Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

Off on another thread I posed this question but got nothing back. . Has anyone compared the CE motors to try and make sense of what the rest of the CE digits denote? . As mentioned previously, Fran Preve of Tonawanda told me once that the CE listing/book was tossed out years ago. . To decifer these, known warranty replacement motors would be a great place to start as it would have the best chances of being the "correct CE" replacement unit. . What I'm geting at is this....if the original motor is gone, a correct suffix motor from another Vin should be the next best thing to have but then wouldn't a "correct CE" warranty replacement unit be the next best thing....maybe even better? ~ Pete

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

The numbers following the CE codes mean:
CE 123456
C=Chevrolet
E=Engine
1=Model year 1971
23,456th unit produced for service.If the letter "A" precedes this,it means numbers have been recycled for late production.Each unit No. was plant specific.

Unless you have authentic service records indicating the number on a replacement engine,(which I don't think they recorded),it is difficult to determine if that exact service engine is indeed it's authentic replacement.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

So it's only a running sequence number....nothing to note what engine this replacement is for? . How would the mfg. keep track of what engine is what without exterior tagging etc? . Would the list Preve at Tonawanda was referring to have noted each individual sequence number and what it was internally....or perhaps running numbers from # to # would be replacement for? . Thanks! ~ Pete

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

The first digit "1" in this case would be the only indicator to the service dept.,as well as it's casting number & date.
They would reuse the Heads & Intake and other exterior ornaments from the original block.They only replaced what was damaged,so that makes sense.
I know of a few LS-6 Chevelles that were replaced with 1972 2 bolt #290 blocks,as well as a few 1969 396's camaros that were replaced with 454's.The customer/service dept. would upgrade,or downgrade in some cases with costs accordingly.
I can not comment on this list Fran is referring to.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

Back in the late '60s a local dealer was swapping 427s for 396s when a warranty engine was needed. The story went that GM eventually caught up with them and dumped them as a dealer. I've heard other stories of such trickery as well. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

I restored a 69 L-89 corvette 17 years ago it was serial 4427 (hard to forget that #) and it had a 427 CE block dated july 69. It was a 4 bolt 512
Another corvette I have done was a 67 435 and it had a 72 dated 454 CE stamped block. It also was a 4 bolt block, however I don't recall the casting #.
Rich.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

So Keith....what you're saying is the dealer was purposely putting the 396 in place where a 427 came out (not the other way around) and how would this had been any advantage to the dealer if they ordered the motor as a warranty replacement item anyway? . Did they perhaps try this on you when you got your CE motor? . Lastly, isn't it you that gave me the Arctic EXT cyl. a few years ago? I'm here in Peterboro'!

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

from the April 69 Service Bulletin

https://www.yenko.net/photos/data/500/medium/CE_INFO.JPG

https://www.yenko.net/photos/data/500.../CE_INFO_2.JPG

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

No. The guys were abusing their 396s to death and the dealer was replacing the 396 with a 427 under warranty. Made for loyal customers while it lasted. I'm the same Arctic Cat guy. I still have a 1972 EXT brochure. The CE engine was in our 396 car when we bought it and the original owner confirmed having dropped a valve while the car was under warranty. Our COPO car has its original MQ engine. We just took the body to a local guy after having it sit at another place for almost two years. Patience ran out. Might have it out next summer but I gave up holding my breath. We'll see.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

**HawaiianCamaro**

Outstanding document!
Wish this was presented years ago!
Is there any additional service bulletins prior to and after this released document referring to any replacement issues regarding warranty(s)?
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

Great stuff....thanks Hawaii! . So Keith....what a friendly dealer offering basically a 67/68 Yenko at the General's expense! . Would one of these 427 cars now be considered a dealer installed option....just kidding, I think? . What was this magical dealer's name....I'll keep a lookout for his tag? . And thanks again for the EXT jug....I let my EXT also a few other racers go a few years back now but still have quite a few SkiDoo factory racers....early Blizzards and IFS plus a few others. . Have a great weekend! ~ Pete

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

Hello all, new to the board. I have a CE code shortblock, and just went out and looked at it (3:16 a.m) and here is what I have. The block casting is 3959512, it has a 1182 forged crank, pink rods, and standard bore. Date code of K149, and the stamping is CE9A93177. As far as I can see that does not fall within any numbers that are listed on that 69 Bulletin. Anyone have any input. I have had the engine for about 3 years, and it had a Corvette pan on it when I got it. Thanks Kevin

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

For what it's worth, from GM you could get fitted blocks (blocks and pistons), short blocks, or full engines. I don't know how these setups might be used in warranty work. GM didn't like to give out any more parts than necessary. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

I wonder what the "A" (the 4th charector) in the CE9A93177 is for? I also wonder why the number is to high to fit into any category on that 69 bulletin.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

I've done a little research on the topic of CE blocks. My primary interest are CE blocks out of the Tonawanda BB plant. I own a 69 Z11 L34/M20 that I bought from the second owner who bought the car in 1970. A lady owner who used it for daily transportation https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif Car was original right down to the smog system. When I restored the motor I realized it had a CE block. I called owner number two and she said she did nothing to the car but drive it and change the oil. I contacted owner number one who I tracked down from the POP. He drove it for a year and traded it back in to the dealership. No engine problems with him either.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

After the block was hot tanked this is what I found. It seems to be an assembly date stamp including plant, month, and year. It is located at the starter flange of the block.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

At the rough casting near the oil filter is a partial vin that is very likely punched one digit at a time. The first number 6 was washed out by the camara flash. The partial does not contain the 19N as would have been done during normal practice during assembly.

Re: Suffix Codes & CE replacements
 

I have been able to document a couple other Tonawanda CE blocks with similar assembly codes. I have not found this application on Flint CE blocks to date. It appears that in my case the block was replaced before the car was sold to the first owner on May 13th 1969 per the POP in service date. This Z11 is a 03D build the block is a 272 cast D119, the assembly code is T059 (May 69) and the block pad reads CE967575 (69 67575). The interesting thing I take from this is that we know that at Tonawanda during the month of May 1969 the sequential batch #'s of 50000 to 79999 was at 67575. Take note that this 30K batch of blocks would include ALL models built at Tonawanda not just Camaro blocks. The only other conclusion I have drawn is that the "year" is not by model but rather by year of warranty installation. The GM documentation states it was by model year. I feel a revision was made. My opinion on the Flint SB system is that the 30k block of available sequential block numbers of 20000 to 49999 was not adequate to accomodate the CE warranty replacements required for GM's SB output. If so I believe that they used a rollover system and added the letter "A" to distinguish this. I've heard "B" and maybe even "C" were used? Another conclusion can be made from all of this. Alot more CE blocks should be under the hoods of our precious first generation Camaros than seems to be the case https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif