Chevy engine blocks origin ?

Greenlight · 03-01-2016, 12:45 AM

As far as I know, the blocks were cast at one of four places.

The casting foundry ID may be located near (next to) the casting number on the block.

CFD - Central Foundry, Defiance, OH

GM-D - Central Foundry, Defiance, OH
(there was some sort of merger between two casting foundries that resulted in different foundry IDs. A foundry in Danville, IL was part of GM Central Foundry at one point too.)

SMCO - Saginaw Metal Casting Operations

???? - Massena Casting Plant, Massena, NY (not sure if any Chevy blocks were ever cast there)

CFD and GM-D are the most popular that I have seen.

There is a large single digit number near the casting number that is used to identify the drag core pattern number.

Tonawanda Engine Plant is where some blocks were machined and assembled.

others:
Romulus Engine Plant (since 1976)

Silao Engine Plant in Mexico (opened in 2001)

John Scott · 03-01-2016, 09:06 AM

Tim,

Looks like blocks with a "K" cast into them come from General Motors of Canada (McKinnon Industries Limited) St. Catharine's, Ontario.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-01-2016, 09:54 AM

Got hold of an engine core once-the cast date on the block at the rear was E127-May 12,1967. The stamping on the pad in front of the right head was T 0515 XX{don't remember the code- it was for a 327 250 horse PG trans type of thing.That engine was final assembled and ready for assembly line installation three days after the block was cast. Talk about a real seasoned casting!
All the 348,409,396-454's were Tonowanda engines. The small blocks were if the stamping on that same pad started with T. Also, the Tonowanda engines had a silver sticker on the passenger side valve cover that said,Tonowanda the Number 1 Team.

Tim H · 03-01-2016, 10:11 PM

Really interesting info, thanks to all who responded.

rx dealer · 03-01-2016, 11:12 PM

Flint, Michigan was the machining and assembly point of the small block chevy. Saginaw gray iron plant cast the blocks,Heads,Intake manifolds, cranks and connecting rods. Chevy in the hole plant in Flint on Chevrolet ave. made the cams, valves and valve train pieces. AC Delco plant in Flint on Dort hwy made the valve lifters, spark plugs, air cleaners,oil and air filters and tons of other parts..All 302 Z/28 engines, LT-1 of the 70's and and about 95% of all small blocks came from the Flint engine plant....Luke

rx dealer · 03-01-2016, 11:27 PM

Not to change the subject but every Buick V-6 and V-8 was cast and assembled in Flint, MI.

Tim H · 05-01-2018, 07:59 PM

.........

03-01-2016, 12:45 AM	#1
Greenlight Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215 Likes: 16 Liked 79 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? As far as I know, the blocks were cast at one of four places. The casting foundry ID may be located near (next to) the casting number on the block. CFD - Central Foundry, Defiance, OH GM-D - Central Foundry, Defiance, OH (there was some sort of merger between two casting foundries that resulted in different foundry IDs. A foundry in Danville, IL was part of GM Central Foundry at one point too.) SMCO - Saginaw Metal Casting Operations ???? - Massena Casting Plant, Massena, NY (not sure if any Chevy blocks were ever cast there) CFD and GM-D are the most popular that I have seen. There is a large single digit number near the casting number that is used to identify the drag core pattern number. Tonawanda Engine Plant is where some blocks were machined and assembled. others: Romulus Engine Plant (since 1976) Silao Engine Plant in Mexico (opened in 2001)

03-01-2016, 09:06 AM	#2
John Scott Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 69 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? Tim, Looks like blocks with a "K" cast into them come from General Motors of Canada (McKinnon Industries Limited) St. Catharine's, Ontario.

03-01-2016, 09:54 AM	#3
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? Got hold of an engine core once-the cast date on the block at the rear was E127-May 12,1967. The stamping on the pad in front of the right head was T 0515 XX{don't remember the code- it was for a 327 250 horse PG trans type of thing.That engine was final assembled and ready for assembly line installation three days after the block was cast. Talk about a real seasoned casting! All the 348,409,396-454's were Tonowanda engines. The small blocks were if the stamping on that same pad started with T. Also, the Tonowanda engines had a silver sticker on the passenger side valve cover that said,Tonowanda the Number 1 Team. Last edited by Greg Reimer 7376; 03-01-2016 at 09:58 AM.

03-01-2016, 10:11 PM	#4
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,041 Likes: 1,068 Liked 481 Times in 158 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? Really interesting info, thanks to all who responded.

03-01-2016, 11:12 PM	#5
rx dealer Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lake Orion, Michigan Posts: 337 Likes: 12 Liked 53 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? Flint, Michigan was the machining and assembly point of the small block chevy. Saginaw gray iron plant cast the blocks,Heads,Intake manifolds, cranks and connecting rods. Chevy in the hole plant in Flint on Chevrolet ave. made the cams, valves and valve train pieces. AC Delco plant in Flint on Dort hwy made the valve lifters, spark plugs, air cleaners,oil and air filters and tons of other parts..All 302 Z/28 engines, LT-1 of the 70's and and about 95% of all small blocks came from the Flint engine plant....Luke Last edited by rx dealer; 03-01-2016 at 11:23 PM.

03-01-2016, 11:27 PM	#6
rx dealer Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lake Orion, Michigan Posts: 337 Likes: 12 Liked 53 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? Not to change the subject but every Buick V-6 and V-8 was cast and assembled in Flint, MI.

05-01-2018, 07:59 PM	#7
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,041 Likes: 1,068 Liked 481 Times in 158 Posts	Re: Chevy engine blocks origin ? ......... Last edited by Tim H; 05-01-2018 at 08:02 PM. Reason: answered my own question