chukardogs
Member
Supposedly the last 8 of the VIN # are supposed to match the 8 digit number stamped on the block below the head on the drivers side. The last 8 on the VIN # are 28144362
1968 Dodge D200 with a 318 from who knows where
- Thread starter chukardogs
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chukardogs
Member
That # is even suspect. Based on the chart, the motor that was in the truck at inception was built in 1969. My title says the truck is a 1968. Who knows?
JDMopar
Well-Known Member
The VIN on a 68 Motor and transmission is stamped on the top of the flange where the motor and bellhousing bolt together. It's usually kind of down behind the distributor. No VIN's were stamped below the head. Later than 68 VIN's stamped on motors was stamped into a machined pad on the passenger side of the motor, just above the pan rail and near the block drain plug. You will have to scrape it and wire brush it to read the stamping if it's all gucked up with grease and grime.
Harmonic balancer - yes all pre magnum 318s are internally balanced - as has been said before that system relies on the harmonic balancer to work - period! You must replace the balancer or you will ruin that engine - period. There is no other interpretation, there are no "alternative facts" like those that the machine shop guy gave you.
chukardogs
Member
The stamped # on this engine is on the front of the engine, drivers side, right below the head.
JDMopar
Well-Known Member
All Mopar engines
All Mopar engines have a stamping on the front of the block below the drivers side head. It was stamped at the engine assembly plant and has nothing to do with the VIN. VIN's will be stamped on the motor/trans flange in 68, and on the machined pad above the passenger side of the oil pan rail starting in 69.
chukardogs
Member
I know nothing about alternative facts, only that the engine has been run with the existing balancer for 20+ years and it looks like it was planned this way. At some point, a bracket with the timing marks was installed to make up for the smaller outside diameter of the existing balancer.
still waiting for you to read the casting date on the motor!!!
chukardogs
Member
2536030 318-6 From what I have found, all that tells me is that it's a LA318 that was built between 67 and 75.
It like detective work need all the clues
The timing cover is a 69 only
70 they changed the side the lower hose came out
So some were would think an engine swap was done
Maybe they changed the t cover then
The timing cover is a 69 only
70 they changed the side the lower hose came out
So some were would think an engine swap was done
Maybe they changed the t cover then
chukardogs
Member
I keep going back to the numbers stamped on the block below the head. It's possible that someone swapped engines and installed a 318 from 1979 and then found they needed to use the engines existing components that were on or in the truck at that time.
I'll check for the VIN # on the block today and go find out if I can purchase a harmonic balancer that works in this scenario. If not, I may find that using the existing balancer is my only alternative at this time. Thanks
Yes everything would bolt on
Funny that its a 69 timing cover
Either its a late production 68 and they used a 69 cover
Or who did the swap just needed a early pass side timing marks cover
Funny that its a 69 timing cover
Either its a late production 68 and they used a 69 cover
Or who did the swap just needed a early pass side timing marks cover
chukardogs
Member
I can't see a number code on the passenger side right above the oil pan. There's a machined space but no number. I'd have to do a lot of cleaning to check for a number behind the distributor. If that's where the number is, than maybe this is the original block that's just miss-marked. I'm going to find a harmonic balancer because it does look as though the bigger diameter balancer will work. I'll just have to put the new timing mark on the new one to match the existing.
Just find a pre 70 dampner
Then confirm that TDC(#1cylinder is all the way up) lines up with TDC on your dampner
Then confirm that TDC(#1cylinder is all the way up) lines up with TDC on your dampner
chukardogs
Member
I haven't been able to find a pre-70 dampener anywhere. Every post-70 dampener I have found has the timing marks pretty much lined up with the keyway slot. Mine needs to have the timing mark's approx 43° CCW of the keyway slot.
I have a used one...but shipping might be a few
Pm me
Pm me
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