383 4bbl matching numbers?

[Mopar1979]

I have a 69 charger that shows to be a 383 4bbl car. The guy i got it from did not know if it is the original engine or not. The problem is that I see no serial number on the flat spot on the side of the block by oil pan to match with the car vin. I did find the the date code of 68 on the block. I was told that the warranty blocks had no serial number on the side? If this is the case this block was date coded in 68 before the car was built. Has there ever been a case of an engine not getting stamped before it left the factory in the car? Would they have extra engines stock piled at factory from a year before for warranty? Is this common?

[375instroke]

When was the car built?  The '69 model went on sale in 1968.

[Mopar1979]

What would be the easiest way to check the car build date? The engine says 5-27-1968 but it has no vin on the smooth spot on the block. What would be the easiest way to tell the build date? the vin dosen't say does it?

[resq302]

easiest way to tell the scheduled production date of the car is either by a fender tag or a broadcast sheet.  without those two, you are roughly guessing unless you have someone who might have a close serial number car who has either of those two and even then, it is still a close guestimation.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

unless you have someone who might have a close serial number car who has either of those two and even then, it is still a close guestimation.

You mean like a Registry?

[bill440rt]

 

[375instroke]

The motor build date is on this pad:

The E in E440 is the code for '69.  D would be '68 and F would be '70.  The 9 is for the ninth month, September, and the other 9 is the day of the month.






The 904 on the second from last line is the scheduled build date.  September is a 9, with October switching to an A.  Next two digits are day of the month.



So my '69 Charger was scheduled to be built on September 4, 1968, but the motor was assembled on September 9, 1968.  Early in production for that year, and this was not uncommon.

[resq302]

unless you have someone who might have a close serial number car who has either of those two and even then, it is still a close guestimation.

You mean like a Registry?

damn, missed a great opportunity for a plug for ya!  

[John_Kunkel]

If it doesn't have a stamped VIN on the pan rail it could be a replacement motor (or short block) or a replacement block...if it doesn't have build data stamped on the top pad it's a replacement bare block.

[Mopar1979]

In that case it would probably not hurt my cars value to replaced with another engine 383 or 440 in that case since it wont be a numbers matching.
Shawn