Hemi ID code ???

[Mefirst]

Ok, so here is my problem.. There is only one single code, M55 on the engine pad on my Hemi???

Ive tried to search through the Internet to find out what this code stands for, but no luck, so can anybody help me with this code?

Here is a picture of the ID pad....

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a225/Gimmegimmies/Engine/P1010039.jpg

/Tom

[firefighter3931]

Tom, "M" usually means it has undersize main bearings......not sure what the 55 designates 

What are the casting numbers on the side of the block ? Any stampings on the pan rail ?



Ron

[Mefirst]

Tom, "M" usually means it has undersize main bearings......not sure what the 55 designates 

What are the casting numbers on the side of the block ? Any stampings on the pan rail ?

Ron

Ron

Thanks for the info about the "M".. That still leaves what the 55 stands for?? So that makes me wonder if the "M" really stands for undersized main bearings. The reason for the speculation is, that the block is a real race block, not a street Hemi block and that there are no additional stampings on the pad. If it was a normal street Hemi you would find a date stamp when the engine was assembled, series and cid stamp, etc. But on the pad is just the code M55, nothing else...

I have yet to pull out the engine, but I do know that I wont find any cast # cause the block is machined to save weight, the stampings at the oil pan rail might be there, but I need to check...

/Tom

[John_Kunkel]

The M probably designates the Marysville engine plant where most Hemis were built. 55 could be the build date May 5 or May '65. What is the casting date on the side of the block?

BTW, a Maltese cross or a B is the code for undersized journals.

[firefighter3931]

Tom, when you pull the engine out have a look on the side of the block....there should be some casting numbers there. I noticed in your other thread that this engine currently has elephant ears....does it still have the ears for a standard bracket (like stock)....to mount to the k-frame ? What i'm referring to are the tabs that are cast into the side of the block for the engine mounts.

It will be interesting to see what this engine has on it and what mods were done to the block in the past.  



Ron

[firefighter3931]

That's interesting info John. The chart at autohobby digest lists a few different codes for undersize bearings, cranks etc...

Here is a cut/paste chart from their website :


M    .001 undersize main bearing journals 
A    .020 oversize cylinder bores 
E    cast cranks 
Diamond    oversize tappets 
O.S.    .005 oversize valve stems 
P    premium fuel 
R    regular fuel 
Maltese Cross    .001" undersized bearing shells 
Maltese Cross and X    .010" undersized crankshaft 
RX or MX    all main or rod journals .010" undersized 
S    special engine 
WT or TW    water test 
X    oversized valve guides 


Ron

[Mefirst]

Ron and John K...

The engine does not have any kind of engine mounts left, the engine bolts to the trans and then with the elephant ears in the front. The mounts have been machined off for weight savings on the block. . I dont think the cast # are even there any more.. But I will know for shore when I pull it...

/Tom

[hemigeno]

As far as the numbers on the ID pad goes, I do not think those are Maryville stamped numbers.  The font is way too large from what I have seen, and the "M55" doesn't ring any bells at all with me.  This is probably a stamping from a machine shop that did work on the block at some point in time.  I HAVE seen that done before.

On the motor mounts...  There won't be any ears on the block.  Hemi's took a different K-frame which had totally different mounts from any other Chrysler block.  Schumacher Creative has a conversion kit to mount a Hemi block to a standard K-frame, but apart from that you're pretty much stuck with converting a K-frame to accept the Hemi motor mounts.  Pic attached:

[Carl1]

I have never seen a stud and nut at the ends of the manifold. This highly modified block may have had the pad machined wiping out any numbers that were there from the factory. Or maybe an over the counter block. What about Marine? There might be some numbers on the pan rail by the starter. If not it may have never been in a production car,as this area has no reason to be machined.