Re: 1956 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by Brian Wilson On 2020/4/13 20:48:38

Hello Dave

Interesting what you say about the painting. That suggests that they knew at Utica in 1956 which car each engine was destined for (including export cars?). Do we know if engine painting was done at Utica (would assume so), or back at the plant?

Was just browsing through some of the earlier correspondence on this site about the numbering of the Utica motors. I gather all the V8s were built there in 1956.

The 16th April, 1956 memo from the factory quoted by BH says:

"2. Export Engines starting with 55th Series have XH stamped on block between V just back of the water pump. Same location that Conners stamp engine numbers.

3. Utica Engine number that was stamped on right rear exhaust port flange is now stamped on the front of the block, same location as Conner uses."

I guess my Clipper was built soon after the date of that note. The note only mentions senior models and does not seem to correspond to the facts as we know them now, specifically in relation to your late 56 Caribbean.

You mentioned that your engine has the Utica engine number stamped next to the rear RH exhaust port. Is it also stamped up behind the water pump?

That memo also suggests that engines destined for export cars (maybe senior models only?) had XH stamped up near the water pump. Can't see anything like that on mine, although there might be the remains of it next to the VN, which I think someone has tried to grind off.

Very curious. Suggests that the written records are unreliable. Maybe there was just widespread confusion at the time.

I will check for a number at the rear of my block when I get a chance to access it safely.

Brian