I have seen a number of references in various posts to this book/manual. I have never seen this book and I don't know anyone who has a copy I can borrow. Would someone please give me a rough idea of the information this book contains and do you think it's a worthwhile addition to the library? Is it just a giant index?

I have dog-eared my AIM manual after just one year and should probably get a fresh one. Is CBN as useful as the AIM or is it something that's only handy once in a while to help settle arguments?

CBN is a reference guide for the original casting numbers for most of the drivetrain components. It also shows how to read the date codes. It's invaluable if you are looking for correct parts for a vehicle, but won't help you put one together. I got my copy at the local Borders, but it's available through Amazon.

It is a listing of a lot of parts used on the car (blocks, heads, cams, intakes, pistons, cranks, carbs, and water pumps) in chronological order with a description of what changed from casting number to casting number as the engineering revisions were issued. It puts you in the Engineering Department at Chevrolet as these parts were modified to correct problems and meet new requirements from the head office.

Whether that information would be of value to you only you would know. I like the photos of all the parts showing how to identify them and seeing the actual blue prints for the castings.


Larger Dave

If you look through parts very much and would like to know what the casting number applies to or what the stamp codes on blocks and rear differentials mean, you should buy one. I have the complete series. 1955 - 1959, 1960 - 1964, 1965 - 1969, and 1970 - 1975. I use them all the time but I am going out looking at parts every chance I get.

Thanks to those who responded. Sounds like a 'nice to have' item for my library, not a 'gotta have it'. Not one scrap of my drivetrain (other than the driveshaft) is original and I'm pretty comitted to what I have in there right now. Sounds like this might come in handy if I ever decide to replace major components, however. Thanks again!

You can always go to your local library aka Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc to check out some specific info you need.