1968 Dodge D200 with a 318 from who knows where

[nutz]

Ill see if i can find a pick on my block

 

[tabletop]

I went back and looked at the number stamped on the block below the head on the drivers side, P M 318R 2502 0444. Other than the P at the beginning, which could be a mistake, that number means that this engine is the 444th engine built (finished) on or around 8th of December. So it's possible that it could be considered a late 68 and therefore the 69 only timing cover may make sense.
For now, I'm going to use the "hub" that is the harmonic balancer and like I said earlier, I'll use the timing to get it started and warmed up and then use vacuum gauge to do the final setting.

I went back and looked at the number stamped on the block below the head on the drivers side, P M 318R 2502 0444. Other than the P at the beginning, which could be a mistake, that number means that this engine is the 444th engine built (finished) on or around 8th of December. So it's possible that it could be considered a late 68 and therefore the 69 only timing cover may make sense.
For now, I'm going to use the "hub" that is the harmonic balancer and like I said earlier, I'll use the timing to get it started and warmed up and then use vacuum gauge to do the final setting.

Today is December 8th the birthday of this motor.

 

[str12-340]

YES go to the opposite side of the block - the side that doesn't have the 318-6 cast numbers and you should find a similarly cast date. Here are shots of one of my 340 blocks.
Driver's side

Passenger side

This block was cast on July 10th 1969 7-10-69
The nub and the "clock" below the date tell you what hour of the shift, but I can never remember how that works
To the left of all that is an arrow with "D" and "N" for day shift or night shift.

By the way the number after 340 or 318 tells you which of the successive castings using a particular mold. This 340 was from the 4th casting and your 318 was from the 6th casting. You can find explanations of this and the purported advantages of various castings somewhere here on FABO.

 

[nutz]

And straight down from the cast date is the vin tag ..
Not sure on yours ....but casting will tell if its close to the oe