SPD is 1/22.

The six digits after the "G" on the front top pad do not pertain to the last six of the VIN.

Looks like a service replacement block.

If you could see the sides of the block you will likely find one of these somewhere.

Tags were often ripped away but the rivets (or just the rivet hole) often remained.

The tag

It appears the OP has photographed a replacement (at a minimum) block that was machined in '69 then assembled & painted "race HEMI orange" (not the original color for a '70 Road Runner) then rebuilt/repaired/other & painted "street HEMI orange" & that paint job looks to be decades old. The additional numbers stamped on the top pad (G193539) are reference numbers to an invoice/customer/job number/other somewhere along the way.

Looks like the "A" stands for a 20 over size piston. If Chrysler stamped the "A" on the block of my Cuda then it is a 429 Hemi just like a Ford Hemi. I believe when the motor was built the last time the builder stamped the block with the "A" knowing exactly what it was for for future rebuilding information.

am I wrong in thinking that that block may have a history that *could* include grinding off of the pad #'s and re-stamp? The machine marks suspicious.

Quote:

---

The machine marks suspicious.

---

They look factory to me

Concerning the Race Hemi Orange paint (which looks original) all 64-68 Hemis and SOME 69 Hemis were painted Race Hemi Orange. So, it's likely that it was built before the paint color change. As stated, it's most likely a typical service replacement engine of the era that was put into inventory and used when needed as a warranty replacement or simply sold over the counter, etc. The other stampings were added after the fact by whomever, without a paper trail the rest is pure speculation.

If it is a "service replacement" or "over-the-counter" sold piece, the factory wouldn't have painted it.

Good point Dan, makes me wonder if there were exceptions to that?

How much, or little info is on the lower pad for a (March '69 vintage) "block" VS. "short block assembly"?
To me, the single date screams: when this left Chrysler it was a bare machined block ONLY.

As most have seen, this is how most (if not all) replacements looked, I just wonder if there were other ways they were delivered.

But as far as the date on the pan rail extension, you might be right Dan, but I've seen some earlier blocks (originals installed in cars) with similar dates, so I can't comment with certainty on that one.

This tag was on a block installed into a 66 Hemi car, it was said to have been purchased as a replacement from Kieth Black back then. I can't say for sure but it appears that it was painted at the factory, either that or someone took the time to mask off the tag before painting and installing the engine.

And in this case it looks as if someone restoring thier car wanted to preserve the appearance of the tag and masked it before painting, but that's a guess, it could have been painted at the factory before the tag was added? I wasn't there so I don't know.

What is needed to be found out to start a search is just what was changed on this motor. Was there a replacement of a block only, short block or long block or complete motor. What version or year is the intake now on the motor. What year are the carbs and is there anything that is a different year to the body on the motor. How does anyone know if there was a complete total change of the motor without more information and maybe taking a look at some date codes on each part of the motor.

Back in the day you would rebuild your race motor every off season. Bearings, rings and updates every winter. Anytime I do any kind of build or rebuild of a motor every thing is taken down to bare metal. Blocks and heads go into the Hot Tank and cleaned. This would mean all paint would be eliminated from the cast iron parts such as the block. So if paint was left on the block then did someone just do a CIL rebuild on the motor by just painting everything. So did the complete motor get the paint of did just some pieces such as the block.

The oil pan is black, not sure why and not sure if it is factory or aftermarket or altered factory pan. The Oil Pan bolts, is that bluish on them and the type of bolts? The only way to know more is to have someone go with the OP and look at all the numbers and colors and what ever that can give more information. Kind of a nice post for learning about different stuff on a Motor and how things were put together.

When i had these Hemi engines, along with a NOS hemi short block, in the crate, none of them were stamped on the ID pad.
They did have the WT stamp, along with one or two, letters "B" on the pad.
And by the way, the NOS shortblock was unpainted.

I agree on the not painted part. This block is one of the "Over the Counter" Hemi blocks. It has the WT stamp and two "B"s. It was pulled out of the Chrysler box and had been drop-shipped from Keith Black sometime around 1971. The block is a 5-19-69 casting and 4-24-702 on the pan rail.

Jim