Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models > Drivetrain

390 Engine/trans Dating

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carguytroy:
Hi all, I’m in the process of acquiring a 1967 S code convertible. The current owner says he has the engine and trans for the car, however he did buy it with the engine and trans out of the car. Say that it is not the original engine/trans. What are the options for getting the right dated set up? And where and what codes would I be looking for? The car has a build date of 7/12/1967 according to the Marti report he sent me. 

J_Speegle:

--- Quote from: carguytroy on October 30, 2017, 10:14:34 AM ---Hi all, I’m in the process of acquiring a 1967 S code convertible. The current owner says he has the engine and trans for the car, however he did buy it with the engine and trans out of the car. Say that it is not the original engine/trans. What are the options for getting the right dated set up? And where and what codes would I be looking for? The car has a build date of 7/12/1967 according to the Marti report he sent me.

--- End quote ---

Each cast piece (ex heads, block, intake exhaust manifolds...)  that makes up the engine will have a casting date and the stamped steel items (valve covers and often oil pan) will have dates also.  Carburetor as well as distributors will have dates also. Many of these are shown as well as how to decode them in an article you will find in the Library of this site. Items such as distributors and carbs are different depending on the specific application so these items from another engine/car may not be correct for your application so check those identification numbers also.

Your options are identifying and locating if not the engine you have an alternative one with dates that would be similar to what your car likely had originally.  Since it doesn't sound like the PO had the original that is the best you can do at this point unless something really really happens and somehow the original engine and trans pops up.

carguytroy:
So would any FE engine block with the correct date code before the build date(within a couple of months) be considered “matching”? I know that all say 352 on them. The one he has and sent pictures of has a date code, but I haven’t seen a casting number as of yet. Date code i believe is B5? It’s hard to tell from the pic. There could be a number or a symbol of some sort in front of the B. I will have the engine, trans etc later this week or first of next week. I have possession of the body shell, title, doors etc.

J_Speegle:

--- Quote from: carguytroy on December 07, 2017, 12:12:55 AM ---So would any FE engine block with the correct date code before the build date(within a couple of months) be considered “matching”? ..................

--- End quote ---

There is no common (that I am aware of) definition of "matching numbers".

Since your year and engine did not normally carry the car's VIN it would be left up to interpretation of course if asked or if selling the honest thing to do it to offer that the engine is not original to the car

carguytroy:

--- Quote from: J_Speegle on December 07, 2017, 02:20:11 AM ---There is no common (that I am aware of) definition of "matching numbers".

Since your year and engine did not normally carry the car's VIN it would be left up to interpretation of course if asked or if selling the honest thing to do it to offer that the engine is not original to the car

--- End quote ---

Which I would definitely disclose that. I am in the car business and fully understand original vs non original, titling issues etc. But for the purpose of getting the car as close as possible to what it was originally is this the correct course to take? Meaning finding a block that is date coded correctly as well as other parts(intake manifolds, etc). How have some of you other folks gone about this? I know this is pretty common place, but every other car I’ve purchased has either been all original and in one piece or was more of a modified vehicle.  Other than classified ads where are some places to look for an engine or block? Most of the salvage yards just have newer vehicles now days.

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