How can one ID a Keith Black Trans Am engine?

Is there a stamping or casting on them?

If it was paid for but never delivered then it is a genuine Keith Black engine.

Can't exactly say that now Andy

Its not that hard, is it still complete?

Well yes I guess. Not sure if it has been apart or not. I was told it was original. Trying to verify.
Where they based on 318's or 340TA or standard 340 blocks? What type of heads? Numbers? Any stamping s or castings that I need to look for?

These may help.

Look at the head pic of the odd outer head bolt and the valve retainers, ive seen these in person before.

more

Notice the W2 style rockers, stands, ect but in 71.

I see but obviously not W2 as it was not released until 74 or 76. Nor does it have the W@ oval ports. 273 adjustable arms or just aftermarket?

Block will have TA on it, if by chance its a later KB build and says 318 look for the big X on the front and rear cast in.

Look at the rockers, they are offset for the moved over push rod.

The rockers were also factory T/A 340 units.

See how the intake rocker looks like a BB rocker and the ex looks like the oem.

Yes it says TA. Heads are different however and might have been worked or replaced at some time? Anything is possible I guess.

See the offset rocker for the moved over pushrod location.

Factory Mopar.

Its not uncommon to have different heads. If its not apart for inspection, low ball them, ive paid 1k for two different ones unopened.

One was perfect one had blue main webs going 1.5 inch up and was junked.

Also if its really a 305 T/A motor and will turn over you can use a screwdriver to tell the short stroke if you test a 3.31 motor before you go look at it.

It could as well be a std street t/a motor which might be better for you depending on your needs.

Good idea. Im going to run a camera into as well it just to look around to see if anything jumps out. I read somewhere that these little engines had super high compression like 14 to 1? Did i read that correctly?

Id not doubt it, Ive seen a couple that even had more of the valve notches cut out way past the forging and it wasnt pretty but functional.

When Ma Mopar pulled the plug on the 1971 Trans Am program John Dianna went to KB and got all of the existing inventory on heads and blocks left
He helped develop the original W2 heads from the OEM stock 916 TA castings, Ed Hamburger was his counterpart on the east coast on the SB drag race program.
A friend of mine ended up with the last set of Johns TA heads that had been welded up and ported to the W2 heads along with a tunnel ram and 660 center squirters carbs that John Bauman had done for John Deanna
Not sure if he still has them or not