Q on bowtie block 1051184

[Belgian1979]

Guys,

Can anyone tell me when this block was first introduced/produced? Think that this would have been about ca. 1986 since it is a 1-piece rear seal block, but cannot find any info on it.

[Kevin Johnson]

Guys,

Can anyone tell me when this block was first introduced/produced? Think that this would have been about ca. 1986 since it is a 1-piece rear seal block, but cannot find any info on it.

Typo, I am guessing.

viewtopic.php?p=324504#p324504

The Bow Tie casting block P/N 10051184 is machined for a one-piece rear main bearing seal used on 1986 and later production small- block Chevrolet V8s.

[Belgian1979]

Possibly, I can't check it as the rear of the block is covered with a lot of wiring/lines that I cannot remove. Anyway, there is not much difference between a 184 and a 183 block. I believe has to do with one vs two piece rear seal.

[Belgian1979]

I verified and it is a 184 block.

Nobody knows? I cannot seem to find this online either...

[dannobee]

Dunno if it was that early, but certainly by about circa 1990/91 because by then we were using Cup car hand-me-downs.

What are you trying to do with it? AFAIK, that casting number doesn't tell the whole story because several changes over the years were made without changing the casting number. And IIRC, there's not a time/date/shift cast into the Bowtie blocks as there were with the "regular" blocks, so the actual born-on date of the block might be difficult identify.

Call a chevy dealer and ask the parts counter guy. There's a reference for casting numbers giving production date ranges. And if you have the actual part number, they could narrow it down even further.

[tenxal]

Adding to the confusion, the 1184 casting number blocks were offered in both thin and thick wall versions. The light duty ones would take a 4.060 max, the heavier ones could go 4.150.

[Kevin Johnson]

I verified and it is a 184 block.

Nobody knows? I cannot seem to find this online either...

I am not sure what you are asking. The information was given in a GM publication when you asked about another block you were considering nine years ago.

My emphasis:

https://web.archive.org/web/20110820053 ... D=628.html

Technical Notes: Oil dipstick hole is not drilled and the lifter holes are finish bored to production diameter .842". 2-bolt main bearing caps are installed to simplify the installation of the heavy-duty steel main caps with splayed outer bolts. Bow Tie blocks are designed for crankshafts with 2.45" diameter main bearing journals. The Bow Tie casting block P/N 10051184 is machined for a one-piece rear main bearing seal used on 1986 and later production small- block Chevrolet V8s. Crankshafts designed for two-piece rear main seals can be installed in Bow Tie blocks using crankshaft seal adapter P/N 10051118. These blocks weigh 187 lbs.

Is there a problem with using 1986 as the date?

[Belgian1979]

no, but 1986 is in principle for a regular production line block, not a bowtie which the 184 block is. So I would like to know what year the production of the 184 block actually began.

[Kevin Johnson]

no, but 1986 is in principle for a regular production line block, not a bowtie which the 184 block is. So I would like to know what year the production of the 184 block actually began.

I think it is fortunate that you have a Corvette.

I suggest a nicely-worded request to Pam that she can forward on to GM, where, possibly, someone knowledgeable and having some spare time can look up an answer in factory records.

https://www.corvettemuseum.org/learn/ab ... m/contact/

[tenxal]

And wading into the deep area of the confusion pool even further:

The 1184 casting blocks were what some of the Bow Tie block casting numbers were...including the special run 3.875 bore/350 main bore blocks.

[dannobee]

Have you verified that this is indeed a bowtie block? Does it have the chevy Bowtie cast into the block near the oil pan rails?

[Belgian1979]

yes it has the bowtie in that place.