Hi,

Just bought a 1968 Vette (NOM)and found the engine number which is a 327CI EI 3858174 which i believe is a 1966 Corvette engine. The other number on the front of the block is F0426HCH. What does the HCH stand for? Just trying to verify the Horse power. Can anybody help?

Thanks
Rod

sofarvettec3 said: Hi, Just bought a 1968 Vette (NOM)and found the engine number which is a 327CI EI 3858174 which i believe is a 1966 Corvette engine. The other number on the front of the block is F0426HCH. What does the HCH stand for? Just trying to verify the Horse power. Can anybody help? Thanks Rod

I can't find the HCH suffix in my corvette numbers book, however the book does say the 3858174 casting # is considered a "mystery motor" used as early as 64 in 300 plus applications and commercial trucks.
It's a 2 bolt with a 300 and 350 hose application.
Source book; Corvette, by the numbers, by Alvin Colvin.
It's a bit vague, but doesn't rule out it being a vette motor, at least not by the casting #

______________

Well, I,m pretty sure so far that the 1967 Corvette came out with two 327 CI engines, a 350 and 300 HP with that casting number. Which mine is most likely the 300 HP. I can see that the F=Flint 04=Month 26=Day or is it 2=Day and 6=Year(1966). I've been all over the net trying to figure out the HCH. I appreciate your response.

everyone seems to pretty much agree on the block date on 62-67
but in those years all engine codes were 2 digit and i cant find no mention of a HCH code at all..

there is a CH but it doesnt match the casting number..

and HC code says
1965 HC 327 Powerglide . 275hp 4 full size
http://www.minuit10.net/engine-code.htm

http://www.teufert.net/sbchevy/sb-cast.htm
says

3858174
62 - 67
350, 327 & 302
210-350
2-Bolt mains/Truck/Pass


another source says

3858174
327
64-67
Pas, Chevelle, Camaro
Small Journal

3858174
327
64-67
Truck
Small Journal

3858174
327
66
Corvette
300,350 HP Small Journal

3858174
350
67
Camaro



plus i thought all corvette engines from that era came from the "t" plant.. tonawanda or soemthing like that.

|UPDATED|7/30/2004 7:58:53 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

sofarvettec3 said: I can see that the F=Flint 04=Month 26=Day or is it 2=Day and 6=Year(1966). I've been all over the net trying to figure out the HCH. I appreciate your response.

it is april 26th..

the year is figured by engine code

my guess.. is that it should be HC not HCH..

HC is consistent with date format and casting

327/275hp

Well, i guess i'll keep researching it. The appraiser at Classic Cars of New England took this number and came up with 327 CI 300 HP engine. This is also a standard 4 speed muncie transmission. Guess i'll give them a call.

http://www.classiccarsofne.com/directions_map.htm

in my black book the 3858174 says for most 327 ci in 1966
might the HCH be for the Holley carburetor?

|UPDATED|7/30/2004 6:18:09 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Well, it does have a Holley with the Edelbrock Intake. I ordered the Black Book for 1953 to 2004 and the Corvette by Numbers to check it out. I do appreciate your input. What i have read so far on the net and this in certain circumstances, some of the earlier engines did have a 3 suffix code, tho' i haven't found any yet accept for the big blocks.

sofarvettec3 said: some of the earlier engines did have a 3 suffix code, tho' i haven't found any yet accept for the big blocks.

i couldnt find any in the 60's

some in the fifties and seventies.. but all the 60's i found were 2 digit

66 engine codes

HE . 327 .300 . Manual Trans.
HH . 327 ..300 .. K19 & ManualTrans.
HO . 327 .300 . Powerglide
HR ..327 ..300 .. K19 & Powerglide
HT . 327...350 .. Hi-LiftCam & 4-Speed
HD . 327..350 .. Hi-Lift Cam, K19 & 4-Speed
HP . 327...350... Hi-Lift Cam, A/C, P/S & 4-Speed
KH .327...350... Hi-Lift Cam, K19, AJC, P/S, 4-Speed
IL .. 427...390... Special Cam, Hyd. Lifters & 4-Speed
IM . 427..390 .. Special Cam, Hyd. Lifters, K19,4-Spd
IQ . 427 ..390 ...Special Cam, Hyd. Lifters, Powerglide*
IR . 427 ..390 ...Special Cam, Hyd. Lifters, K19, Prgld*
IP . 427 ..425 .. Special Cam, Mech. Lifters & 4-Speed
IK . 427..425 .. Special Cam, Mech. Lifters, M22 4-Spd
Note: L79 engines have hydraulic lifters. K19 is Air Inject
ion Reactor equipment; AIC means Air Conditioning; P/S
means Power Steering (N40); M22 = Heavy-Duty 4-Spd
Transmission. All engines use Holley 4-barrel carburetion.
Unlisted 1966 codes "IT' (heavy-duty 425 HP) and "IU"
(425 HP w/Alum Heads). (*)390 HP w/Auto also added.

http://www.rowleycorvette.com/stats66.html

|UPDATED|7/30/2004 8:19:44 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

BLOCK
3858174 shows up on the Mortec Site (www.mortec.com) as being used on 327's from 64 thru 67

SUFFIX
Like others have said the suffix should be only 2 letters
HC was used from 65 thru 68 on various passenger cars..all 327's and used in 69 on chevelles,nova, and Cameros...NOT CORVETTES...all were 350's

HO was used in 65 thru 67 CORVETTES 65 it was a 250 Hp
and from 66 thr 68 it was 300 HP CORVETTE ONLY
in 69 it shows up only in a pontiac 350 cu 300 hp

CH was used in 58 and 59 by pontiac 283's.. and used again
in 64 in Novas...again as a 283...

RC was used between 62 and 64 in Pontiacs..327's

HG was used in 65..IN A CORVETTE 327 only...375 hp lol
HC was also used in 69 again in pontiacs but a 350


I used the Complete Chevy V8 engine code Pocket Guide
by Ed McComas (the green book) as my source of info on suffix codes


Bob Griffiths

______________

Bob
64,72 & 98 Corvette Ragtops
76 & 79 & qa 88 ANC Corvette Coupes

Click on any image for larger view!

this engine sounds like a chimera to me.

Well, I guess your the closest. According to this e-mail from www.nastyz28.com


This casting # was used from 1964 to 1967 - as a 327.
HC is the suffix code, which is a 327 (from 65 to 67) used in full size
passenger cars (impalas, etc...)
275 gross hp, with a powerglide transmission. The "H" on the end of the
code means this engine was originally equipped with a holley carb.

The casting date code will tell you wether this came out of a 1965 impala,
1966 impala or 1967 impala.

Regards,
MadMike
http://www.nastyz28.com

http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/6301_6400/6361/68vette.jpg

Needed to see if this worked. I have seen other 1968 Shark Corvettes on line with the Stingray logo. In the beginning i thought the logo wasn't added again until 1969. This can get confusing. Was there a part of the year (1968) that this logo was included?

Appreciate your help.

Rod

no on the 1968 but people liked them (and the Louvre inserts).. they were commonly added to 68's by an early owner..

i used to use it as one of my first glance year identifiers.. but ive seen so many 68 with logos and louvre inserts that i look at doors to be sure..

Another quick identifier for '68 versus '69 is the location of the ignition switch:
- on the dash - '68.
- on the steering column - '69.

While it isn't necessarily 100% fool-proof in identifying the year, I think swapping out a dash, steering column and wiring harness would be a little more work than hanging a couple of doors.

______________

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

The car in that link has later door handles too...we sure its not a 69?

Paragon75Ray said: The car in that link has later door handles too...we sure its not a 69?

im certainly not sure...

sofarvettec3 said: http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/6301_6400/6361/68vette.jpg Needed to see if this worked. I have seen other 1968 Shark Corvettes on line with the Stingray logo. In the beginning i thought the logo wasn't added again until 1969. This can get confusing. Was there a part of the year (1968) that this logo was included? Appreciate your help. Rod

From that angle, it does look like a 69. The valance panel should have the back up lights in it, door panels have no pulls, pass. side dash pad has no map pocket, all of these are fairly easy to change, key in the dash would be harder to swap, but why bother?

______________

Well, the door handles certainly look like a 1969. They do not have the recessed look with the push bottom, just the spring loaded finger hold and the push button has been changed to a keylock. The rear is all 1968. The passenger side dash apparently has been changed to the pocket dash. The drivers side is 1968 with the key mounted in the dash.A lot of the engine compartment parts are all dated 1968 except for the motor of course which is 3858174 and F0426HCH, which by the way is found in the book Chevrolet by the Numbers (Colvin)as a 1966 327CI 275 HP Powerglide with Holley, also used in passenger cars. I am missing the vacuum operated lid for the winshield wipers which is next on my list to research.
http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/6301_6400/6361/dash-rearview1968.jpg

sofarvettec3 said: The drivers side is 1968 with the key mounted in the dash.

I wish they had left it there...

I like the dash key setup much better than column..

looks more old school