CASTING DATE QUESTION

[Davea Lux]

Not really thinner, but yes they were starting to run out of real estate with the 4.84 spacing, so straight is very important or so they thought. The 4.50 bore Siamese blocks proved you really don't need that flow all the way around.

Chrysler developed the new casting technology for the 273 engine that was for its day, a very compact design. Previous castings had lots of extra metal to compensate for bore migration. Keeping the bores straight took less casting material to maintain the integrity of the bores. This led to an immediate benefit as the 413 could be up sized to 426 and the 361 could be up sized to 383. Further refinements in this technology allowed the creation of the 440 in the same RB block.

Dave

 

[Davea Lux]

Confused.....

What year difference?

A casting date of 10 Oct or 11 Nov 1965 would be totally appropriate for an engine assembled 12 20 1965 for a B series 1966 model year car.

Correct if the casting date is missing a digit. Casting date on the engine appears as 1-24-65, usually the assembly date would not be much more than a month after the casting date, but this could vary depending on labor unrest , bad weather shutdowns or model change over. Engines with some defect were sidelined from the production process to correct known issues such as non standard bore size etc. These engines might see several months of inactivity., but a year would be very unusual.

Dave

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I see - so are you saying the last 3 months of 65 were 1, 2, 3 or are you suggesting they missed a number in the casting form?

The casting date on my 440 is cleatly 6•28•65 (making it June 28 '65), so assuming they started casting 440s in May of 65, did they number the months 5 through 9 then 1, 2, 3, or 10, 11, 12?

It certainly looks like there is room for another number beside the 1 (either a 0 or a 1), but then it's similarly spaced empty in Samplingman's block too...

Curious.

 

[Davea Lux]

I see - so are you saying the last 3 months of 65 were 1, 2, 3 or are you suggesting they missed a number in the casting form?

The casting date on my 440 is cleatly 6•28•65 (making it June 28 '65), so assuming they started casting 440s in May of 65, did they number the months 5 through 9 then 1, 2, 3, or 10, 11, 12?

It certainly looks like there is room for another number beside the 1 (either a 0 or a 1), but then it's similarly spaced empty in Samplingman's block too...

Curious.

I think they missed a number from the casting date. Pretty sure they used a standard 12 month cycle.

Dave

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

That's what I understood too. More checking required, as there's an additional date down by the pan rail near the starter apparently...

 

[Davea Lux]

That's what I understood too. More checking required, as there's an additional date down by the pan rail near the starter apparently...

If the engine has a serial number (usually '68 and later) it will have a 10,000 day Julian date incorporated into the serial number. Probably will not find this on a '65 casting.

Dave

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

OK, good to know.

 

[69CoronetRT]

I see - so are you saying the last 3 months of 65 were 1, 2, 3 or are you suggesting they missed a number in the casting form?

The casting date on my 440 is cleatly 6•28•65 (making it June 28 '65), so assuming they started casting 440s in May of 65, did they number the months 5 through 9 then 1, 2, 3, or 10, 11, 12?

It certainly looks like there is room for another number beside the 1 (either a 0 or a 1), but then it's similarly spaced empty in Samplingman's block too...

Curious.

What makes the most sense is a number missing from the casting.

Your June casting carries -1 . The other block carries a -2 indicating a the block was cast AFTER your June block leaving us Oct, Nov or Dec possibilities.

Ultimately, the casting date is irrelevant. It’s a 66 MY 440.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Agreed. Oct or Nov of 65, and it is a 440.

Relevancy is another thing altogether, as for reasons of my own I'm looking for another motor and it needs to be cast prior to September 65.

 

[Ripinator]

Agreed. Oct or Nov of 65, and it is a 440.

Relevancy is another thing altogether, as for reasons of my own I'm looking for another motor and it needs to be cast prior to September 65.

Some elaboration is required. . .

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Nothing to worry about - simple stockpiling.

I need a date correct engine for the wagon as it had a replacement block done some time in its' life.

Both my cars are very early builds - October of 65, so I need to find casting dates that are a bit earlier.

 

[Ripinator]

Nothing to worry about - simple stockpiling.

I need a date correct engine for the wagon as it had a replacement block done some time in its' life.

Both my cars are very early builds - October of 65, so I need to find casting dates that are a bit earlier.

I know what you mean. Been there and done that with my '66 conv.