1968 GTX service block?

[ga430deere]

I bought a 68 GTX saturday it is in pretty rough cond. original except for the engine. The block has a 1969 date code but no vin number on the machined area on the right oil pan rail. It has 440 stamped in front of the intake along with the letter A and letter W under the 440 stamping. Is this a factory service block and what is the difference between this engine and what it came with new? Thanks for any help!

 

[detmatt1]

The vin on a `68 will not be on the machined pad down by the oil pan. If it is stamped it will be up top at the back adjacent to the mounting surface of the trans next to the oil pressure sending unit.

 

[ga430deere]

I went out and looked where you showed me in the pic but there are no numbers on the block the date on the block is 10-29-69 without a vin anywhere that I can find.Thanks

 

[Cazbah362]

GA,
What is the build date on the GTX? Because, if the car is an early model, it would be built in late 67. SO, from my understanding is you would get a late 1967 440, which is the changeover period for 440 blocks, earlier 1968 and later blocks have extra webbbing. Also, 1967 was the last year for the vins, so another issue which I never have gotten a straight answer on is if you have a 67 block in a 68 car, would there be a VIN? and the date code you give could be for a late model 69, but would speculate for an early model 70, based on build date for car. I could be all wet here, but always a good debate. I have a 1968 GTX that was build In October 67, found a block with the same date, but since its a 67 block, it has a VIN. My 2 cents

 

[ga430deere]

1968 GTX service block ?

The vehicle was built on Sept 30 and it was the 36080th vehicle built at that plant but I don't know if it was 67 or 68.I just want to know if this is possibly a factory replacement block since it has no vin on it.Thanks for the help.
Ga

 

[detmatt1]

If your car was built in Sept. it would indicate a 1967 built car. If the engine that came w/your GTX is dated 10/29/69 that indicates that it was already well into the `70 production run but I suppose that could have been replaced under warrenty.

 

[70rr-brian]

Aren't warranty replacement blocks stamped with an "S"?

 

[mvent]

There does seem to be a lot of differing opinions on this subject, I know it's been awhile since these cars were built, and maybe there wasn't any rhyme or reason for what the factory did back in the day but sure would be nice to have a definitive answer IMO.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I assume the 10-29-69 is the casting date? That number is cast into the block by the motor mount? If so that would put it on target for a 70 production block (as detmatt said), but since there is no VIN, it could very well be a warranty block. Anything on the pad by the distributor?

If your SPD date month starts with a letter A, B or C, then that is Oct, Nov, Dec of 67 for a 68 car. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes and someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

The VIN stamps started in 68 and were on the bell housing flange as detmatt pointed out. Also the tranny will have the VIN on top of the bell right across from the oil sender like in the pic. Mirror image so to speak. In 69 they moved the VIN to the pan rail pad and the tranny VIN moved to a pad on the side of the bell housing for auto cars and on a machined pad on the RT side on 4 spd cars.

 

[detmatt1]

Meeps is correct but I will ad that in `68 the auto trans would have the vin stamped on it adjacent to the stamp on the block and the 4spds vin would be stamped on the machined pad on the passenger side of the case.

 

[ga430deere]

!968 GTX service block ?

On the pad next to the dist. there is the numbers 440 and under those is the letter W but it is side ways and on the left of pad is an A under that iI uploaded a drawing of the pad. Thanks

 

[dave5237]

That pad on the front should have a HP Stamped in it for high performance. GTX,s Had them.

 

[detmatt1]

The question is, though, did an engine block that was being used as a replacement under warranty in a GTX have an HP stamped on it?

 

[shag766]

the hemi block in my car has a aluminum tag attached with a vin on the side of the block. it was sold to me as a replacement warranty engine for a 69 r/r. if this means anything here.

more info; the motor was replaced under warranty and a short time later the car was wrote off.

 

[ga430deere]

1968 GTX service block ?

How could I find out if the engine is a HP could I tell from the crankshaft if the oil pan were remove? Are there any other differences to look for?
Thanks

 

[Garys1969RR]

I think the HP blocks were the same as the others, but had the Magnum cam, and 906 heads with heavier valve springs. You might google 440 magnum engine, and they give alot info on blocks etc. Seems like the letter on the I D pad indicates the year built? On my 440 says 7 T 440 H P E. Which means built in 1977, 440 Hi Perf Truck motor. Dont know what the E stands for. Maybe emissions motor?

 

[Meep-Meep]

Meeps is correct but I will ad that in `68 the auto trans would have the vin stamped on it adjacent to the stamp on the block and the 4spds vin would be stamped on the machined pad on the passenger side of the case.

That's right! I didn't clarify that point very well. Thanks.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Your pad info does not look like a factory installed HP engine as you already know. The W and T across the 440 I believe should be interpreted as WT together and on HEMI's that means water test. I have never seen a WT on a 440 so could it be that warranty blocks got tested? Don't know. The 2 02 could be the assembly date, or groundhog day, or my bookkeeper's B day!

If it's a factory installed replacement engine that was put in around 1970 or so then to me that has a certain charm to it, and if documented even better. Just goes to show the reality of life for our beloved old MoPars.

 

[ga430deere]

I don't have any documentation on it but I know that the vehicle has been sitting since 1976 or that the date on the lic.tag,also the heads that are on the engine are 915s like the 67 model.Being that my car was built in 1967 would that be the correct heads?
Thanks

 

[detmatt1]

No, the 915 heads were available in the `67 models only but they are the best factory b engine head!
There is just no way to tell what these cars went through in there early days. Your car could have been on its 4th engine swap by `76! Don't forget that these cars changed hands for hundreds of dollars in the mid to late `70s and the parts, such as engines and transmissions were next to nothing.