The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hi all, i have just bought a 340 engine (dated 27 Jan71). It been torn down at one stage. The Block pad just above the pan is stamped 2B116328. I know some of the last digits should correspond to the last VIN numbers, but do any of the first numbers relate to the type of car this came out of?

Also, the cam is an aftermarket camshaft, it has the numbers 4 5 H 07 and #14380 stamped on the end, along with a symbol or picture stamped in which looks very much like a spider or bug near a nail ! I can take a closeup picture if any one is curious, or does anyone think this symbol and cam number sounds familiar?

BTW, the engine has been running a long time
since it was rebuilt so the first cam number would not be a 07 date stamp.
Thanks for help.

Goldenblack440 wrote:Hi all, i have just bought a 340 engine (dated 27 Jan71). It been torn down at one stage. The Block pad just above the pan is stamped 2B116328. I know some of the last digits should correspond to the last VIN numbers, but do any of the first numbers relate to the type of car this came out of?

All the information you need on VIN numbers is right here;
http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... =4119#4119

The 2 = 1972 model year. The B = the Hamtramck production plant.

So although the block was cast in Jan 1971 (I am guessing you were looking at the casting numbers and not the stamped numbers) it was not built and installed into a car until at least the second half of that year during the '72 production run.

There is nothing on the block to identify what model car it came out of.

Thanks for the first two digits - i wondered if it was a 72 car so now i can see it was sitting around from Jan 71 until it was assembled in 72 at Hamtramck. - The manual says the VIN on the block pad should be the same as the windscreen/dash VIN. So its only the vehicle sequence serial number not the full VIN, which would tell me what model car and price code it was. Pity.

If anyone else thinks the cam numbers and symbol stamp look familiar let me know. Iwill take a closeup shot and post it later

Goldenblack440 wrote:Thanks for the first two digits - i wondered if it was a 72 car so now i can see it was sitting around from Jan 71 until it was assembled in 72 at Hamtramck.

1972 Model year starts production in July 1971. Blocks were usually cast in batches a few months before being used.

OK, ta for that! i shoulda paid more attention to the Sticky's

It does not help much, but Hamtramck only made 4 models with 340s for the 1972 model year, so....

...the engine is out of one of these four cars;

Barracuda
Challenger
Demon
Duster

That series number would have come off the Hamtramck line around the 5th week of production if they were still making cars as fast as they were in 1970.