68 RT engine numbers

[jww426]

Hey all!
Im trying to figure out if my engine matches the car.
The only #'s I found were on the side of the block:

253-6430-3  DN

My car was built 9/24/67

Anyone know if this is right?
thanks
JWW

[tan top]

 see green arrow below , may well have the vin stamped there  , also on top of the trans bell housing ,


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=82242.0

[6bblgt]

Here's a mismatched pair of big-block/727 '68 VIN stampings & what's on the front pad?

[moparnation74]

At that build date, I doubt you even have a VIN stamp on trans/engine.  That is not uncommon to see.   Casting # for 67-72 440, 253-6430-3.

Post a pic of your top pad by the distributor.

[6bblgt]

All performance ("HP") big-blocks are VIN stamped for the full 1968 model year.

[VegasCharger]

All performance ("HP") big-blocks are VIN stamped for the full 1968 model year.

What about non HP big blocks? My 68 Charger numbers matching 383-4 has a VIN stamped at the top of the trans bell housing. My Charger is Auto with A/C,  I've been told that these applications received the non HP 383 (330 HP) and not the HP 383 (335 HP).

Just curiouis

[6bblgt]

1968 b-bodies
383 2bbl (290hp) engines & transmissions NO VIN stampings all year
383 4bbl (330hp) engines & transmissions VIN stampings at least 2nd half of year (who has an early car that can confirm YES or NO?)
383HP 4bbl (335hp) engines & transmissions VIN stampings all year

[69CoronetRT]

My OPINION on this topic....

The stamping is a function of the PLANT and when it stamped VINs, not HP vs non HP.

We know STL began stamping VINs early in the '68 year. Therefore all HP blocks coming out of the STL plant will probably carry a VIN stamp.
I haven't looked into LR VIN stampings so I cant speak to that but IF LR began stamping early in the year, it would follow that all HP blocks would be stamped.

If Jefferson, also a plant that installed 440's, did not start stamping any blocks until later in the year, then no 440 non HP block would have had a stamping. It wasn't because it was a standard 440, it was because Jefferson didn't stamp ANY block.

IF Hamtramck, began stamping blocks early in the year, then it would follow that any early Charger 440 car would have a VIN. That should be easly enough to prove. If 68 Charger R/Ts do not carry a VIN then it is not a function of HP vs non HP, it's a function of when Hamtramck started stamping vins.

The comparison of an early STL 440 HP block, which did have a VIN due to when STL started stamping blocks, is compared to a Jefferson block during a period of when Jefferson didn't stamp any block, one could reach the erroneous conclusion that the VIN stamp is related to HP vs Non HP application and not differences in the plant.

The theory of HP vs Non HP blocks being stamped assumes all plants stamped all blocks at the same time. We know this is not true. One must account for this variable.

This theory would be easy enough to prove if someone did some research. Find date close 383-4bbls from STL. One an HP block and on a non HP block. Determine if both have a VIN. If they both have a VIN, then the theory is incorrect. IF early Jefferson plant 440's do not have a VIN but later cars do, then we know the theory is incorrect. If any /6 or 318 cars have a VIN, then the theory is incorrect. If any LR or STL built RR's or SB's with A/C have a VIN, then we know the theory is incorrect.

HP blocks as a percentage of total production would be low. Logically, it makes no sense to me that only HP blocks would be stamped and I've heard no rational explanation as to why that would even happen. The plant would not ask employees to make the determination before they stamped a block. They would not stop to figure it out. They would stamp all the blocks or none.

my  

[John_Kunkel]

I still contend that the Federal mandate to stamp VIN's on engines/trans didn't take effect until the 1968 calendar year; the model year was well under way by the first of the year. If so, stamping wasn't required until January 1, 1968 and this left a full four months that it wasn't required.

To contend that some engines got no stamping for the entire year would put Mopar in violation of federal law.

[6bblgt]

I don't believe it was a federal mandate - any evidence to support that?  ID of parts was warranty or pressure from insurance Co.s related

I believe Corvettes started stamping VIN numbers on engines in '61.

Find me a /, 273, 318, or 904 with a '68 partial VIN on it .....

[hemigeno]

Some good '68 engine numbers discussion in this thread too:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,66206.0/all.html

From another thread, I found this '68 Hamtramck (Hemi?) stamp, which would have been made long before 1/1/68.  Some of the discussion about what constitutes a High Performance (HP) engine may, in fact, be moot as far as engine stampings go - if Chrysler's factor for stamping the VIN was not whether it was a 335 horsepower "HP" engine, but whether it was simply a 4v (or 8v in the case of the Hemi ) engine.  We may have been right on principle, but wrong on terminology.  So far, most of the 1968 383-2 reports we've seen on DC.com are that they were not stamped.  However, more than a few 383-4 owners have stamped blocks.  If indeed the 1968 Chargers were not outfitted with the 335 horsepower variant of the 383, then any '68 383-4 Charger with a stamped block (as does appear to be the case from DC.com anecdotal reports) would support the theory of any 1968 (B-body at least) engine with at least one 4bbl carburetor being VIN stamped.  Since I can't find any really low VIN stamping photos, it's certainly possible that the requirement was a mid-year running change.  When?     It likely happened before 1/1/68, if that's the case.

The second photo is a St. Louis transmission flange stamp, although I can't peg where its SPD might fall... and since it would have been long before March/April '68, we can surmise it's not from a Charger.

[6bblgt]

my brother '68 GTX's block is stamped "8G128xxx" 927-SPD

"8G149xxx" A27-SPD
"8B179xxx" A25-SPD

looked at a 904 today - NO VIN - 2390 - assembly date 2/12/68

[VegasCharger]

So how can I determine if my 383-4 is HP or non HP?

Here's the rundown:

1968 Dodge Charger 383-4 Auto with A/C
VIN stamped on block at the trans bell housing lip by the oil pressure sending unit is: 8B623xxx
SPD 118 (that is what is on my fender tag, I have no buildsheet)
VIN Plate on dash frame XP29H8B263xxx
Original engine color (and still is): turquoise

Thanks

[cdr]

my car has a spd 6 19  it is a 383 2bbl car & no stamping on engine or trans

[6bblgt]

So how can I determine if my 383-4 is HP or non HP?

All "H"-code 383 4bbl '68 Chargers are 330hp versions (non-HP)

The 1968 "H"-code 383HP (335hp) was reserved for the Road Runner & Super Bee.

[VegasCharger]

So how can I determine if my 383-4 is HP or non HP?

All "H"-code 383 4bbl '68 Chargers are 330hp versions (non-HP)

The 1968 "H"-code 383HP (335hp) was reserved for the Road Runner & Super Bee.

Thanks 6bblgt

So my pie tin should read "383 FOUR BARREL" and red in color correct

[6bblgt]

I'm not convinced a 383 4bbl '68 Charger had a "pie tin" when new.  Does it look like your air cleaner has a wear pattern from one being there?

[VegasCharger]

I'm not convinced a 383 4bbl '68 Charger had a "pie tin" when new.  Does it look like your air cleaner has a wear pattern from one being there?

It doesn't appear so does it

Second pic shows a hole drilled in the side wall by previous owners
.

[triple_green]

My May (St. Louis) build date 68 Charger 383 HP, has the VIN stamped on both the block and the tranny at the top bell housing location, just like the pictures above. It has the unsilenced air cleaner. The original owner never remembers it having a pie tin.

[hemigeno]

My May (St. Louis) build date 68 Charger 383 HP, has the VIN stamped on both the block and the tranny at the top bell housing location, just like the pictures above. It has the unsilenced air cleaner. The original owner never remembers it having a pie tin.

Out of curiosity, is your engine ID pad (by the distributor) stamped with "HP"? 

Sometimes the stamping is blocked by the alternator bracket, but I didn't know if you could still tell or had looked before.

[69CoronetRT]

My May (St. Louis) build date 68 Charger 383 HP, has the VIN stamped on both the block and the tranny at the top bell housing location, just like the pictures above. It has the unsilenced air cleaner. The original owner never remembers it having a pie tin.

Out of curiosity, is your engine ID pad (by the distributor) stamped with "HP"? 

It shouldn't be.

[WhiteOnGreen]

1968 b-bodies
383 2bbl (290hp) engines & transmissions NO VIN stampings all year
383 4bbl (330hp) engines & transmissions VIN stampings at least 2nd half of year (who has an early car that can confirm YES or NO?)
383HP 4bbl (335hp) engines & transmissions VIN stampings all year

Mine is April 68, 383 4 Bbl, Vin stamping in trans and engine. No pic yet but pic bottom pan rail

[Mytur Binsdirti]

If I understand correctly, there was no 383 "Magnum" in 1968. It was just 383 2 barrel or 383 4 barrel.

[6bblgt]

All "H"-code 383 4bbl '68 Chargers are 330hp versions (non-HP)

The 1968 "H"-code 383HP (335hp) was reserved for the Road Runner "ROAD RUNNER Engine" & Super Bee "383 MAGNUM".

[6bblgt]

Mine is April 68, 383 4 Bbl, .....

PT 383 P 2446 1532
PT = Trenton, MI engine plant
383 = cu.in.
P = premium fuel
2446 = Monday 4/8/68 short block assembly date
1532 = engine sequence number (unit number per day)

Date on front pad?  What's your car's SPD?  Is it HAMTRAMK or St. LOUIS?  Do you have a b'cast sheet?