Casting numbers

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6

66Dart273

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Hey guys. I got around to pulling the motor out of my 66 dart in restoring. I found these cast numbers.

Block - 2808030-273-7 What does the -7 mean? Also I couldn't find that casting number in any of the books I have.
Heads - 2843675-6
I found the heads to be 318 heads just wondering what the -6 means?
Head Gasket - 61018 and 2843680 They have he Chrysler symbol stamped in them. I couldn't cross reference any number back to anything.

I'm changing the intake so I wasn't worried about that.
Since this is a 273 block and it's not notched I'm thinking it has been bored to 318 spec's. Anyone have anything matching these numbers?
 
The "-#" could be the tool or core they came out of when cast so they can track issues.

I wouldn't assume it has been bored because of the heads. Many 318 heads used the same size valves as the 273 heads. I think notching becomes an issue when you go to larger valves.
 
The -7 is a casting revision number you omit that number when checking casting numbers. A revision number is the number of times the casting mold had been revised/changed/modified and at a certain number it gets replaced. I do not think I have seen past -9 for an LA engine, but i have seen -14 on 440's. This is also the same for cyl heads.
A 318 head (small valve) will work on a 273 w/o issue. It is going to the large valve heads 2.02 etc that there are clearance problems that would require the block to be notched.
 
you may have misread the #, 2806030 is for 66-69, and 2806030-318 is for the 318 LA engine. my 66' 273 is 2806030-273-7
 
I could have misread the block number. And a 6 does make since. But it sure looks like an 8 to me.

Even though the head is bigger then the bore size? I haven't check the actual bore size but I would assume it would be the 3.91 for a 318 instead of the 3.63( I believe that's correct ) for the 273 on the head?
 
you cannot get 273 head gaskets anymore unless you find an NOS one or have one made. All the ones available now are big bore +/- 4.100. So there will be an air-gap between the head and the block if using a 273 "920" head for instance.
 
The 273 and 318 use the same head, yes. The 273 is a great engine. it was a mistake to discontinue it. The Mopar Advertisements said," mileage of a six, power of an eight".My 69' 273 seemed like it would go forever on a tank of gas, 17-19 all the time, 24 to Phoenix once. the 70' 318 used more fuel, and wasn't any more powerful. The 67-69 318 engines are really good engines in themselves, 9:0 comp. in 70' they went to 8:0 compression. Smog controls started to rear it's ugly head, by then. my 69' California 340 dart had a vacuum détente on the distributer, like the 71 new Yorkers. That went in the trash can!
 
Rocky_JS said:
you cannot get 273 head gaskets anymore unless you find an NOS one or have one made. All the ones available now are big bore +/- 4.100. So there will be an air-gap between the head and the block if using a 273 "920" head for instance.
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Absolutely right, I had a hard time getting a rebuild kit for my 273. I needed pistons for my 69' a few years ago, and found .030 pistons new in the box in Puerto Rico, of all places. my engine was .020 from the factory, but I needed to go.010 more over, so I lucked out. I now have a nice set of .020 factory pistons should the need arise. They also had several head gaskets sets, so I had it all sent. Thye have a lot of stuf there, google MOPAR Puerto rico, and you should find them. The name was was something "mechanica" it will come back to me.Great ladies there, something about buying mopar parts from a soft voice!
 
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