Determining a match of a 73 Satellite Big Block car and it's 400 Engine

[Bluesky10]

Hello all and thanks for your help and advice in advance.

I bought a 73 Satellite originally as a doner for its floor pan, rear quarters, and various bolt on parts on my son's 74 Road Runner he is building.

After picking it up we discovered it had a big block K-member, and the VIN identified it as having a 400 in it. Along with the car the guy tossed in a "440". After arriving home and looking thru everything, we realized it was a 400 and not a 440. Following up on this to determine if this was/is the original block.

So, how can I make the determination of weather this is the original or just an extra engine to store?

Thank you

 

[70chall440]

Look at the partial VIN stamp on the block right above the oil pan lip.

 

[RemCharger]

Yup shouldn't be hard. J400 on the pad with a date not long before the build date

 

[Southbranch]

Which car is picture? The roadrunner or the satellite? Bonus if RR hood with satellite

 

[moparvinson]

I have only seen this trim on a satellite.

 

[Doright]

Headlight Bezels and the Grill are gonna be hard to find in good shape.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Headlight Bezels and the Grill are gonna be hard to find in good shape.

https://www.jegs.com/i/OER/691/MB9931/10002/-1

OER MB9932: MB9932 Headlamp Bezel Set 1973-74 Plymouth, Road Runner, Satellite, B-Body - JEGS

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Is it a 4 speed or auto? Bench or buckets? Just curious. A 400 4 speed would be rare.

 

[Southbranch]

I had a 74 Sebring Plus for a while, 400, full gages, buckets console, loaded but needed full resto and I didn't have the time then.

 

[33 IMP]

Look at the partial VIN stamp on the block right above the oil pan lip.

Yep, that's it.
Partial vin on the block either matches the vin.... or it doesn't.
400s make outstanding stroker motors. Not so great as a 7.5 to 1 stocker.

 

[YY1]

Also what's the VIN code?

P is 400-4
M is 400-2
400-2 is much more common and not as desirable.

Still a factory big block though.

Notice the hood in the pic does not have the trim that matches the "belt" trim on the fenders, doors and quarters.

 

[Bluesky10]

First, let me apologize for my late replies. Not sure how/if I missed earlier emails about my questions, but it was not intentional. Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I appreciate your time.

70chall440, RemCharger, 33 IMP, and YY1, Thank you for the block info for me to search for. I will dig the block out and take a look.

Southbranch, moparvinson, and RR Fan Dan, this is the satellite in the photo. The hood was one reason for buying the car. My son’s hood was in good shape, but this one is better. It also had a few side interior parts we needed, and included was a very nice instrument cluster with mechanical gauges and a 150MPH speedometer. It was an auto with no seats, but I will have to go back and look at the floor to see if it had buckets or not. I had planned on using the entire floor pan, but when I found the floor pan at AMD I went with it. Then as I was prepping to cut the rear step wells out, I came across some new ones on eBay and they were a perfect fit for us.
It also has a straighter front clip to use.

Doright, one thing I can say, had I known how hard and scares parts are for these cars, I may have tried to talk my son into something else, but when he turned down a very nice 79 Z28 for it, I knew this would be our project. How do you tell a 16-year-old no to that. The RR was just a shell, but all the rust was limited to the floor pan and the driver’s rocker. It is a 4-speed bench seat car, but torn up bench seat and clutch and brake assembly was still there, and it had an 833 in the trunk. RR Fan Dan, thank you for the lead on the parts. All leads help.

I have bought 2 additional parts cars for this project. My some wanted buckets, so we found one with a full bucket interior, including a consol with the slap stick shifter for the automatic he wants.

Again, thank you all for your input.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

PM me if you need any other parts. My 74 is under going a complete restoration and almost everything is being replaced or rebuilt as far suspension, steering, brakes, motor, and transmission. I bought the car fully restored last year, but the paint wasn’t done correctly and already started to bubble so the entire car got stripped down again. All parts that came off the car are in great shape and like new condition. Some of the parts are new.