i cant find a vin # on my 383 block. Help

[brigond]

Hello, I have a 1971 charger SE 383.  I found a large casting # on the passenger side of the block 2468130 , which means its between a 1959 to 1971 engine. I found info and pictures showing where to look.  .....passenger side ,just above the oil pan. There is no pad and I wire brushed the paint away from the edge of the block, along where the pan meets the block.  and I don't see it. Am I missing something? I'm on the passenger side . Opposite the starter side. Thanks.

[Cooter]

1959-1961 Engines that I know of didn't have the VIN stamped on them. Only thing they had was the CID/Year on the pad next to the deck surface.
You must have an early 361-383 then if NO machined surface next to oil pan rail.

[brigond]

I'm gonna need to date it if there's no vin # on the block.  I found a site that speaks of an id # on the older engines bit doesn't show a picture or say where.

[Alaskan_TA]

The 1968 model year was the first for engine VINs & they were hit & miss until the 1968 model year started.

What is the casting date of the block?

[Cooter]

I'm gonna need to date it if there's no vin # on the block.  I found a site that speaks of an id # on the older engines bit doesn't show a picture or say where.

Small "Pad" below Distributor where the PASSENGER side cylinder head bolts to the block. Actually, if the machine shop Decks the block too much, these numbers can be removed all together. Look there first.

[brigond]

The pad by the distributor is hard to get to but I can only make out 383 , and a #2 to the far right edge below it. I'm gonna try and srape more paint away.  The casting# was 2468130. Thanks.

[lexxman]

The vin on my 383 is down by the oil pan on the passager side.The numbers by the distributor just tells you if its a 318,383 etc and the when it was build.
This is what is on mine.
by the dist
e 383 ,E=1969 383        X= oversized valve guides
10 28, built on OCT 28
R=regular fuel
Hope this helps.

[brigond]

so I will need to find a letter in front  of the 383 and this will be my date code ?

The vin on my 383 is down by the oil pan on the passager side.The numbers by the distributor just tells you if its a 318,383 etc and the when it was build.
This is what is on mine.
by the dist
e 383 ,E=1969 383        X= oversized valve guides
10 28, built on OCT 28
R=regular fuel
Hope this helps.

[brigond]

I got it ! On the pad in front of the distributor its says..

B 383

   1 2            2

It appears to be a 1966 engine. Am I correct ?  But what do the other numbers mean?

[brigond]

Okay, I believe I figured it out. Maybe this post will help others. I just found this information while doing research on the net ,As well as the help received from you guys . Thank you !

The first Line on the pad Is the date code letter. Each of these letters represents a year. Mine Is a  B  representing  1966. Next to this is 383 representing the engine. The line below this represents the date ,I believe mine is 12- 2 (December 2nd). I do have a four barrel on mine But I do not see any evidence on that pad that will Show it's Originally four barrel. I read that in 1966 and 67, The performance 4 barrel engine would have used premium fuel. This means that There should be a letter P on that information pad Next to the distributor. This is a good way to tell if you have a performance (magnum) engine . If you did have a Performance engine There would be an HP on it. I'm not sure if My 1966 engine Would use the letters HP , but I do know that the high-performance engine in 1966 used  premium fuel. I did not have letter P on mine. So mine was likely originally  2 bbl.

[fy469rtse]

My knowledge on these pads is to do with the assembly of mainly clearances for internal bearings and such, the b is helpful as it tells the year motor was assembled, have a look on the top of block, at the rear factory some times stamped vin on both the engine and tranny near the parting line, if no luck there look under the rear ears or bottom cast area to bolt to transmission, some chrylers were stamped under this area , starter motor side.

[lexxman]

If I remember right the vin is stamped on the passager side of the engine by the oil pan. To find out if it is an hp engine,you will need to check the vin. The vin would also if it was a 4bbl or 2bbl.

[John_Kunkel]

Since the block in question is a '66 there won't be a VIN stamped anywhere, that didn't start until '68. There was no HP 383 in '66, that didn't start until '68 ('67 for the 440) so there wouldn't be an HP stamping if it was a 4-barrel engine.

The R and P designations for the fuel grade weren't always used on the top pad.

The  12     2   stamping could be the build date December 2 or it could be January 2 and the last 2 means it was built on the 2nd shift....depends on the spacing.

[brigond]

Yes John , I think your correct about the date and spacing of the #s on the pad. The #2 is spaced further apart from what looks to be the date numbers . So there is no telling whether it was a 4 or 2 barrel? Do you know if there was a difference in  1966 between 2 and 4 barrel  as far as other parts like the crank specs and cam?  

[lexxman]

Thats right,my bad. I'm still new at this myself.

[ACUDANUT]

The vin on my 383 is down by the oil pan on the passager side.The numbers by the distributor just tells you if its a 318,383 etc and the when it was build.
This is what is on mine.
by the dist
e 383 ,E=1969 383        X= oversized valve guides
10 28, built on OCT 28
R=regular fuel
Hope this helps.

This is absolutley correct info.^^^ Above

[John_Kunkel]

So there is no telling whether it was a 4 or 2 barrel? Do you know if there was a difference in  1966 between 2 and 4 barrel  as far as other parts like the crank specs and cam?  

If the pistons are original, the pin height would tell if it's a 2 or 4-barrel, if not...............

The crank is the same, the cams have different part numbers but I couldn't say what the difference is.