What does "CE" refer to?

[Dave Rifkin]

Does a "CE" stamping stand for "Counter Exchange" or "Chevrolet Engine"; just curious. I was always under the impression it meant Counter Exchange but just recently have read on another forum that it may stand for Chevrolet Engine.

[twertsy]

According to this site, add 2 more possibilities to the list....... Nasty Z28

[69 Post Sedan]

Chevrolet Engine....I think someone has a copy of the letter from GM. It was from 1968 IIRC.

Kurt

[olredalert]

----Im not sure exactly what CE stands for but was told a long time ago by the head of a large Chevy dealer parts department in south Florida that the CE program was an attempt to counter theft out the back door of many dealerships of complete long-block assemblys. I believe it was begun sometime in 1968 as rampant theft out of a few dealerships across the country had to be addressed. Weather the program was successful or not can be debated. I do know that just about every Nova, Chevelle, and Camaro in Ft. lauderdale back in the era seemed to have a 427 it!......Bill S

[Mr70]

Add this misused term to the list of incorrect Caution-Fan stickers,plastic A-body cowl grilles & inside out/upside down cowl air cleaner seals.
It wasn't a program & it didn't stand for counter or crate exchange.
It stood for Chevrolet Engine.
This broad ID system was used to ID GM service components that were sold to the general public via the parts Dept. & when the dealer needed them to replace warrantied components that were no longer useable.

Taken verbatim from one of Chevrolets' internal memos dated 1968.

<span style="font-style: italic">The following ID system will be used to identify service engine &amp; transmission assemblies,including replacement parts.This ID system applies to service engine assemblies,partial engines,fitted cylinder cases,cylinder cases themselves &amp; transmission assemblies and transmission cases.
Manufacturing plants will ID each above service component the following way,as it is being produced.

EXAMPLE~CE8 12345

The first character will designate the GM Division which produced the assembly.
C=Chevrolet
L=Oldsmobile
K=Cadillac
B=Buick
P=Pontiac

The second character will indicate the type of unit.
E=Engine
T=Transmission

The number following the letter will designate the model year.
8=1968
9=1969
0=1970
1=1971
2=1972

The last 5 digits specify the service replacement unit sequence number.
If the allotted series of unit sequence numbers is exhausted,the plant will start back at the beginning of allotted sequence numbers again,but this time prefixing it with the letter A to indicate that.

EXAMPLE= CE8 A12345</span>

[Salvatore]

I believe Chevrolet Engine so the parts man could tell a chevy from a pontiac from a buick etc. Most dealerships in the old days had a few different brands hence making things easy for the parts people. Just my thoughts.

[Dave Rifkin]

Thanks guys, I knew I'd get the correct info here. Learn something new every day.

[Jim Ferron]

Well let's add this to the pot...I've never heard or seen a Pontiac replacement block with a P..

I HAVE seen [with my own eyes] a Pontiac block stamped SR and in the Pontiac world an SR block = CE block..

SR Sevice Replacement...

[Verne_Frantz]

Can we assume that the &quot;&quot;CE program&quot;&quot; and &quot;CE&quot; stamped blocks started in '68??

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

[Mr70]

I think GM began stamping their service components shortly after the 1967 model year,when their 5/50 power train warranty came out.
Earliest replacement part I've ever seen was a 1968 transmission stamped CT,but others may have seen earlier.
Each plant was assigned its own unique series of unit sequence numbers to stamp on their components.
I recently found a GM catalog showing all of them,but I don't want to list them here,as those who practice to deceive could use them to fool others into believing their homemade re-stamped part is authentic.