W block casting & date codes

[409Kid]

Can someone please school me on this block example and tell me what I have?

I’m trying to find an appropriate date code and casting for a Z-11 build. I have a large number of blocks to sort through. This one happens to have a fresh +.060 bore size.

The date stamp makes no since to me.
Right side rear 311

Block casting #. 3857656

Left side above oil filter. Upside down J 19

X block

 

[327]

Late 1964 and 1965 ... 409 Car or Truck. This is what I found.

 

[64ss409]

Julian casting date of 311 is Nov 7, 64

 

[327]

Yes some late 1964 and then 1965.

 

[409Kid]

327

That “311” is a date stamp for a specific day and year.

The X block is a late 1962 -65 block that also showed up on all 348 replacement and truck blocks of the same time period.

Or are you referring to the casting number ?

What would be the casting number for a late ‘62 block?

 

[327]

This is the info that I found per the block casting number.

 

[409Kid]

How did you decipher that? I have more blocks to weed through. I don’t know how to get there from here ? The chart made no sense to me

 

[327]

TYPE IN GM AND THE BLOCK CASTING NUMBER ON GOOGLE

 

[327]

OR WHAT YOU USE

 

[409Kid]

Excellent. Thank you

 

[327]

Happy to help.

 

[409Kid]

So it looks like I need to look for a Oct/Nov ‘62 3830814 block. Anyone have one in their spares willing to sell?

 

[fourzeronine]

How did you decipher that? I have more blocks to weed through. I don’t know how to get there from here ? The chart made no sense to me

Visit these pages that can be reached from the main 348-409.com page.

 

[fourzeronine]

So it looks like I need to look for a Oct/Nov ‘62 3830814 block. Anyone have one in their spares willing to sell?

If you're wanting to build a "numbers matching" Z11 engine then you need a block that's stamped with the "QM" suffix. These will be incredibly rare and most people that have one are probably not in the mindset to sell it.

 

[409Kid]

My numbers matching block no longer exists. Castastrophic failure in the ‘60s in fact I don’t have the original chassis either. It was scrapped in the early ‘80s. But I’m am trying to build as close a recreation that I can. So I’m on the hunt ideally for a late ‘62 Aug- Oct/early Nov “814” block casting. Or any “814” block. I’ve still got to go through the remaining blocks I have but I’m thinking all I kept were early ‘62 blocks sans this ‘64 with the fresh + .060 bores on my stand. I’m just trying to build it right the first time.

Anybody have one available? Still on the hunt for a Winters aluminum water pump