440 front pad numbers..WHAT DO THEY MEAN ?

[tpodwdog]

hi guys. i got one for the 440 GURUS. bought a 66 belvedere....originally a 273 ....got a 440 in it now. i have the pad numbers..( the pad in the front opposite the dizzy ) here they are

8T 440 TE
12 7 (Maltese cross) X

thats exactly how it is stamped. i would love to know what these numbers mean....as in ...what year the block is....what the Maltese cross means....yadda yadda. im guessing its a 1977 truck motor ...but id like to know for sure....thanx gentlemen !:headbang:

 

[Al K]

Hey bud;I may have a page saved with that kind of info. I think the Maltese Cross has to do with undercut crank journals-.001",I think-but the other stuff eludes me at the moment. Don't worry;smarter folks than me will chime in.

 

[Al K]

How about this:

Decoding Engine Stampings and Casting Numbers


Decoding the Stampings on Engine Pads:
A .020 oversize cylinder bores
Diamond Oversize tappets
E Cast Crankshaft
HP High Performance
L or LC Low compression
Maltese Cross .001" undersize main bearing journals
Maltese Cross & an X .010" undersized crankshaft rod journals
O.S. .005" oversize valve stems
P Premium Fuel
R Regular Fuel
RX or MX All main and rod journals .010" undersized
S Special engine
WT or TW Water Test
X .010" undersize crankshaft


Decoding the Year Codes for B & RB Engines:
(Stamped on engine pad)
A 1965
B 1966
C 1967
D 1968
E 1969
F 1970
G 1971
H 1972
J 1973
P 1960
R 1961
S 1962
T 1963
V 1964
4T 1974
5T 1975
6T 1976
7T 1977
8T 1978


Decoding B / RB Engine Block Casting Numbers:
Casting # Body B or RB Year Stock Cubes
1944929 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 58 350
1737629 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 61-64 361
2205712 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 58-66 361
1851729 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 59-64 383
2120329 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 59-64 383
2468130 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 59-71 383
3698630 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 73-78 400
3614230 Best B (400) Block
(Heavy Main Webs) B 71-72 400
1852029 High Performance & Truck RB 62 413
2120529 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth RB 59-65 413
2205697 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth RB 59-65 413
2205697 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth RB 64 426
2406730 Max Wedge RB 63-65 426
2532230 Max Wedge RB 64-66 426
2536430 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth RB 66-72 440
3698330 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth RB 73-78 440
4006530 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth B 76-78 400
4006630 Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth RB 78 440



Decoding Big Block Cylinder Head Part Numbers:
(* = Most Popular)
Casting # Part # Year Engine Chamber
Type Intake
Dia. Exhaust
Dia.
1737637 2128533 58-59 361 Closed 1.94 1.60
1944705 2128533 58-59 361 Closed 1.94 1.60
1737637 2448752 60 361/383 Closed 1.94 1.60
2206924 2128589 61-62 361/383/413 Closed 2.08 1.60
2206324 2128589 61-62 361/383/413 Closed 2.08 1.60
2402286 2402358 62 413 Max Wedge Closed 2.08 1.88
2463209 2406754 63 426 Max Wedge Closed 2.08 1.88
2463200 2448752 63 361/383/413 Closed 2.08 1.60
2406518 2406736 64 426 Max Wedge Closed 2.08 1.88
2406516 2406732 64-67 361/383 Closed 2.08 1.60
2406158 2806019 67 440 Closed 2.08 1.60
*2780915 2800762 67 440 HP Closed 2.08 1.74
*2843906 2843904 68-70 383/440 Open 2.08 1.74
2951250 2843904 68 440 Open 2.08 1.74
3462346 3462344 71-72 383/400/440 Open 2.08 1.74
3462346 3671640 73 400/440 Open 2.08 1.74
3751213 3751218 73 400/440
(Motor Home) Open 2.08 1.74
3769902 3769910 74 400/440 Open 2.08 1.74
3769975 3769954 75 400/440 Open 2.08 1.74
4006452 3769954 76-78 400/440 Open 2.08 1.74

 

[tpodwdog]

best i can decipher is...

1978 440
trenton plant
undercut cast crank.001
cast 12-1977
undercut crank journals.

...so the block is a 1978......and according to the previous owner it has in it now...:

hemi cam
10.5:1 keith black pistons
906 heads..( i havent checked those yet)

it idles like a hemi.... drinks gas like no tomorrow....spins the 3:55's until i let off the juice... so this engine is by no means a stock 1978 440....LOL..

thanx guys...any idea where to set initial timing on this beast ????

 

[ws27]

The 12 7 is the assembly date (it's stamped on the pad right?)

Which means assembled Dec. 7 1977 for model year 1978 (8t)

The casting date of the block is on the side and is actually cast in the block, not stamped.

 

[tpodwdog]

The 12 7 is the assembly date (it's stamped on the pad right?)

Which means assembled Dec. 7 1977 for model year 1978 (8t)

The casting date of the block is on the side and is actually cast in the block, not stamped.

sorry...oooops,,,my mistake,,,,,12-7 is the assembly date... were these blocks considered "worthy" of adding extreme horsepower to them???? ...and should i be worried??

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

sorry...oooops,,,my mistake,,,,,12-7 is the assembly date... were these blocks considered "worthy" of adding extreme horsepower to them???? ...and should i be worried??

I don't think I would be worried about your engine. A hemi grind cam and 10-1 pistons isn't what I think would be considered adding "extreme horsepower".

 

[Meep-Meep]

What a coincidence. I basically have the same engine in my 66 Belvedere but with one step milder cam. Runs 12 sec 1/4 miles and spins 6K through the lights. It now has a six pack and runs even better. I think you'll be just fine.

 

[Cranky]

..any idea where to set initial timing on this beast ????

I would start with 10 degrees and see how it likes it then go from there. Most of the time, my engines run better with more and if your carb squirters are a bit off, an engine with more initial will help cover that up until you can get them right and if it doesn't kick back on the starter....it's usually a good sign.

 

[Richard Cranium]

hi guys. i got one for the 440 GURUS. bought a 66 belvedere....originally a 273 ....got a 440 in it now. i have the pad numbers..( the pad in the front opposite the dizzy ) here they are

8T 440 TE
12 7 (Maltese cross) X

thats exactly how it is stamped. i would love to know what these numbers mean....as in ...what year the block is....what the Maltese cross means....yadda yadda. im guessing its a 1977 truck motor ...but id like to know for sure....thanx gentlemen !:headbang:

I got out my secret decoder ring & it translates to "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine".

 

[Meep-Meep]

I would start with 10 degrees and see how it likes it then go from there. Most of the time, my engines run better with more and if your carb squirters are a bit off, an engine with more initial will help cover that up until you can get them right and if it doesn't kick back on the starter....it's usually a good sign.

If I recall I'm at 12 I and 36 total all in by 2500. Vac advance is ported and ads another 10 deg or so.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I got out my secret decoder ring & it translates to "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine".

I'm sure there are people on this forum that would find this utterly useless response to be abhorring but I thought it was funny.

 

[Budnicks]

Funny, Dick

I got out my secret decoder ring & it translates to "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine".

Now that the guy got his #'s decoded, That's pretty funny & be careful you'll shoot your eye out.... "Red Rider" rules

 

[Ariovistus]

A friend of Mine has a 383 in a 70 Roadrunner. The casting number is from 22 Aug 1969. However, the engine pad only has a 3 and an 8. the other 3 is missing. I looked up Aug 22 1969 and it was a Friday. Do You think he forgot to stamp the other 3 because the weekend was near, lol?

 

[MarPar]

I dont have your answer, but man you dug up an old thread with a bunch of all-stars in it.

Who remembers tpodwdog? cmon?? anyone??

 

[Richard Cranium]

 

[MarPar]

I miss Al K and Alex

@Al K @Meep-Meep

 

[jdsgtx]

hi guys. i got one for the 440 GURUS. bought a 66 belvedere....originally a 273 ....got a 440 in it now. i have the pad numbers..( the pad in the front opposite the dizzy ) here they are

8T 440 TE
12 7 (Maltese cross) X

thats exactly how it is stamped. i would love to know what these numbers mean....as in ...what year the block is....what the Maltese cross means....yadda yadda. im guessing its a 1977 truck motor ...but id like to know for sure....thanx gentlemen !:headbang:

I believe that is a 1973 truck motor. The Maltese cross indicates thicker walls. The X after the cross means the crank is undersized by .010

 

[jdsgtx]

I believe that is a 1973 truck motor. The Maltese cross indicates thicker walls. The X after the cross means the crank is undersized by .010

That may also be an export engine

 

[Budnicks]

a 12 year old thread ?

good info but