Block casting date question

[RT K_line]

I've been reading questions about numbers matching and casting dates on blocks. Most coments say block should be date cast a few months before production date/year of vehicle. I seem to remember that my 440 had a casting date of 64, which I thought odd at the time it was rebuilt. I remember reading that 67 was the first year for the 440 so l didn't give it much thought until I read the posts here. It wasn't in the car when I bought it but came with it. I knew that the owner had gotten the engine that I bought the car with from a mutual friend, he rebuilt it in school then swapped them when it was finished. If he hadn't been a novice I might not have gotten him to sell the car. It smoked like a train after the rebuild because he overlapped the oil ring in one cylinder and cut a 1/2 Inch groove in the block. So I'm thinking that I must have one of the first castings produced. Any thoughts?

 

[flyingfarley]

The 440 first came out for the 1966 model year cars........I have a 1965 casting date on a 440 out of a 1966 chrysler in the shop.
I doubt any production 440's exist with an earlier than mid 65 casting date...

 

[RT K_line]

The 440 first came out for the 1966 model year cars........I have a 1965 casting date on a 440 out of a 1966 chrysler in the shop.
I doubt any production 440's exist with an earlier than mid 65 casting date...

Thanks I'm going to take the bore scope home from work today because I can't get my phone in there with the headers. I'm just curious, is there any other stampings anywhere else? should there be a vin # along the bellhousing area?

 

[RT K_line]

I can't see the complete date, it has 12/27 but I can't see the last numbers. They are covered by the starter. Am l looking at the right numbers? I thought that it was on the opposite side of the block casting number.

 

[66Satellite47]

The casting date is on the opposite side of the block compared to the starter. The block casting part number is on the starter side. 440's started in '66. 426 Wedges were before that.

 

[RT K_line]

Thanks satillite, all of the blocks that I've seen are where you say, but mine isn't there. I've seen the date where mine is on some earlier blocks by the starter here but I'm fairly certain that the date was from 64. I can see 12 27 the 64 is just behind the starter and the camera doesn't have a clear view. This is the front pad though.

 

[RT K_line]

Front pad

 

[RT K_line]

ops that one is blurry