VIN stamp on 10-31-66 Hemi casting

[AR67GTX]

I knew the Hemi engine in my 66 Satellite was not original - I figured from the casting date of 10-31-66 it was from a 67. I thought the VIN was on the back of the block above the bellhousing but I couldn’t see anything back there - hard to see - even with a bore camera. Today I noticed a stamping on the lower left rear of the block on the rear web of the block. But guess I’m not Mopar smart enough to decipher. The full stamped number is:

VIN42623360012

That obviously is not a typical vehicle VIN but I assume it does have some purpose or meaning by Chrysler. Engine assembly stamp? Or is it more likely a rebuilders stamp?

 

[Jerry Hall]

I'm not that literate on those numbers, but try this. 426 Hemi 233rd day of 66, engine 0012.

 

[AR67GTX]

That sounds better than anything I’ve come up with so far. The VIN prefix is a puzzler though.

 

[Jerry Hall]

That doesn't figure. That is August 21 1966. What is 2336 on the 10000 day calendar?

 

[Fran Blacker]

Thought 68 cars had VIN along bellhousing. It maybe a partial VIN. Have a 10-10-66 block that came out car built in Jan. or Feb 68, front carb was Oct 67. I understand it's said no Hemi blocks cast in 67.

 

[AR67GTX]

That’s another reason I think it’s out of a 67 car - apparent lack of VIN on the upper back of the block - at least as far as I can tell.

 

[Dave6T4]

I thought Chrysler started putting vehicle VIN on engine blocks for 1968 model year?

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Not all 68 engines had VINs stamped in, or it could be a warranty engine etc. 2336 looks like it would be the 10,000 day calendar date of Dec. 20th 1967, which would be during the 68 model year. I can't explain the letters VIN stamped into the engine as it is an engine serial number not a vehicle identification number. I don't believe any hemis were cast in 1967 as stated above.

 

[AR67GTX]

I wondered if the 4th digit (a “2”) might signify 2 carburetors since I guess NASCAR engines might have been assembled there too.

I forgot to mention there is a Maltese cross stamped near it to. And another strange symbol is also stamped near it.

I found this thread that does support the 2336 is a calendar date but from this thread my engine would fall in the 68 model year. The 68 assembled block in the thread apparently lacked a VIN stamp too. They say the prefix is the assembly plant - typically MV or MN. Sure looked like VIN to me but it’s pretty light. I’ll try to get a picture.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthread...cs/1109594/426-hemi-block-stampings-help.html
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthread...cs/1109594/426-hemi-block-stampings-help.html

 

[Fran Blacker]

Undersized mains and or rods. Counter probably stamped,this a crank that came out of maltese stamped engine.

 

[AR67GTX]

Pictures

I think that prefix is MN now. The first leg of the M is missing or very faint - hard to see it clearly with bifocals and I mistook it for VIN. So that seems to clear things up and as RT Boy 67 said, it’s a 68 model year engine.

 

[Beekeeper]

what’s the assembly date on the top pad?

 

[AR67GTX]

Don’t really see much on the top pad. I’ll take a closer look tomorrow.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

68 and up hemis generally do not have dates there, like the 66-67 ones did.

 

[Jerry Hall]

68 and up hemis generally do not have dates there, like the 66-67 ones did.

One of my 67 Hemi cars.

 

[AR67GTX]

I don’t have any of that stamping on mine.

 

[fastmark]

I can’t tell you what all the Lette͏r͏s mean but the stamping on the bottom of the block is not related to a vin number at all. It the plant code where it was built, the date is was assembled and which engine of the Day.

 

[gtx6970]

I can’t tell you what all the Lette͏r͏s mean but the stamping on the bottom of the block is not related to a vin number at all. It the plant code where it was built, the date is was assembled and which engine of the Day.

I think this is correct.


Ive not looked at the area you mention on mine.
But mine does have the info on the top pad

I dont remember all of it , But
W is water tested ,
1 22 is Jan 22nd assy date
Maltese cross is 10 under rods and/or mains

 

[Jerry Hall]

I think this is correct.


Ive not looked at the area you mention on mine.
But mine does have the info on the top pad

I dont remember all of it , But
W is water tested ,
1 22 is Jan 22nd assy date
Maltese cross is 10 under rods and/or mains

View attachment 1202453

Built March 1, 1966 22nd engine built

 

[gtx6970]

Built March 1, 1966 22nd engine built

Ok, makes better sense.
I know it was the original motor to the car it came out of which had a SBD around the 1st week of april 66 , same as my car . Which is why the previous owner bought this particular body .

The Coronet was burnt beyond repair . ( garage fire back in the 80s )