FJ would have been a Fuel Injection with a Powerglide transmission

 

I recommend that you not scratch any more of the engine pad with a sharp metal object. Damaging the engine pad in that fashion causes others to question the authenticity of the engine stamp, particularly on rare engines like a 1957 fuel injected powerglide engine.

Use a cleaning solvent like lacquer thinner on a rag to remove the paint, but nothing sharp.

 

The FJ suffix was also used in 1969 on a 327 2 barrel engine. The block casting number or more info on this engine is needed to get the correct identification.

 

But a 1969 Flint engine would not have an 'F' to indicate the engine plant. Chevrolet changed from an 'F' to a 'V' in 1967, so a 1969 engine stamp would look something like VI023FJ.

 

A 57 motor would have a road draft tube and no provision for side mounts.

 

Answering this is easy and if has no side mounts and a road draft tube confirm by digging deeper into date codes.

 

I has the correct 1957 only 997 heads!

 

That is correct.

Pretty much answers the whole question.

 

When they stamped the engine pads, "I" stands for "1". So it reads, F1023FJ.

A lot more of this is going to happen as the months/years pass. Hardcore NCRS numbers guys and such are in their 80's now. Not sure how old you are, but this is where we step in as the next generation.

 

Isn't that a #997 head?

 

If the casting numbers for the block and heads hold up, the heads might be from the same era.
The casting number location is circled below.
The first image is from https://www.vonskip.com/2011/10/sbc-heads-numbers.html

 

I am 21 just getting into this world now with these cars. From what I have read then, the engine is fuel injected and came with the 2 speed Powerglide. So this is the 250Hp version? I also read that the 1957 283 FI came with a different cam and heads. How would I be able to tell if this car has it.

The engine identification number is F1023FJ. How can I tell what month and day the car was built?
I think it was built in Flint Michigan, either in January or October on the 23rd?

 

The engine identification number is F1023FJ. How can I tell what month and day the car was built?
I think it was built in Flint Michigan, either in January or October on the 23rd?

The VIN on the driver's door pillar along with production data will tell you approximately when the car was built.
The casting number for the block will confirm the engine type.
The casting number for the block is on the drivers side, and on the passenger side in the same location is a date code for when the block was cast (3 or 4 letters and numbers?).
Under the valve covers you will find the head casting numbers and similar date codes.
Here are some pictures of the head casting number and block and head date codes for my 4bbl 283 PowerGlide engine.
Engine block:
Casting number from left rear top: 3731548
Casting date code from right rear top: G97 - July 9, 1957
Front right: F7IIFC -- Flint July 11, 1957 - 283, 4bbl, 220hp, Powerglide

Left head:
Casting number: 3731539
Casting date code: D167 - April 16, 1957
Single triangle, no front mounting holes

Near as I can tell from its VIN and the Oakland plant's production data, my 57 was built on July 22nd, 1957.

Since your FI023FJ engine stamping has four numeric digits (the 'I' was used for '1'), I would decipher that as October 23rd (with 1956 implied for the 1957 model year).
Your block's casting number and date code would be helpful to confirm this.
Apparently, it wan't all that rare for the fuel injection to be removed and a traditional carburetor installed :sad0049:. Mechanics often did not have the training to maintain fuel injected cars at the time.
Vic

 

I'm assuming the fi untit is long gone, still a rare and valuable engine.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

I want to thank everyone for all the help and information. Gonna be posting some pictures tomorrow of the car as well as getting the blocks casting number.

I have another question. How do the Trico Vacuum pump and Vacuum wiper motor work? I know the FI cars came with a different wiper motor, I think they had a microswitch. Unfortunately, the car had none when it was given to me, so a friend of mine gave me a regular wiper motor.

Thanks

 

Yes, the correct vacuum wiper motor has a micro switch on it that turns on the vacuum pump when you turn on the wipers.

 

The best way to get into TriFives the right way (besides participating here and asking questions)... is to obtain the Assembly Manual, Service Manuals for your car, and look for information describing the options and variations in the cars. The Danchuk site (or catalog in the back) has a decent section for some of this information.

ie. don't rely of just 'asking questions' and also don't rely just on the books... Learn from all the sources of information!

PS. Buy yourself the Service Manual and Assembly Manuals. The Assembly manual and parts of the service manuals are available online here in the archives in the meantime!

 

Hi everyone, I was able to get the casting number 3731548. It was very difficult to get but with a little camera, my friend had we were able to get the info. Getting the casting date code tomorrow. I left work late and had no time.

Thanks

 

Is the fuel line 5/16 or 3/8? Can you get a picture of the left side radiator filler panel? There are a bunch of little tells that will indicate the original engine.You can E mail me if you want. Tom tom@57chevys.com

 

Hey guys, finally had some time to start working on my chevy again. I took the valve covers off, and the numbers I got were 3740997. I also got A297, which I think is the date? I am also sending out the Fuel Injection system to Jerry Bramlett today. Hopefully, he can get the system running again. From what I read he is one of the best. I guess I do have the correct engine for the 250HP.

 

A297 is the date code for January 29, 1957.

 

My engine was cast on a Friday and the front pad stamped on the following Monday.

 

Everyone was distracted with weekend plans when cast and hung over on Monday when they put it together.

 

And it has survived for 64 years!

 

Still better than made in China mid week.

 

Grandpa left you a FI car, WOW. More pics please

 

The date I see pictured, is October 23 of 1956. Passenger cars didn't get the Fuel Injection option until February, with the introduction of the 7014520 series of injectors. This unit had a single provision for the balance tube to match up with the passenger car air cleaner. The first design 71014360 had 3 air tubes over to the Corvette air cleaner. There is not a passenger car air cleaner with 3 nipples for filtered air to the unit. It seems to be unlikely that GM produced the short block for a car that wouldn't be produced until February. A 29 7 is a legitimate date for a 997 head. I've had many with that date. If that block was assembled for production it would more than likely have 997 heads dated L4, L6 or L7 (December), not a head dated January 29. This seems to be unlikely, but I guess anything is possible.

 

 

I took the motor out for a rebuild, and was able to get some codes. The block is stamped J 56. So I am guessing it was build in October. The heads are stamped for January 57. I read on the earlier post that fuel injections were not installed until February. So the 997 heads were put on later?

 

Do you have a picture of the balancer and right side exhaust manifold?