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360 block casting question #589427 01/20/10 09:49 PM 01/20/10 09:49 PM
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,547 stratford,ontario,canada JD340 OP master
JD340 OP master Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,547 stratford,ontario,canada	I've got a 360 block that I'm trying to determine the year of. I can't read the year on the pass side due to a piece of casting flash(I guess) covering the last digit of the year. I can make out 5-8-7?. On the machined pad on the front of the block it's stamped 8W 360 6143. Can anyone help? Nothing to see here. Carry on.

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: JD340] #589428 01/20/10 10:21 PM 01/20/10 10:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	on the other side the long #, When the so called "thin wall" blocks came out somewhere in the '75 MY they changed the 1st # from a 3 to a 4. That's the best I can offer. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: RapidRobert] #589429 01/20/10 10:24 PM 01/20/10 10:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	Quote: on the other side the long #, When the so called "thin wall" blocks came out somewhere in the '75 MY they changed the 1st # from a 3 to a 4. That's the best I can offer. Which actually turned into a falasy. Many blocks were independently tested and found many of the later blocks with thicker castings than the early ones. This was on both big and small blocks. Only sure way too tell is to have them sonically tested. Clean it, if it's Dirty. Oil it, if it Squeaks. But: Don't fix it, if it Works!

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: MoparforLife] #589430 01/20/10 10:34 PM 01/20/10 10:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: Which actually turned into a falasy. Many blocks were independently tested and found many of the later blocks with thicker castings than the early ones. This was on both big and small blocks. Only sure way too tell is to have them sonically tested. yep that's why I have every prospect sonic checked and never thumb my nose at a later one live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: RapidRobert] #589431 01/20/10 10:39 PM 01/20/10 10:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,547 stratford,ontario,canada JD340 OP master
JD340 OP master Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,547 stratford,ontario,canada	I DO have that number as well; 4006830-360-3 I also have a partial VIN: 8R257857. The VIN stamp looks like it was poorly done as the 8 is more or less OFF the machined pad on the pan rail. I'm sure this block is nothing special, I'm just trying to get a potential buyer as much info as possible. Nothing to see here. Carry on.

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: JD340] #589432 01/20/10 11:03 PM 01/20/10 11:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: I'm sure this block is nothing special, I'm just trying to get a potential buyer as much info as possible. Yes 360 blocks are pretty much identical ex the real early ones 71-72/3 something about having a thicker web area and or thicker cyl walls (dont quote me on either of those). Only caveat is the 71-73/4 blocks have different machined area on the #3 thrust main and require a different set of main bearings just for that one bearing (pair). iirc the later bearings will work on both (early/late) but the later main bearings will not work on the early or vice versa. Have him check this out before he orders main bearings. I would not sonic check a 30 over build for a daily driver but anymore than that or any overbore for a performance build I definitely would. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: JD340] #589433 01/20/10 11:42 PM 01/20/10 11:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,111 Bowie, MD R Reggie top fuel
Reggie top fuel R Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,111 Bowie, MD	Quote: I DO have that number as well; 4006830-360-3 I also have a partial VIN: 8R257857. The VIN stamp looks like it was poorly done as the 8 is more or less OFF the machined pad on the pan rail. I'm sure this block is nothing special, I'm just trying to get a potential buyer as much info as possible. 4006830 would be a 1976 to 1988 block according to this site with the various casting numbers through the years. However, the Mopar Performance SB book lists that casting number for 1978-1980 360s. On the VIN, "8" might be a 1978 engine, and "R" might mean assembled at the Windsor assembly plant. Last edited by Reggie; 01/20/10 11:58 PM.

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: JD340] #589434 01/21/10 12:12 AM 01/21/10 12:12 AM
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 1,131 Thigh-Gap Junction @ @#$%&*! New user name, Same old jerk!
@#$%&*! New user name, Same old jerk! @ Joined: May 2008 Posts: 1,131 Thigh-Gap Junction	8=1978 W=Windsor 360=360 Quote: I've got a 360 block that I'm trying to determine the year of. ...it's stamped 8W 360 6143. Can anyone help?

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: @#$%&*!] #589435 01/21/10 10:02 AM 01/21/10 10:02 AM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 480 Kentucky, USA D derekeh mopar
derekeh mopar D Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 480 Kentucky, USA	I too used to be under the impression that all later blocks were super thin wall that couldnt be bored over. I had this crazy block once... the numbers on the sides of it looked like the had been ground off or something. I cant remember everything that was on the front drivers side of the block but I do remember it had 318 there. It had a bore of 4.07 which if I remember right is .030 over 340 pistons. I used the engine for a few months before I sold it. Wish I had hung onto it to figure out what the deal was.

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: derekeh] #589436 01/21/10 11:09 AM 01/21/10 11:09 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	I had a '75 cordoba with a first #(4) 360 and was upset that it was a thin walled eng until I discovered the aforementioned thin wall debunk. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: RapidRobert] #589437 01/21/10 11:41 AM 01/21/10 11:41 AM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 480 Kentucky, USA D derekeh mopar
derekeh mopar D Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 480 Kentucky, USA	Its funny that people will bust a nut for 4 bolt mains, steel crank and a block with thick wall castings. Then they build basically a stock engine with cam, headers and intake. I mean honestly does the average joe even come close to pushing the limits of a cast crank engine with a thin wall casting block?

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: derekeh] #589438 01/21/10 12:23 PM 01/21/10 12:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	Quote: Its funny that people will bust a nut for 4 bolt mains, steel crank and a block with thick wall castings. Then they build basically a stock engine with cam, headers and intake. I mean honestly does the average joe even come close to pushing the limits of a cast crank engine with a thin wall casting block? NO: NOT EVEN CLOSE! Mopar cast shafts will take more than brand x steel shafts. Clean it, if it's Dirty. Oil it, if it Squeaks. But: Don't fix it, if it Works!

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: MoparforLife] #589439 01/21/10 01:04 PM 01/21/10 01:04 PM
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 31 Michigan M magna member
magna member M Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 31 Michigan	Sorry to nudge in on your post. But I have a 360 with a casting date of 1970. Is that possible? I thought they only casted them from 71 up.

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: magna] #589440 01/21/10 01:12 PM 01/21/10 01:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,093 oberlin, Ohio Rapid340 top fuel
Rapid340 top fuel Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,093 oberlin, Ohio	I've seen one with a 69 cast date. 1971 Factory Appearing Duster 340 11.000 @ 122 mph

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: magna] #589441 01/21/10 01:12 PM 01/21/10 01:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest M MoparforLife Too Many Posts
MoparforLife Too Many Posts M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,200 Upper Midwest	Quote: Sorry to nudge in on your post. But I have a 360 with a casting date of 1970. Is that possible? I thought they only casted them from 71 up. Very likely.71 was the first year as an engine for the car lines but they were all introduced in the fall of 70. Clean it, if it's Dirty. Oil it, if it Squeaks. But: Don't fix it, if it Works!

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: MoparforLife] #589442 01/21/10 03:14 PM 01/21/10 03:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,547 stratford,ontario,canada JD340 OP master
JD340 OP master Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,547 stratford,ontario,canada	Well, between Reggie and Drag Stripper, it looks like I've got my answer! Thanks!! Nothing to see here. Carry on.

Re: 360 block casting question [Re: MoparforLife] #589443 01/21/10 04:30 PM 01/21/10 04:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	The MP literature is notoriously inaccurate on when things were introduced (and discontinued). Could generally be a year or 2 off either way. The first # being (4) so called thin wall blocks weren't supposed to have come out until 76 my which why I was dismayed and bent out of shape when I discovered my 1975 cordoba purchase with an oe 360 had a #4 block which means it was cast earlier in '75 or even in 74 then come to discover the "thin wall" myth and all was good especially after I sonic checked it & it was a very thick one . live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

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