969 engine, the 'B' indicates that the sequence no (35438) is the Second Time (for Chevrolet) to go thru the sequence for the year, so your engine is the 135,438 warranty engine for that year! Beginning with the 1968 model year (late summer 1967), General Motors had to begin *uniquely* identifying Warranty replacement engines and transmissions they installed (this change was due to the state of Georgia Requiring that all engines and transmissions be uniquely identified! To know which engine you have, you could start by getting the Casting Number from the rear of the engine block which will identify which engines it could be. Just guessing I'd guess you have a block casting number of 3970010 block which was the most common V8 block of that year and was built as either a 350 (most common) which was put into trucks and cars and machined for either 2 or 4-bolt mains, or it could be a 302 from a Z28 (which would be more rare). Get the casting date also which might tell us more.
The stamp on the head reads 3927185 so it could 1 of 3 engines 307,350,327
i am still trying to get a picture of the block casting number.
the car is being shipped from Mich to California so as soon as it is delivered
i will work on getting those. Thanks
If it's '186' (and NOT 185- which I'm not familiar with either).. It's a GOOD head, as good as factory heads of the time can be. They were machined for either 1.94" or 2.02" intake valves (depending on the engine it was to be installed on). 1.94" went on 300 hp 327 and 295-300hp 350's, and the 2.02 went on 350-370 hp 350's, and Z28 302 ci engines. Need the date from the engine block. Don't change anything on the engine until we get it figured out. Get the date of the heads also (under the valve covers)... your engine *might* have some value there (to some people) if it turns out to be a HP or SHP engine (even if it's a warranty engine). Many people are restoring late 60's Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, etc.. and if they are missing their original engine, having a date appropriate correct CE engine is their next best choice!
Please take some overall photos of the engine, intake manifold, carburetor, etc... including exhaust manifolds, and heads under the valve covers (and another better photo of the back of the engine block which captures the cast date!).
BamaNomad,
it is a 185 not a 186. The only other #’s are GM 48
and J12 8 attached are some photos of the #’s on the heads.
And engine I hope this helps. Thanks
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