Engine block ID..... David Hayward please.

[Bob Carriere]

Need your expertise.

On typical GM stovebolt blocks we have the date of casting.... C for March 17 for date and 1 which can be 51 or 61.....

The we have a seperate casting number 3835327....... referred to as the block casting number....

Than a unique serial number on the flat near the dizzy ...sometimes with a prefix.....

Questions..... in checking the block casting listed on Inliner International.... is the listing absolutely gospel..... or is the listing of documented numbers.... Reason for asking is we somethimes find numbers that are close to but not the same.... or are we reading them wrong due to crude, rust etc... 3 and 8 and 6 or 9 or 0 can be difficult....

Is there a listing of the unique stamped serial numbers and prefix available on the web...?

Can the serial number be related to the casting date (circa) and tied in to the 7 digit block casting number ex. 3835327

Now for the tricky part .... when we dig up a Canadian Pontiac 261.... can the Chev listing apply to ID time/year of manufacture..... will the serial number have a special prefix such as "W".....304525.

So many things to learn..... so little time.

Thanks for your help David......

Comments from anyone else is welcome.

BooB