Hemi block casting dates

Is there a list anywhere of known casting dates for Hemi blocks? Have a block that the year is ground down, month and day are still there though.

This is a list I've compiled over the years. Don't see any matches right off the bat.

8/16/1965
1/18/1966
6/14/1966
8/16/1966
8/28/1966
10/10/1966
9/30/1968
1/27/1970
3/18/1974

is there a VIN pad stamping area & a "MN" or any other stampings on the bottom?

I can add these "*":

8/16/1965
1/18/1966
6/14/1966
8/16/1966
8/28/1966
10/10/1966
* 1/15/1968
9/30/1968
* 11/18/1968
* 5/10/1969
* 5/26/1969
1/27/1970
3/18/1974

Is there any truth to what a friend and '70 Hemi Cuda owner once told me that Hemi blocks were "aged" in outdoor storage for months after casting and before engine assembly?


Mike

Thanks for the responses, I'm thinking the 5/10/69 looks pretty likely, I was thinking it might be a 5/19, but it could be either a 9 or a 0. It an NOS over the counter block, so no numbers I can see anywhere. Only the normal WT on the pad

the closest cast 1/15/68 to assembled 3/12/68 dates I have any info on are ~2-months, but most are much longer - that may be due to size of batches & rate at which they were used was it intentional??

the '66 & 1/68 blocks don't have the raised pad for the VIN stamp

Add the date 4/15/68, the first of them was installed on the first Hemi roadrunner, built on 7/28, Lynch road plant.

Here are a few to add

5-4-64
9-24-64
8-17-65
1-17-66
6-27-66
3-3-69

I think I remember actually seeing a photo of raw just cast Hemi blocks rusting and stacked outside what may have been the casting foundry?? Seems to make some sense to have the cast iron age at least a short time.

/

I can also add 5-13-71

1.19.70

https://www.ebay.com/itm/426-hemi-block-...da/152905555093

That casting date is also the same for the 71 Hemi GTX,
4 speed car, that i owned for 28 years.
Original engine to the car.

I have got this block that is cast 1-26-70.

Stan

I will check again, but I have a 1/15/68 block assembled 24May68 and it has the raised pad for a VIN but it is blank. Vin is in the normal spot for a 68 hemi motor.

I turned 17 years old on that date. lol

10-31-66. Spooky isn’t it?

4/15/68 needs to be on there

Hmmmmmmmmm wonder if Chrysler just did that to fudge the street Hemi homologation numbers for NASCAR ('66), (and NHRA) after boycotting NASCAR in '65 ....just saying

5-19-69 is the date of this one!

I hate to say always or never but the topic of '67 casting Hemi blocks has been bandied about numerous times. The consensus was that there were NO 1967 castings as none have ever been found. My personal OPINION is that Chrysler thought they were going to sell a lot of Hemi engines in 1966 and when that didn't happen, there was no need for '67 castings as they had plenty left over from 1966.

True, but so far no one has produced a block with a 1967 casting date.

On a side note, I was curious what day of the week the blocks were cast on.

5/4/1964 Monday
9/24/1964 Thursday
8/16/1965 Monday
8/17/1965 Tuesday
1/17/1966 Monday
1/18/1966 Tuesday
6/14/1966 Tuesday
6/27/1966 Monday
8/16/1966 Tuesday
8/23/1966 Tuesday
8/28/1966 Sunday
10/10/1966 Monday
10/31/1966 Monday
1/15/1968 Monday
4/15/1968 Monday
9/30/1968 Monday
11/11/1968 Monday
11/18/1968 Monday
3/3/1969 Monday
5/10/1969 Saturday
5/19/1969 Monday
5/26/1969 Monday
1/19/1970 Monday
1/20/1970 Tuesday
1/21/1970 Wednesday
1/26/1970 Monday
1/27/1970 Tuesday
5/13/1971 Thursday
3/18/1974 Monday

Where the hemi's cast along with all the other blocks at the same facility, or, was it a separate vendor?
I know that over the years it's been mentioned Chrysler blocks were high nickle alloy always lead me to believe it was the same source.

The date is definitely 5/19/69. Here is a picture of a matching block.

You mean FOR the 67 model year.

That's correct because there were none cast during that time period.

*Also, forgot to add one of mine to the list, 3-28-66

Looks like a dead ringer to me.

Hello all. My name is Tom Kelly and I'm retired from Chrysler. I have some info that may help. I started at the Chrysler Indianapolis Foundry in July 1972 in Production Control. Being the Newby I ended up on night shift taking inventory. At that time there were over 100,000 rough castings of various displacement palleted in the outdoor storage yard and a few thousand more of high demand block in a late storage warehouse on the site. The castings were primarily stacked in rows by displacement. At that time if the engine machining plant called for a quantity of blocks and they were in production, they loaded straight on the trucks and headed to the Engine Plants. We produced all of the V8 (though I do recall some were outsourced to International Harvester Foundry across town in Indy when we couldn't keep up with demand; primarily 318s while I was there.) The B/RBs went to Trenton MI for machining, 318 & 340s to Mound Road MI and the 360 to Windsor Ontario CA for machining and assy. We only did rough grinding of the blocks. Of interest, though no demand in 1972, there were still rough casting 273, 361, early and late style 383, 413. And a few hundred HEMIs still palleted in the yard. I was drafted into the Army in October 1972. We didn't ship any Hemi blocks during my time in 1972 to my knowledge. I had a 69 340 Dart Swinger at the time and was in awe of those HEMIs so kept an eye on them. Also of interest, the Hemi tooling was still in a caged area of the warehouse at that time. I even loved looking at it when walking the area. Regarding usage of blocks, when demand exceeded live production or a block order came in for a casting not being produced at the time (we had two production lines and one was generally dedicated to 318s due to demand) they would be pulled from warehouse first and if none they were pulled from the yard. Yard block were depalleted, hung on conveyor hooks & sent through one of two shot blast machines (Wheelabrator & other was a Pangborn Mfrs). Blocks were put back on wooden pallets (24 small blocks & 18 big blocks per pallet). Also of note, depending on demand old casting date blocks would have set in the yard for a long time before being pulled out for blasting & shipment. That would explain old casting dates with much later machine/assembled stamped dates at the Machine Plants. (To be continued)

(Continued) when I got back from the army and called back to the Foundry it was late 1975 and things had changed due to gas/oil embargo etc. Chrysler had tightened its belt and yard storage of blocks was eliminated. Don't remember seeing the HEMI blocks. The out of production blocks were gone too and don't remember seeing that tooling anymore. The plant (originally the American Foundry in the 1890s, before being purchased by Chrysler around 1949 and officially becoming the Chrysler Indianapolis Foundry in 1958) was closed by the 'braintrust' of Daimler in 2005 and subsequently bulldozed. Its rich heritage was producing the 426 Hemi blocks that won the 1964 Daytona 500, thousands of 340s (including the TA and race blocks), 360, 383, 400, 413, 426w, 440 and production 426 HEMIs. Even the 2.2,2.5, 3.9, 3.5 and later 4.0 L Jeep blocks were produced there. I'll end this long winded note with this info: one of the accountants at the plant gave my a copy of the Plant Gross Production Record from 1961 thru closing. Columns list blocks by displacement and I was told the 426w & 426 Hemi could have been combined in 1964 (evidently not all accountants are car guys!). Anyway the list showed the following rough 426 castings poured in the following years (numbers in 000): 1964-3; 1965-3; 1966-11; 1967-0; 1968-6; 1969-3; 1970-3; 1973-1; 1974-1.
I have a few more interesting Foundry related docs I'll try to get out here in future. Tom

Re: the "-1" or other "-#" . I contacted one of friends from Foundry pattern/tooling dept to verify my understanding. The dash number after the part number did designate the specific tooling pattern set used to make the block mold. That was used to track in event of a defect found from tooling wear. Same reason for date, clock & day/night characters that are cast into the block. Regarding the count info: As I noted in my text, the accountant that gave me the report told me the 1964 '426 count' was 426W & 426 Hemi because accounting evidently didn't need to differentiate. From accounts in articles by Chrysler's Tom Hoover and Willem Weertman regarding work on the blocks in late 1963 until the 11th hour before Daytona, those blocks were likely considered non production and were not included since such a low count. Production was counting in 'thousands' so makes sense that 426 Wedge blocks were folded into the 1964 count.

This is excellent information! Thanks Tom Kelly!

Stan

Tom, do you know if the yearly counts are stated as "calendar year" or "model year"?

I would think 426 block production was combined for '65 also

from a couple different sources -
model year 426 HEMI production cars w/VIN (426 cu.in. production):
1964 ~ 180
1965 ~ 203 (6,929)
1966 ~ 2,731 (3,629)
1967 ~ 1,274 (1,258)
1968 ~ 2,511 (2,400 "rounded to 100s" * & I'd bet B0/L0 not counted)
1969 ~ 2,100
1970 ~ 1,656
1971 ~ 403 (486)

11,058+ 426 HEMI cars

Dan, not sure on the model year vs calendar year question but I'd guess those are calendar year counts. In the Chrysler world hierarchy we were a component plant so life didn't seem to revolve around model year like the assembly plants. Not sure what corp planning group called the shots on our production run counts but they would have included warranty replacement blocks & 'over the counter' sales projections too.
Dan, by the way, I've been on this and some of the other Mopar sites for awhile now and have always appreciated the excellent information and help you've provided the groups. You are an outstanding asset to our hobby! Thank you! Tom

I also have a block with the 5-19-69 casting. I can submit one cast on 6-10-68

/

no - the 11,058 number is not complete, I'm sure it is short in the 5-10% range (500-1,000 cars)

but using those foundry numbers it shows around twice as many HEMIs were cast VS. the number that ended up in a production car

what's the timeline - around what year did the 426 HEMI start to outnumber 392 HEMI in dragster/funny car ranks and were those cast iron blocks?

I too would like to thank Tom for taking time to write about this.
Is there any data to breaks down what blocks were done at one of the two facilities (any way to tell if there are any corn-binder hemi's).
If I'm reading right it appears that 31k 426 w and hemi blocks were cast (don't know if the numbers were rounded, and included "bad" castings, as they were likely found later during machining.
In an old nhoa newsletter I read numbers of "cars" built being higher than 11k, seem to recall somewhere in the high 13k? I'm pretty sure that included all the race (non vinned) vehicles, and did not include engines only.
I had to edit the above as my old computer sometimes does not take keystokes. I should do more proofreading, sorry.

Yes, a HUGE thank you Mr. Kelly!

We sorely need more people like yourself who were actually there back in the day and whom can add good information to our hobby's historical database. Information on these engines and vehicles is getting harder and harder to compile as the years go by.

/

All, you're very welcome & glad the Foundry info was of interest. By the way I did finally get my own Hemi. My J code 68 Red Road Runner still has its original drivetrain. I pulled the car from a barn lot in 1982 about 5 miles from my home and still have it. Guess I'll have to climb under it now to check its casting date!
Another bit of info: when the engine blocks were hooked & pulled out of their sand mold to air cool they were put into trays on a mile long cooling conveyor that snaked overhead all around the plant. Once semi cooled, they were set on vibratory conveyors to shake out the core sand from bores, water jackets, etc. Blocks would occasionally fall off the cooling line trays. If it jammed Maintenance men would have to find it & repair the conveyor. Prior to the plant closing in early 2000 or so, a 1978 440 casting was found in a remote area of the cooling line where it caused no jam and lay for years. It was removed & put on display in our training building lobby. When the plant closed, I got to bring it home. If you think a machined cast iron 440 is heavy you should try lifting a rough casting! Tom

Thanks Tom for the great info!!!!! Any pics of that rough casted 440?

This is some seriously great reading! Thanks Tom!!!

Thank you Mr Kelly for posting and thank you for your service to our country

This block is from a 1971 challenger that was listed on the 1990 NHOA hemi vin list. The partial to the car is 1B296087, and the name on the list is from 79-82, and is Christian. It would be awesome if this car is still around.
Matt

Dragon Slayer, I may have asked you in the past about the 68 block that you mention, but can you PM me or post the partial vin information off that block.
Thank you, Matt

You sir - have an excellent taste in cars!
Thanks for the great info.

My 68 Runner, 426, column auto, bench seat...

Thanks for the kind words. My first time trying to upload attachment photos. If it doesn't work, I'll try again later. If it works here are a couple of pics of Chrysler Indy Foundry rough casting. Was actually a 1977 440 casting found twenty plus years after being poured after having fallen off the casting cooling line in remote area of the plant. Tom

WOW, great read and what a conversation piece you have there Tom...you should make a coffee table out of it and put it in your man cave...or formal living room whichever you desire

/

Thanks Tom for posting all your info and everyone else doing research.

I have a Hemi from BO29 car
casting date
10 3 66

For some reason I cannot post picture again

Hi Dave, can you also post pics of any stampings you find on your B0 Barracuda block?

I update my phone and now my pictures are not working again. This happen before and I was able to put my phone to old school settings and that worked. Moparts needs to catch up to speed. I am still trying to fix my phone

What a ton of great info, I got the answer I was looking for and a LOT more. Thanks to everyone that contributed

Here is the BO29 Block
sorry for the poor picture this was the only way I could get it to post

I agree and thanks for your insight Tom

Thanks Davesmopars, anything stamped on the oil pan rail extension? VIN# on the upper rear bell housing mating surface opposite the oil sender hole?

The MP stamped on that block is familiar. I had two of those at one time. I did not think much about it. I traded one off for a better dated block for my 65 car. Then I read an article in one of the Mopar mags that said they were installed in 67 RO/WO cars. If my memory serves me correctly, they were both cast on 10/31/66, Halloween. I sold my last one to a board member here with a 67 WO car. I think he still has it. Joel might remember.

This one came out of a 67 Hemi Charger, I think the HC was reversed by mistake, hence no MP.

hemicar1971,

Do you have any other info on this block? Assembly info, etc?

1 17 66

Ok, I have had 3 with that same 1-17-66 casting date, two were replacement blocks with no stampings, just WT on the pads. The third was CH 426 12-21 16

10 17 63 Thursday
10 18 63 Friday


4 6 64 Monday
5 4 64 Monday
5 5 64 Tuesday
9 24 64 Thursday

3 9 65 Tuesday
8 16 65 Monday
8 17 65 Tuesday

1 8 66 Saturday
1 17 66 Monday
1 18 66 Tuesday
6 13 66 Monday
6 14 66 Tuesday
6 27 66 Monday
8 16 66 Tuesday
8 23 66 Tuesday
8 28 66 Sunday
10 3 66 Monday
10 10 66 Monday
10 14 66 Friday
10 31 66 Monday

1 15 68 Monday
4 15 68 Monday
6 10 68 Monday
8 5 68 Monday
8 15 68 Thursday
8 19 68 Monday
8 30 68 Friday
9 30 68 Monday
10 7 68 Monday
10 8 68 Tuesday
10 10 68 Monday
11 11 68 Monday
11 18 68 Monday

3 3 69 Monday
3 26 69 Wednesday
5 10 69 Saturday
5 19 69 Monday
5 26 69 Monday
7 28 69 Monday
12 20 69 Saturday
12 30 69 Tuesday

1 19 70 Monday
1 20 70 Tuesday
1 21 70 Wednesday
1 26 70 Monday
1 27 70 Tuesday
2 5 70 Thursday
5 ? 70
7 22 70 Monday

5 13 71 Thursday

? ? 72

2 12 73 Monday

3 18 74 Monday
5 16 74 Thursday

8 23 66 Tuesday
8 28 66 Sunday *

5 10 69 Saturday *
5 19 69 Monday

3 26 69 Wednesday *
5 26 69 Monday

* I wonder if these are mis-identified? anyone have pics of 8*28*66 3*26*69 or 5*10*69 ?

Great topic and an awesome read. For what it is worth, you can add another 5/26/69 to the list as that is what mine is. Rob

Mine are 6-10-68, and 10-7-68 both are 1969's

To answer the post made by member srt earlier in this thread:
In 2003 I was in contact with Willem Weertman when trying to find out more about the claimed "high nickel fuel block" of the early 70s.

He gave a long reply that I partly quote:

All the Hemi blocks from the first blocks cast in 1963 to the blocks now being marketed through Mopar Performance have essentially the same metallurgy, which contains nickel.

Chryslers Indianapolis Foundry was the source of all Hemi blocks until the Street Hemi was discontinued in 1971. During this 1963-1971 time span, Indianapolis Foundry was the source of all production V8 castings.
The iron metallurgy was exactly the same as all the high volume V-8 Engines. Chryslers block iron was already a nickel-alloy iron, the nickel level being slightly higher than other auto companies block iron.
Unlike the high-volume V-8 blocks, all the Hemi block castings, including the Street Hemis, were given an annealing treatment for stress relief. This is noted in the SAE paper 660342, "Chrysler Corporations New Hemi Head High Performance Engines".

After the Street Hemi went out of production, Mopar Performance took over the after-market Hemi block business. Other, small-volume speciality foundries were used and very slight Changes in nickel content did occur - within the Material Standard acceptable limits.
If the nickel got a little too high, complaints would come from the tool shops machining the Mopar blocks and from the race teams that the blocks were too hard and were difficult to machine and hone.

Nodular cast iron (also called ductile iron) was never used for any block casting, not even experimentally. However, nodular cast iron has been used for the bearing caps except on some of the first Street Hemi Engines, which used grey iron.

Starting in February 1970, the bulkheads of all blocks were thickened. Your date of Jan 19, 1970 sounds OK.

Soon after Mopar Performance started furnishing blocks, they brought out a siamesed-bore block that was stronger, heavier and allowed larger bore sizes, up to 4,50 inches. This was called a "Fueler" block at the time. Shortly afterwards, aluminum blocks by Donovan Engineering and Keith Black became available and the fuelers switched to aluminum almost 100%.

Mopar Performance continues to offer a non-siamesed "Street" iron block and the siamesed heavier block in the 2002 Mopar Performance Parts Catalog.

I have no information on specific test results using nitromethane. I recall the work was done to generate a spark advance calibration. In all probability, the test engine used stock Street Hemi block. There was no design investigation regarding the block´s ability to handle higher cylinder pressures.

In a second reply he also says:

In looking over the notes I made when talking to Larry (Shepard), I noticed he told me when the casting was changed in February 1970 to the heavier webs, Mopar Performance called the new casting a "Fueler" - to distinguish it from the prior casting. Later, when the siamesed bore block was added, the siamesed block became the fueler and the carry-over block became the Street.


To return to the original subject of the thread:
All Hemi D5 blocks I have seen, casting numbers 3577430-1 or -2, have the casting date 1-19-70.
Was only one batch made?

email them to me & I'll post them

Have a :

3/9/65 casting date
393 stamped on the passenger side pan rail ear
+ - 19 - 65 assembly date
NH 380 on the top pad
This is a Nascar block with the safety wired core plugs

Hemicar71 - to post pictures on Moparts have them on your device, open a post, click on Switch to Full Reply below the posting area, once there notice again below the posting area "file manager". Click that and then browse to your images and then attach.

Simple and freeeeeeee.......

Test

Hemicar71 - you are correct - something is broke. Just tried it and no soap.

Sorry - it normally works as easy as I posted.

Maybe the moderators will see this and have it corrrcted.

Ok, I tried again and it worked. Not sure what is going on.

Know of

4-6-64
5-16-74

Here is the fifth block cast. Was done on 10/18/1963 The early ones had some interesting features, looked more like a modified max wedge block which they were apparently.

There is supposedly some on 10-17-63

The casting date of 10-17-63 is the earliest block I have seen and it is on the list I had posted earlier.

http://www.thehemi.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3481

If the link shows up here is a picture of 10-17-63 Hemi Block. I think Kirkpatrick owns the block. I have a set of the first heads cast.

I also have one with a 1-17-66 casting date that's a BH 426.
Can't figure out how to post a picture of it.

Must have cast a bunch of 1-17-66 blocks, I have two and both are replacements with no stampings, have also seen 7 others, some assembled BH426 (2), some CH426 (3) and 2 built for 68's with stamped in VINs.

This engine was for sale the other day. Appears to be a 8-18-69 casting.
Matt

My 68 roadrunner has this date also.

So glad I came upon this read, amazing history. So from what I read my car a 66 Belvedere early Jan build, the block would have been cast in August of 65? None where cast again till 1/20/66 (too late for mine) is this correct?

Yes. Most likely 8-16 or 8-17. But not impossible to be 3-9.

Thanks, now I know what to search for.
Hello, any out there for sale?

What do you all think of this block? I did not see this cast date on the lists.

That block is somebody's attempt at stamping the I.D pad of a factory over the counter block (1974 casting) so that it would appear to be an original Race Hemi block. (1967-68 vintage).

That stamping kind of looks like factory fonts to me. I wonder if it was a complete over the counter built hemi from some of the later cast hemi blocks. I know they were still casting blocks till the mid 70’s. Did they stamp the pad on those over the counter blocks?

Fastmark, no, they did not stamp later blocks like that, the pads were blank aside from possible machining notes and the WT (Water Tested Block) which all Hemi blocks were supposed to receive after being tested.

A couple pictures from a 1966 coronet 440 that is a hemi automatic car. The SPD of the car is 404 66. Block casting date appears to be
1-16-66. The assembly date looks like 3/2/66 or so.

a couple from another 66 engine I bought, 3-27-66 casting date, 4-19-66 assembly date.

That is a Mega block, not a OEM Mopar hemi cast block
the cast in M being the key
I look at that picture a little closer and maybe that is NOT a M
I have a Mega Hemi block motor in my shop now in a 1969 R.R. so I will look at it a little closer later, it definitely has the cast in M on the passenger side, I'll have to look at the casting number on that side of the block

What block are you referring to?
Matt

Cab here are the 2 mega block castings 1 has full water jackets the 1 with Mopar is siamese.

Mike

Mega block casting markets look nothing like a stock block. You can't confuse them when you look at the casting markings.

Dragonslayer, do you know when the machined pad was started on the Hemi engines?

Which machined pad on which block ?

I am not the expert on that, but believe 69 started the stamp on the pad of OEM production blocks.

There were some blocks cast in 1974, would have to dig some old Chrysler Performance Books up to remember if there were any long blocks with 1974 Casting or short blocks. I remember Mancini in around 1978 got a few short block Hemis and had them for sale but I dont remember the casting dates on the blocks. The stamping on the bottom of the pan rail I have never come across those markings on another block that was cast in 72-74.The Markings on that pan rail tell the story of the block,.when it was machined, when it was assembled and what number it was assembled at and what year is might of gone into. Since 1974 and up there were no Hemi Vehicles I know of being built the block would be an over the counter something. Top Fuel, Funny Car did not run this block at this time would of been a Keith Black likely for them.

I see this is an old thread. Another NOS D5 Block example with casting date 1-19-70. Casting number is 3577430.

I have an NOS 1974 casting PN 3690010 with the description in the 1973 catalog as 'Hemi Engine - Blown'.

Pics..?

Thought block in my last post was a blower block as well until I recently discovered it's a D5 block. Literally, there is NO information about D5 Blocks outside of what folks have posted. All Hemi blocks at that time were cast here in Indy, but this has a different casting number. As far as I can tell, it is a normal casting with the heavier webs and a relocated exhaust pushrod holes.

Be nice to hear from someone who may know more about the D5 Blocks...

Buried in the shop. I'll see if I can get to it, no promises. The only way I had of knowing the PN was that what was on the cardboard box it came it. Box has disappeared over the 30 years I've had the block but I recorded the PN as I recognized even then it was an odd PN.

Some guy awhil back posted that he worked at the foundry that made those blocks and there were many pallet full (a lot) sitting outside, mid 70s or so

wasn't letting the blocks sit outside supposed to "season" them ?
i remember hearing or reading about that in that time frame.

Did some digging today and found out some additional information. Talked to a gentleman in Illinois who was a close friend of Tom Hoover and worked in the racing industry during that time. Yes, there was such a thing as a D5 block for the D5 Heads. He had not seen a D5 block, but know they existed. He suggested talking to Ray Barton, he may know more about it.

Reached out to Ray and yes, they were a Pro Stock block for the experimental D5 head program and had less water jacket in the Intake pushrod area to allow for the relocated intake pushrod closer to the cylinder, thus the different casting number. He mentioned building a few blown drag boat engines using those blocks in the past and use to come across them from time to time. The block will accept regular Hemi heads without modifications, but was designed for D5 heads.

Now, just have to decide what makes sense for it...

Hi all. I’m the guy that worked at the Chrysler Indianapolis Foundry, hiring in the plant originally as a clerk in early 1972. There were a few hundred Hemi blocks (non-machined castings) in the storage yard at that time. One of my duties was to inventory the 100,000 +/- castings weekly.
I was drafted into the Army in October 1972 so not sure what occurred in ‘73-‘75 but Hemi blocks were gone when I came back. When plant was closing in mid 2000s a friend in Production Control asked if I was interested in some old files and gave me a copy of the plant Gross Production Record sheet issued in July 1997 (see attached). It lists castings (in 1000s) by year and block (Cu. In. Displacement) since 1961 so it covered Chrysler in-house Hemi block production. This would not cover later outsourced (other Foundries) production. When I returned to the plant from the service the Hemi tooling was also gone. Don’t know it’s status. Hopefully I got this Product Record to attach properly. Happy Veterans Day my brothers and sisters! Tom Kelly

Sorry upside down. Looked ok when I attached it. Hopefully someone smarter than me can correct it!😊

Very cool info thank you.

Tom, to the best of your knowledge, did the Indianapolis foundry use this foundry mark? The reason I ask is that I had a set of 1970 Hemi exhaust manifolds with strange casting dates and what appears to be a foundry mark. After a lot of effort could never definitely identify either.

The Indianapolis Foundry only cast gray iron 8 cylinder engine blocks (and disc brake rotors for a short time in 72) in late 60s and 70s. Later Indy cast the iron 4 cylinder blocks, some of the late production Jeep 4.0 liter in-line six and V-6 iron blocks til plant closing in about 2005/6.
Per a Chrysler casting process booklet I received (published in 1974), there were four corporate grey iron Foundries at that time including Indy. Per that document: the Huber Foundry cast iron 6 & 8 Cyl cylinder heads, 6 cylinder blocks & ductile iron crankshafts; the Fostoria Foundry cast Intake Manifolds, Exhaust Manifolds and manual transmission cases used at New Process Gear; last, the Winfield Foundry cast gray iron camshafts and timing gear blanks.
I looked for that casting mark but there were very few product pics in the booklet so couldn’t tell if that was Fostoria’s mark or not.
Also I’m not sure too if other foundries farmed out work to other foundries if they couldn’t meet production requirements but I do know the Indianapolis Foundry had some blocks cast at the International Harvester foundry (later Navistar)also located in Indy. IH poured some 318 blocks during my time at the foundry & my brother had a 1964 Plymouth with a 383 block that had a rivited tag with IH on it when we took it out for rebuild. Tom

Tom, thanks for the insight.

tomkelly,

You know/remember if there was any smart coding in the casting numbers? EXAMPLE: 1st so many numbers were the casting plant...

Trying to track down any info on a block and noticed the 1st 4 casting numbers of the block (3577430) happen to be the same as the 1st 4 numbers of the 340 TA Block (3577130TA).

Please advise.

AAR4Fun, sorry I don’t know about part number assignment. Likely a corporate level determination as we were just a component plant. As far as I know, the Chrysler Indianapolis Foundry supplied all of the company’s engine blocks (unmachined castings) at the time.
Tom

I haven't read all the posts on this so I'm not sure if anyone made the commit that there were no street hemi blocks cast in 1967?
Anyone have or seen one cast in 1967?

I have a one to ad with the date of 7 27 70. No markings other than Ramchargers

Also wanted to point out that the 7 22 70 on the list should be Wednesday

Don't exist. The '66 castings were still showing up in '68. What I have read is that Chrysler projected they were going to sell considerably more Hemis in '66 than they did and had cast up blocks in '66 based on that projection.

You are correct as far as a rule goes, yes many 10-66 hemi casting found their way into production cars in early 68. But that being said I am going to post an exception. Greg Lane posted a 2-67 cast hemi block that was from a 68 superstock A body on a FB thread.
I have personally never seen another 67 casting outside f this example.
Matt

That had to be some kind of specialty one-of-a-kind block. Had it been part of the normal production casting process one would think it would have had friends. There has been just too much investigation on the existence of 1967 castings to allow only this one to surface. It also seems strange that Chrysler would have had an inventory of 1966 castings available in 1967 and then went ahead and cast a 1967 casting? Why?

I do think it is interesting if you run the casting dates of Hemi blocks you'll find that the vast majority were cast on a Monday or a Tuesday. 2-9-67 is a Thursday.

Feb. 9, 1967 and when did they start to build Hemi A Bodies. Did in 1967 Chrysler start thinking about A Body Race Cars and Cast blocks for a future buld a year later. Most of these blocks are long gone from these cars but I know of a Hemi Barracuda and Dart that I believe has its original motor. The Dart is to far from me to look and the Barracuda has dissappeared from the public but is still local with in two hours if that motor is 100 percent original. Did they stamp a VIN in 1968 on a A Body hemi. Any other pictures of numbers and dates on this block. Greg Lane post the pictures might have to contact him again..

I had a Dart S/S original blocks and it was cast in 68, can’t remember what month, sold it a year ago and have no idea where it is now.

This is allegedly a Hemi block from a 1968 Hemi car. It was posted on the forum and as such I cannot personally vouch for it's authenticity.

I don't know how I missed this one before, awesome thread!

Interesting that 2-12-67 was the SPD for the RO cars. I have never seen an original RO/WO block so I have no idea what the casting dates were, but if anyone has an original RO/WO block maybe there is a connection?

I know of a couple that have these RO WOs 67s and will ask if there motors are original. I would think that there motors should be cast in 1966 but this is Chrysler.

So what is this block with the VIN stamped on it out of.

Have no clue. IIRC, it was just posted to demonstrate where the VIN was stamped on the Hemi blocks pre-VIN pad.

Didn't Mopar start stamping the 1968 , not before, blocks with the VIN and in some cases the sequence codes on the rear of the blocks on the driver side on the mating surface that the blocks bolted to and on SOME the 1968 blocks on the bottom of the passenger side blocks on the ear surfaces that the oil pans bolted onto that the 7/16 lower bolts to the tranny went through?

That is a weird looking casting hump between the # 2 and # 3 main bearing side bolts

Looks like a "window" repair to me.

100% that is a repair in the side of the block , but has nothing to do with the casting area. As far as the vin stamping, yes that was started in 1968 and was on the rear of the block flange by the oil pressure switch location. Bad part about that is it is sometimes very difficult to read being a hand stamp onto as cast location.
Matt

Agreed, it was just a general comment.

Block I ask about was put in the G Plant not an A Body. Thats for posting the picture. I am not up on the 1968 builds, know a little but would have to study plenty on the Hemi Builds. I was told that there is a date in 1968 Production when the VIN was stamped on the blocks. Not sure if this is true or not. That would mean the early Vehicle blocks did not get stamped. I know from other years Chrysler made a lot of their changes in production either in or around Oct. or Jan of the build. After finding problems in the early build the Change in Oct and the major changes in Jan of the production year. Chrysler when it came to these blocks did not follow modern was or production. FIFO First in First Out was not followed. From what I understand the block would be put into a storage room and that is were then would stay until needed. Then the worker would just go get what blocks were needed not looking at Casting dates. So if a 1965 block was at the back it might of stayed at the back for a while till the later casting block were used up. I would imagine that this would change during Inventory and things would ge moved around. I also find it funny that no 1967 block cast. I wondered why the casting mold would sit for such a long time from 1966 to 1968 and problems could arise from no usuage, rust, losing the assembly anything can happen when something sits and it not used in a factory it could just get lost. So I thought Chrysler would run some block just to test it or make changes and test them. Remember the early block are a little different from the later blocks, so were these 1967 Casting a version of tests or were they the good stuff that Chrysler used to make sure their Killer Factory Race Car Barracuda and Darts had all the advantages over all others including other Hemis. When I start into this hobby well it was not a hobby when I started many of the Chrysler workers were around and could answer questions. Now we must look into the facts and come up with answers.

This is one reason why this post was created and I might have to add that 1967 casting date to the list.

I have been told by some old timers and have actually met some one who stamped blocks to match car vins; that even casting date could be changed. Looking at that 67 block the casting date is raised almost as if on a pad compared to many of the other examples. Almost looks like a welding across the top. I am no hemi casting expert but it does look different and someone did have it repaired at one point.

Changing a casting date on a block by the factory doesn't seem to make any sense. The only purpose for it that I'm aware of is to track defects.

Just so we are on the same page my comment on the side of the block repair was actually in reference to the comment that Cab made about the "casting hump".

The VIN stamp I full understand on how it was done and why changes in the VIN stamping process was changed from full VIN to the year plant number. I know the tool that was used from January 1969 up to the Plants went to a Computer based information system. The only thing on a block I believe changes with the later blocks not 64s and 65s is the Casting Date. I should do a real strong comparison on all my block by the 1966 1969 and both 1970s all look the same. The 1965 block is slightly different. The only thing that changes is the Casting Date that is left when the block is cast. So I would think this piece could be taken out and the numbers changed via year, month day that is was cast. I think there would be in this area a piece that could be remove like I see on the 1965 block but will have to make sure of that and go out and see all the iron block I have or just do a google search for Hemi Block Casting Dates and use those pictures. I have a pictures of the 1963 block and a few 1970 blocks but were it is stored is gevin me a hard to to retrieve. So we could look back on this thread of start posting the location of the castin date to compare.

I see no major issue with the casting date area , to modify that area and it to still look as cast would be very difficult to do. I am sure blocks have been modified, I have seen several poor attempts at stamping vins to match cars, and most really are obvious. That said could someone modify one, I am sure that could be done, but might be harder to cover up with no paint on the block. I mentioned in the original post on the block that I thought it was more of an exception considering that the idea was they were supposed to have not cast any blocks in 67. I have looked at a ton of hemi blocks over the years either in person or online, and i can say i have never seen another block cast in 67. Before this I would have said the last batch of 66 blocks were cast on 10-31-66 and the next batch of hemi blocks were done on 1-15-68.
Matt

A hemi block from a 67 car I looked at today. I will post the casting date and the assembly date.
Matt

What month were the Hemi 68 Dart and Barracudas built at the Hurst shop? I read that the engines were shipped over on pallets.

Even these are hard to find. I bought my '67 without an engine and looked for a CH block for years. And when I say years, I mean a decade. Never found one that hadn't been windowed in a hole or in the side of the block. Settled for a '66 casting block cast before my car's SPD that was apparently an over the counter replacement as the pan rail is not stamped and the only stamping on the distributor pad is the "WT".

I totally agree with you blocks or engines from 67 cars are far more difficult to find than say 66 engines. This engine is in a local shop to have some work done, but going back into a 69 RR, unsure if its an original hemi car or not. I have seen a couple 67 engines that were mis-stamped on the top pad to read HC 426 rather than the correct CH 426. There seem to be several irregularities with stampings when you get to looking.
Matt

I would think the exact say way. From what I have seen since lets say early 70s when none of this was very important it now has changed because of people doing fraulent stuff. From them doing this WE meaning the Hobby has taken time to look at things and to come up with the normal stuff at or from Chrysler. With this block and with who the picture came from I would have to believe it Greg says it is real it likely is a 1967 cast Hemi. Take a look at his Web site and it is full of Chryslr race stuff information and this is what he has dealt with over the years. I myself have sent he a lot of pictures of stuff I got of Arlen and bought from others that I had no clue how to tell any dates from it. He decoded my 1965 Hemi block and he was so interested in adding this information to what he has amassed. He also loved the pictures of my super early 1963/4 early production Hemi heads, sent him 64 and 65 pictures of Hemi Flywheels. Getting back the 1965 block, I think Chrysler might of cast these as a special build for these A Body Race Cars. They were a latter build in the 1968 so if they were not completely hand built should of got a serial number on them but these motors might of been hand built. There are others that are not on this board that might be able to add information about the blocks and I only see them a the Drag Strip and even then they are not the show car typle they are the go mid to low 8s type.Need to keep post now and then on this post and keep it present every now and then.

If you look at the casting date area of every other block picture on this thread, they do not look like the 67 one to me. That pad sticks out much further with a different border look. Maybe other block look like it, but to me it sticks out as a pad almost.

I will have to did up all the number of 68 Hemi A Bodies. There were batches of each. It was either three batches of number for one or the other and since I was looking at buying a Dart, all the SO numbesr ran in a row also with the serial numubers and I think about 10 numbers behind. Long time ago so I could be off. I believe these Hemi A Bodies were built in March April of 1968. I think without looking numbers up that they were around 280000 and up. I was also wondering if Chrysler ran a special build for RO and WO rans in 1967. I have not seen many Hemi Block for sale that came out of a 1967. I have a 1966 block that came with everything 1969 and that motor ended up in my Challenger so I could run it harder. Lots to learn hear and still learning after 40 years of this stuff.

I’ve always heard 50 of each and that was it, no more were made. One guy who worked down the street from the place said their whole back lot was full of Darts and barracudas. Sold with bill of sale and non street-able, no vin like regular cars. I was 18, broke and couldn’t pay attention. Also that March date would fit with the 68 block date I had.

The number i have written down For Hemi A Bodies and it might just be want was known a long time ago like 40 years ago is that Chrysler built 80 LO23 Darts and 70 BO29 Barracudas. So looking at that I could of been 3 lots of Darts and 2 lots of Barracudas. I am still looking for my information. I have given most of that information Vins and stuff to other people over the years and only collect 1971 Hemi E Body Hardtop information.

several years back, i reunited this card with the current [at the time] caretaker of this car.
the card fell into my hands by a surprise twist of fate when a friend of mine's boy bought a tool box at an estate auction.
the young fellow dropped the card off here, telling me he had no use for it, and thought it deserved to live here with the rest of my memorabilia.
i didn't look close at it until a week or so later, and just about fell out of my chair when i realized what it was !

One way to estimate the production of D5 blocks is that all of them seem to have the same casting date (Jan 19 1970). The few casting times I can find (on your block and a -2 block, see pics) show the same, noon.
Also found a picture of another -2 block, also cast Jan 19 at noon.

Tomkelly: How many blocks were usually cast in a batch?

This is of January 19 20 21 and a few other in January they cast plenty of block that ended up in 1971 Hemi Cars. My November 5th 1970 1971 Hemi Cuda has a cast date of either 19 or 20 of January 1970. I also off all things have a 1971 440-6 block that was cast January 20, 1970. So Chrysler was raping up cast both Hemi and 440 block in January of 1970. After these block were used up things started to get unconventional with Cast Dates. My 1971 Hemi Challenger has a Casting date in 1969 and was built in June of 1971. Lots of other build in June of 1971 both E and B Bodies have the 11 11 68 casting on the blocks. This is one example of Chrysel not used First in First out FIFO and was just grabbing the first block closest to the door.

After reviewing this thread again from the beginning, Dan and Tom have provided some good data on motors built and cars built but it is broken down by year. Is there any data with cars built per month for hemi, regardless of model? My curiosity is in how many accessories required for the motor built going to the plants for assembly.

Distributors and my main interest Carburetors. How many carburetors was Carter making in batch to support the motor builds for cars as example.

I've been told that Hurst made 66 Hemi Darts and 53 Hemi Baracuda at one of the old Mopar drag seminars before 1980 when they went B.K. the first time stopping those seminars
I've also seen on the internat that Hurst had a bnch more 1968 Dart bodies that they never finished and sold them to racers to make their own race cars out of those unfished rolling cars