72golddustermike
Well-Known Member
dads got a 74 dart sport build date 7/31 according to fender tag just wanderen if motor could be original has 75 casting numbers?
75 coded engine come in a 74 dart sport originally
- Thread starter 72golddustermike
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It really depends on when they changed year models but the numbers on the pass side just above the oil pan behind the moter mount will have the last 8 digits of the cars vin number.I have a 72 cuda built in nov. of 71 and bought dec of 71 with a 72 motor.
Locomotion
Well-Known Member
"Casting" numbers indicate when the block was actually cast and the "stampings" indicate the model year/VIN. Blocks would tend to have earlier dates than the actual manufactured car. Vehicles tend to be started in summer or fall for the following model year. (i.e.: 360's were first installed model year 1971 vehicles, but there are some with 1970 "casting" dates.) If no "stampings" on the block, it could be a factory replacement/warranty block.
Production for most of the musclecar era mopars started in early August and ended in mid to late July. So, to use your example, production for the 1974 model year would start in August of 1973, and last until July of 1974. Engines usually have casting dates that are a couple of months ahead of the build date of the car, this has to do with the casting process, getting the block from the foundry, and building the engine. I also understand that there was usually a couple of weeks between model years when the factory re-tooled.
So, long story short, a 1975 block in a '74 car most likely means its not the original block. Could be a warranty replacement, or it could just be that someone had a 1975 block laying around when that car needed an engine.
Cars often have casting dates earlier than the model year of the car, not later. My Challenger is a '72, but it was built in the first or second week of production for the year, with a build date of 8/17/71. As a result, all the parts original to it have '71 casting dates, and it has quite a few items that were actually '71 model year pieces, likely leftover from '71 production.
So, long story short, a 1975 block in a '74 car most likely means its not the original block. Could be a warranty replacement, or it could just be that someone had a 1975 block laying around when that car needed an engine.
Cars often have casting dates earlier than the model year of the car, not later. My Challenger is a '72, but it was built in the first or second week of production for the year, with a build date of 8/17/71. As a result, all the parts original to it have '71 casting dates, and it has quite a few items that were actually '71 model year pieces, likely leftover from '71 production.
The only way to clear this up for sure is to post the VIN tag info of the car, or preferably a pic of the entire VIN tag, the casting and assembly dates of the block and the VIN pad numbers from above the oil pan rail on the passenger side. This will tell us all of the pertinent info to make an educated assessment of the origin of the motor and it's relation to the car itself!! Geof
72golddustermike
Well-Known Member
thanks guys ill try to check on pass side of block get back with yall
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