How close are the engine date codes to the date on the pad ??
I have an engine stamped E 383 then 11 18 HP at the bottom.
The intake is dated 11 1? 68 can't read the 1 number very easy.
I don't have the water pump housing so that is why I am asking this question. The rest of the motor is all original.
I want to find a replacement pump housing before I rebuild the engine.
I found an 11 2 pump housing so would that be Good ??
Thanks for the info guys.
I have another 383 I will be doing next so this info will help me on that motor also.
Thanks, David

David,you have the original intake with a date of 11 1 68 and you found a waterpump housing with a date of 11 2 68. I would use it.Based on the date of the intake,there is no way anyone could question the fact that the pump housing date is out of the "date window".Just my thought. John.

Big D A12,

Thanks for posting that chart. I have to say that while being a noble effort, and that while he's on target with some of that (VERY general) info, I have found a ton of original items outside the perimeters he's set. That chart needs some SERIOUS updating.

I will try and get more numbers tomorrow if I have time.
The numbers on the intake are not really clear so I will clean them up better and try to reread them. The VIN tag shows an 825
on the bottom line for the date.
Maybe this weekend I will see about getting more numbers off the parts. We have owned this car since 1971.
Thanks for the info.

Yes the engine is the original one for the car with the VIN on the oil pan rail. All the parts should be original as we never changed the main parts just the wearable items. points, cap, plugs, water pump, etc. The 4 sp has the Vin on it etc. The carb did get changed to a 70 440 carb over the years.
I just can't find the water pump housing.
The Vin is RM21H9A1782--
the bottom line has the 825 066049
Looks like it will be this weekend before I get more numbers, just not enough time in a day.
The intake has a double digit for the day, I just can't read the second digit. I will see about getting a photo of it.
Thanks Guys.

Something does not add up here , or that car somehow slipped into a hole somewhere ?

The car was SCHEDULED to be built on 8/25/68 but the original engine was not assembled till 11/18/68 ???????

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If you want to see the fender tag John PM me an email address.
Your PM's are full on here.
I am sure Darrin will let us know what he sees on it.
AGAIN THANKS for all the Help and Info.
David

6PakBee

I never said his document shouldn't exist, I only noted that it needs some serious updating. It's important for onlookers to understand that the date spreads on that list are GENERAL and FAR from all inclusive and that was the reason for my post. We as a group simply don't have enough data to come to solid conclusions on most dated parts (and we likely never will).

There is a lot of mis-information out there, for example; I frequently get customer calls seeking dated carburetors for their cars, many of which have either read somewhere or been told by some "expert" that they need a carb(s) dated 1-2 months before their cars SPD. Guess what? Nope! While some cars got carbs that close to the SPD, plenty of cars got much earlier dates, I've seen documented examples that were dated over a year prior.

The same story goes for a lot of other parts so again, I'm only trying to emphasize that while such "notes" as are on that list have value in adding to the big picture, they certainly shouldn't carry a ton of weight as a stand alone reference document.

.02

David,

Yes, it is a B25 (November 25, 1968). The rest of the tag makes sense to me looking at the information I have compiled researching the A12 cars.

Thank you for sharing. Back to your original post. I don't think you have any problem with the cast dates on your engine components. I have date coded many LR cars and it quickly becomes apparent if the car was on schedule or not.

D