Dave Huth
Well-Known Member
Hey Fam, I’m trying to figure out why the id stamp pad on the front of this 73 440 is blank. Is that normal? Maybe a warranty replacement? Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
Decking wouldn't effect where a RB is marked. It's on a pad at the front of the block. My Guess is a warranty block.The block might have been decked.
Thanks , that’s what I was thinking too.Decking wouldn't effect where a RB is marked. It's on a pad at the front of the block. My Guess is a warranty block.
Come to think about it, if they decked the block, wouldn’t they have to mill a little off the top too?Decking wouldn't effect where a RB is marked. It's on a pad at the front of the block. My Guess is a warranty block.
To keep all the gasket mating surfaces on the same plane? So the intake gaskets/valley pan stay symmetrical? Maybe I’m thinking too much into it.No, why would they need to cut there. When they deck the block it is the head surface of the block.
We just bought this engine, so we are out of luck on the numbers. The upside is, it has a purple camshaft.Here is the ID pad from the 426W in my '65 Coronet. The machine shop had to deck the rails to get the intake to align properly so pad was machined smooth. Then we restamped the block to get it back to being somewhat correct looking.
View attachment 1715677144
Where is the vin on the block?, we didn’t get a car , just the engine out of a storage shed.You can get in the ballpark with the numbers by looking at the casting date and VIN.
Thanks, I’ll take a look tonight. Let you guys know what I find. All the help has been much appreciated.The casting number and date are cast into the side of the block, the vin is hand stamped into a pad just above the oil pan rail. I cant remember which side offhand, but there is only two!
Edit: lots of info on blocks, casting numbers and how to read date codes on 440 source website.
So I got, 3D320687 off of the lower stamp on the block. Cant find a site to decode the numbers though.The vin on the block will likely be eight characters, if truly a 73 block will show 3, a letter for assy plant, and six numbers coresponding to the vin of the car it was put in.
Assy plant code might tell you whether it was in a rr/sb or a big car.