'CE' Block

[lzdick]

Does anyone know the origination of the 'CE' block ('Chevrolet Engine', 'Counter Exchange', etc.) offered by Chevrolet? What is the earliest found 'CE' block? I know there are quite a few out there.

Thanx,
Rich

[olredalert]

-----Dating aside, my understanding of the CE stamping system has for years been that GM instituted the program to try and stem the rising tide of back-door engine thefts from dealerships everywhere. I dont know this as fact but was told this by a GM employee back in 1974. Maybe others here have heard this or contradictory info???........Bill S

[lzdick]

I have been told the origination of the 'CE' block was the 1968 production year. I'm just trying to verify this information. I have been told that prior to 1968, there was an unstamped bare block available throught GM.

True or false...let me know what you know.

Thanx again,

Rich (lzdick)

[firstgenaddict]

I believe JohnZ said the CE was instituted when GM went to the 5/50 warranty.

[Keith Tedford]

With the warranties, replacement engines needed to have some method of being tracked for future warranty work. Seems to me that this is why the engines got a CE number. Could have had something to do with law enforcement as well. The original owner told us how our SS Chevelle got a CE replacement after it dropped a valve. Seems like the most common end for L78 engines.

[PeteLeathersac]

Although the timeline above seems correct, previous to the CE's there were service engines w/ X code Suffixes like XE and others..

I may be off here but believe X code engines had specific HP ratings more like buying an over the counter standard Suffix engine minus Vin where CE's had unique individual #'s that were recorded as supplied to specific Vins under warranty?.

Fran Preve @ Tonawanda told me in the 80's the books w/ the CE recorded info were tossed or lost..


~ Pete

[Mr70]

To me this topic is actually asking two seperate questions.
When did service blocks become effective,and when did Chevrolet start coding them "CE"?
I think they've both been answered already.GM was issuing service blocks many years prior to 1968,and I believe 1968 was the first year they started coding service replacement components with a letter prefix to identify their designation with the release of the 5/50 warranty.
C stood for Chevrolet
L stood for Oldsmobile
K stood for Cadillac
B stood for Buick
P stood for Pontiac
Following that,the E stood for Engine and T for a Manual Transmission,H for Hydramatic Trans.,for all cars & trucks.
This also applied to other drivetrain components as well like partial engines,individual & fitted cylinder cases,partial transmission cases and fully assembled too.
I agree that just a "CE" coded block was an over the counter Chevrolet engine sold to the public,and CE block coded CE 012345 was a warranty replacement order for an in house waiting vehicle.

[427king]

In 1967 specifically "CE" 427 3904351 castings motors[which I believe is the specific motor you are asking about] had a blank pad and normally had a TO67 [regardless if it was a service block,shortblock,long block or over the counter piece]stamped in another location,although is possible not to have any stamp in the remote location .

[iluv69s]

I had a CE stamped 67 L-88 complete long block many years ago...I cannot imagine that it had been re-stamped....so i believe the CE stamp was used in 67 also....but i am no expert...

[BUIZILLA]

Crate Engine