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Confirming my 440 Block

oldchevelle541

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Greetings,
Need assistance in confirming casting number and date of casting on my 440. Recently purchased a 1970 Coronet 500. I purchased knowing this was not original motor.

thanks in advance

440 block casting number.jpg
 
is that 10-26-70? If so that would be a 1971 block. If it's a 76 on the end it's probably a RV block
 
Looks like a motorhome block or industrial type with the water jackets that are enlarged on the side of the block. The only reason I say that is my block looks the same and mine came from a motorhome. I could be way off base and also curious what everyone else say about it.
 
Greetings,
Need assistance in confirming casting number and date of casting on my 440. Recently purchased a 1970 Coronet 500. I purchased knowing this was not original motor.

thanks in advance

View attachment 849010

Looks like a late model block, maybe a 1978 casting. Check the VIN stamp above the oil pan rail and look at the ID pad at the front of the block by the distributor.
 
What is stamped into the pad at the front? The pad sticks out in front of the intake manifold toward the drivers side. The 440 was used in cars until 1978.
 
Looks like a 76 block to me. The "8" after the 440 indicates the number of casting core changes that block had, showing they had been casting that block for a while.
I can't read the casting number very well, if it's what i think it is, i cant find it on my list.
As said by others, check the front pad, and the pad on the bottom of the block near the oil pan rail. It should should show vin, year, and assy plant.
 
Folks, Here is stamp near distributor showing engine rebuild information by D&L. Stamping on passenger side locks odd. Not the typical VIN that I see. I know engine not original to car but curious where it had it's beginnings. As far as digit after the 7 on the casting could be a 0, 3 or an 8. Hard to tell.

440 stampings1.jpg Engine stamping passenger side.jpg
 
PS: Stamping not clear but kind of looks like: 4 C 1 5 3 11 11 6. Not sure why the first 11 in bold is smaller font .
 
I think the stamping on the pan rail should be ...number,letter,six numbers. First number-year, letter-assy plant, six digit vin id. Yours seems to indicate 1974, assy plant c, (i dont know that one) then a vin about fifty thousand into that years run. They started the run at 100000.
 
4 would mean a 1974 car and C is the Jefferson plant which probably means the block originally came in a C body car. If it is a 1974 VIN then the block casting date is probably 1973. Looks like the 3 is mangled in the casting date which is why people were guessing a 6 or an 8.
 
Thanks for responses guys, I am curious why the stamping had small numbers combined with the larger numbers. Then all other numbers double stamped. Does not look like they were being cancelled out but each number poorly stamped twice. Was the guy on the line having that bad of a day ?
 
PS: so if we try to simplify what we think stamp is I would suggst 4C153116 and ignore the smaller stamped 11. Worker may have realized number was wrong and re-stamped using correct height number followed by a 6 as last digit.
 
upload_2019-10-13_23-34-50.png


1979-73 440 7.2 4.32 T/U Cast Shaft, Auto. Trans. 226700A 226710A 4006630 3830930 3698830

10.26.76 cast date
 
I agree that the casting date looks like a 76 but the VIN says it is a 74 car. So one of the numbers is wrong. It doesn't really matter since the block isn't anything special. With the ID pad restamped by a rebuilder it is possible the VIN pad was also restamped by someone. At this point it is just a core block. If it is nice and clean and has thick walls then make a stroker out of it.
 
Could it be a 3 with casting flash in the middle?
upload_2019-10-13_23-34-50.png
 
Well - whether it is a 3,6, or 8 basically you have a later model 440 engine swapped into your car (which you already knew wasn't numbers matching)

There's no reason to keep digging on numbers as over 40 years lots of things can change - I had a 440 that was a later 1976 block but I built it with a forged factory crank, LY rods, and forged pistons... so aside from the numbers on the block it was built very much like a earlier engine... so - I'm just saying - you have a running 440 with some numbers on the side... aside from that if you want to know what the engine really is you'd have to open it up and inspect
 
Thanks all for your valued input. No worries on the true date and history of the block. Its just good to know what you have and as for using a good core block to rebuild the engine something coming out of a C class or other that was not raced and blew up makes sense. Not many true numbers matching left out there for one reason or another. I am happy with my 440.
 
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