TLByrd
Member
So far, I've learned a lot about identifying 348 and 409 blocks from this website, but I still have a couple questions regarding my engine. Here's some background info:
The engine was allegedly built by Dyno Don (no way of confirming that, obviously) but I do know it was in a '55 Chevy drag car locally in the '60s. My dad had always told me about the engine, and it sat in a barn for many years. My dad and I finally had the chance to buy it, so we went in partners on it. Some of the locals that knew the car have told us that this was a factory race engine, but I guess that wasn't really an option.
Upon inspection of the casting numbers, I found that the block is a 3830814, which means it's a '63 409. Date code is 296, which means October 23rd, from what I could tell on the decoder. The block does not have any stamping numbers on the front of the block, which leads me to believe that this might be a replacement block? I know that if the block has been decked the numbers go away, but I'm not sure how to tell one way or the other.
The pistons are 3819377 forged, and I could barely make out the casting numbers on the crankshaft. The only numbers I can see are the last two, which are 72. It looks like the numbers have been ground off. From what I can tell, the ending numbers of "72" means it is a crank from a '61 409? Also, the number 3 and 4 mains are held in with studs and nuts instead of bolts, but someone cut the studs off flush with the top of the nut....not sure why they would do that. Any help making sense of all this is greatly appreciated! Here are some pictures of the block:
The engine was allegedly built by Dyno Don (no way of confirming that, obviously) but I do know it was in a '55 Chevy drag car locally in the '60s. My dad had always told me about the engine, and it sat in a barn for many years. My dad and I finally had the chance to buy it, so we went in partners on it. Some of the locals that knew the car have told us that this was a factory race engine, but I guess that wasn't really an option.
Upon inspection of the casting numbers, I found that the block is a 3830814, which means it's a '63 409. Date code is 296, which means October 23rd, from what I could tell on the decoder. The block does not have any stamping numbers on the front of the block, which leads me to believe that this might be a replacement block? I know that if the block has been decked the numbers go away, but I'm not sure how to tell one way or the other.
The pistons are 3819377 forged, and I could barely make out the casting numbers on the crankshaft. The only numbers I can see are the last two, which are 72. It looks like the numbers have been ground off. From what I can tell, the ending numbers of "72" means it is a crank from a '61 409? Also, the number 3 and 4 mains are held in with studs and nuts instead of bolts, but someone cut the studs off flush with the top of the nut....not sure why they would do that. Any help making sense of all this is greatly appreciated! Here are some pictures of the block:
