1968 Dodge D200 with a 318 from who knows where

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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.
 
I was told by the local machine shop guy that I've known and trusted for years that all 318s are internally balanced and thus the harmonic balancer only acts as a unit to bolt the fan belt pulleys to. Whether this is true or not....... I have no clue. The new timing chain gear set doesn't have the nylon coating on the cam gear. It'll be interesting to see how much noisier it is.

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.
 

The stamped # on this engine is on the front of the engine, drivers side, right below the head.

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All Mopar engines
The stamped # on this engine is on the front of the engine, drivers side, right below the head.

View attachment 1716486150
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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