Will someone please decode these numbers: 1969 440

[Kern Dog]

I parted out a 1971 Chrysler 300 several years ago but never looked at the engine that close. I just thought it was the original engine to the car.
Turns out, it wasn't.
This one is dated November 11 1969.
I need some help determining the type of car that this engine was installed in originally.
Thanks!

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Turns out it is..... The first number (1) indicates 71 model year.... And the (C) indicates Chrysler....

 

[33 IMP]

I think the "c " means Jefferson Michigan assy plant. I don't know exactly what they built there, but it sure could have been 300s. Agree the 1 means 1971. I think you have the original engine. Just looks like the block was cast for a 70 assy, but sat around for a while.
What does it say on the pad by the distributor? E, F, or G 440. My guess would be F,1970 or, more likely G440, 1971.

 

[Kern Dog]

Hmmm...That is odd to think that it wasn't installed right away. Maybe the block was cast but not assembled immediately?
I was considering this engine for my '70 Charger "Jigsaw" and the 1969 casting date made it seem more tempting because the car was built in December '69.

 

[Slap Stick]

Castings are kind of like firewood. They need to sit for a while and get "seasoned".

 

[1 Wild R/T]

The likely scenario is when the engine was delivered from the engine assembly department to the line it was one of the first engines after the engine stock pile had been depleted so it was back in the corner and engine production got a bunch of engines built that day/week so it got buried back in the corner & the engine line continued to run well keeping up with demand so that engine sat in the corner for over a year till the engine stockpile got depleted enough to bring it back to the front....

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I think the "c " means Jefferson Michigan assy plant. I don't know exactly what they built there, but it sure could have been 300s. Agree the 1 means 1971. I think you have the original engine. Just looks like the block was cast for a 70 assy, but sat around for a while.
What does it say on the pad by the distributor? E, F, or G 440. My guess would be F,1970 or, more likely G440, 1971.

You are correct it does indicate Jefferson, my point is Jefferson built Land Yachts so while I can't be certain theres a strong likelihood that engine was original to the Chrysler when Greg found it...

 

[Dipstick]

Lots of instances where the block casting date and assembly date are only months (weeks) apart. This block might have had an issue in the machine shop and, rather than scrap it, they set it aside for machining at a later date.

 

[BeatersRus]

this does pose an interesting question...
it being a 69 motor in a 71 car,is it an hp with forged crank?'
and,the Casting date is the most important for your charger build??
both the deck and the rail numbers could be restamped?

 

[Kern Dog]

I wouldn't restamp anything. The casting date would just be a cool thing for me to know. I've been running a 1974 440 block for 16 years and not ashamed about it.
This one has a forged crank as all did before sometime in 1972 or 73. I only removed the engine and stowed it. Nothing has been touched inside.

 

[41dodge]

During that time period, they would often leave the rough block castings out in the weather for a couple of years to 'age' as they called it so that when they milled it, they wouldn't have to worry about it changing under the weather conditions. My 64 Stage III wedge had a build date of 11-64 but the block casting was 9-62. That's something they can't afford to do now due to time constraints, plus nowadays, most blocks are aluminum so it doesn't matter.

My good friend's aunt used to work for Chrysler back in their assembly plant in the 60's and 70's and employees could get a custom build if they knew the right people. They could only get one custom build every two years I believe. Steve's father had his sister get him a 69 Satellite two door station wagon that came with a 426 Hemi, auto, disc brakes, Trac-Pac and 4.10 Dana and was the perfect sleeper. It was metallic green, green vinyl interior with dog dish hub caps. He did a mini tub on it and had 10" slicks he grooved himself so the cops couldn't bust him. He made a lot of $$ street racing guys that thought they had hot cars. He'd tell them it was his wife's car and usually talk them into giving him a handicap. At least the first time. Unfortunately Steve's younger brother took it out one night without permission. He only had his learner's permit. He tried racing some guy, lost control at high speed and rolled it, totaling it out. The kid was lucky to live. There wasn't much to salvage but the heads and few miscellaneous parts. The block, trans and differential were toast. The insurance company wouldn't cover it because he wasn't a licensed driver though his father gave him a real good *** whipping. I had raced his father one evening in my built 68 Roadrunner and I won the first race but he won the next two, just barely. My clutch was going out I found out later but I never got the chance to race him again thanks to Steve's brother.

Those were the good old days, 125 octane premium for 30₵ or less a gallon and you got someone to fill your tank and wash your windows.
Vic

 

[Kern Dog]

My good friend's aunt used to work for Chrysler back in their assembly plant in the 60's and 70's and employees could get a custom build if they knew the right people. They could only get one custom build every two years I believe. Steve's father had his sister get him a 69 Satellite two door station wagon that came with a 426 Hemi, auto, disc brakes, Trac-Pac and 4.10 Dana
Vic

Sorry, man...I call BS on this. We all have heard the stories of a buddies uncle's best friend's barber that had some rare car....
There were no 2 door wagons built. The factory would never tool up to make all those custom parts for one customer. Doors, quarter panels, side windows and weatherstripping, it would have been quite expensive.
There were a few 4 door HEMI Satellites built in 1966, that has been documented.

 

[BeatersRus]

Sorry, man...I call BS on this. We all have heard the stories of a buddies uncle's best friend's barber that had some rare car....
There were no 2 door wagons built. The factory would never tool up to make all those custom parts for one customer. Doors, quarter panels, side windows and weatherstripping, it would have been quite expensive.
There were a few 4 door Satellites built in 1966, that has been documented.

good catch i read the whole story and liked it and didnt even notice he said a 2 door station wagon.

this of course brings to mind the stories.
the Fbi cars....lots of stories no paperwork.
the hemi Rv for the chrysler executive....that lasted around 3 days?
this one was word of mouth,albeit i briefly met one of the guys who supposedly Did the swap.
they took the hemi out i think in georgia and swapped a 440 into it because the hemi was being obscene on gas and he was headed to florida.

i have seen the 65 ? hemi coronet? that was tested in the mags,so i know it was real.
not the 4 doors,the 2 door that roger? huntington? drove for a week in nyc.
if anyone knows what im talking about please correct me.
i used to have the article saved for years,maybe its on my photobucket archived.

 

[41dodge]

It's been 50 years ago and I sure thought it was a 2 door but I could be mistaken. It was a factory Hemi with the Track Pak. I know that thing launched hard and Steve's dad was really pissed at his younger son for totaling it. Steve's aunt was rather high up in the food chain at Chrysler from what he told me. He only had it about 4 months when the kid wrecked it. Their family only drove Mopars for years.

 

[Dave Eamon]

I parted out a 1971 Chrysler 300 several years ago but never looked at the engine that close. I just thought it was the original engine to the car.
Turns out, it wasn't.
This one is dated November 11 1969.
I need some help determining the type of car that this engine was installed in originally.
Thanks!

View attachment 921227 View attachment 921228 View attachment 921229

11/11/69 is the casting date of that particular part. 2586480 is the part number for the engine assembly. Who knows what the -7 means. It could mean nothing beyond the needs of the plant staff. 1C195283 is the last eight characters of the VIN of the car in which the engine was originally installed. The car was a '71 built in plant C whichever one that is, and 195283 is the sequence number from the VIN. The car in question was the 95,283rd car of that model built that model year, and was likely a fairly late build. So the engine assembly or just the block was hangin' around for a couple of years before the car was built. An engine hangin' around for a couple of years helps explain why there were big blocks still painted corporate turquoise (like the engine in question) a couple of years after the company had adopted corporate blue for most engines.

When we are talking about numbers matching cars, that ID appearing on the passenger side oil pan rail must match the last eight characters of the VIN of the car in question. Those eight characters will also likely appear on the driver's side trunk opening rail under the trunk weather seal, on the cowl under the hood weather seal and possibly in other locations on the body. Those characters will also appear on a pad on the passenger's side of a manual transmission or on a pad on the passenger's side of the bellhousing of a TorqueFlite. If some or all of those numbers don't match, numbers matching goes out the window along with some or much of the value of the car.