1955-1956 ENGINE CODE IDENTIFICATION
    The 1955 and 1956 Corvette engine code stampings were identical in terms of design. The engine stamping, which was stamped on the block prior to the installation of the cylinder head, consisted of 11 or 12 alphanumeric characters that were stamped into the horizontal block pad. This stamp pad was located immediately forward of the right side cylinder head on V-8 engines. The V-8 pad is 3-1/8" long and is considered the "short pad." This pad was used up until january of 1965, when it changed to a length of 3-9/16" - 3-5/8" long.
     The first seven numbers represent the engine unit number that was produced in that engine plant. A gang stamp stamped the first five of these numbers. The next two numbers were stamped individually into the block so that the gang stamp holder would only necessitate a new number change every 100 engines. The final four or five characters were also stamped into the block in a gang stamp holder. All engines, including six cylinders, were numbered as they were produced at the engine assembly plant.