date codes on engine parts ??

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

Both of those dates are new for your engine. The water pump and intake manifold are castings that needs to be machined, so by the time they make it to the front of the line to be bolted on an engine, it takes some time. They produced many big blocks in 1969, I doubt they ran that close to running out of these parts.

I am by no means an expert on engine date codes but I must ask what are the chances of an engine that is mostly original (according to the OP) having a replacement intake manifold date that precedes the engine build date by 2 weeks (assuming 11-1-68 date on the manifold)? I'm curious what others think.

I do not think there is a correct answer to cast dates versus EAD or SPD on a specific car. I have seen cast dates on 1970 cars earlier than late 1969 cars. Inventory rotation was not a priority.

I found the attached guide some time ago. If I have nothing else to go on, I will refer to this. It is just a guide though and should not be considered gospel.

Hope this helps.

D

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.

Scott, I agree. That is why I say it is my last reference.

D

What is best? To have no printed reference and depend totally on tribal knowledge for answers? Or to have a printed reference that isn't 100% accurate? Something like what's better, a watch that doesn't work or one that loses a minute daily?

So you don't have the original engine ?

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

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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David (OP), JohnRR is correct. The SPD does not match your VIN at all. Your VIN works for the dates you are discussing about the engine. Is it a B25 on the tag? This would be a November 25, 1968 date and would make more sense.

If you share your fender tag, there are other numbers on the Lynch Road tag correlating to SPD and VIN. PM me if you don't want to post it.

D

John I think Darrin is correct but the tag is hard to read. It might be the letter B and not an 8. So that would make it
B25 066049 Also I did manage to get some numbers tonight off the motor and a photo of the dist pad numbers. It has E383 then 11 182 then HP. I have never seen a 3 digit number on the pads before. Is it a mis stamp or what?? (It was dirty and I didn't see the 2 after the 18 until I wire brushed that area.)
Here are some more numbers/dates, the block has 11 12 68 casted into it, intake looks to be 11 11 68, dr side exhaust manifold is 11 11 68, pass side exhaust is 6128, 4 sp trans date 10 24 68.
The engine and trans have the VIN stamped into them so they are the original ones.
I sent Darrin a photo of the Vin tag to look at.
Thanks for the info Guys.
David

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

The stamp 11 182 means November 18th, 2nd shift

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

The point of my comment was that here we have someone who took the time and trouble in an attempt to PUBLICLY dispense information. In return there are comments from others that this is wrong or that is wrong. But these same people never seem to attempt to help the original author correct his/her document. I don't want this to turn into a ppppping contest but that's what I see over and over again.

Case solved, and I agree the dates on those parts are fine and probably the originals .

My 69 Bee was not on schedule , SPD on the tag is 210 , the engine was assembled 2/11

I guess I forgot that they used letters for the dates for 3 months and the tag looked like an 8 to me. That is why this forum and you guys with knowledge come in handy.
Thanks for the info Guys.
David