68/69 440 Engine VIN Location

[clk68]

I am totally lost looking for the Vin number on this Engine.

I am almost totally sure that the motor is not a matching numbers though the person who sold it to me said it was.

I have a 68 R/t xs29l hamtrack car broadcast sheet shows 307 (i believe for date) vin starts 309xxx.

On the top of the housing of the transmission I found the VIN number no problems the stamp is about 5 to 6 inches long. with the B8and6digitvin

Found the body stamp in the trunk on this car it was different then the vin it was the broadcast sheet order number If I remember the column right so that all lines up.

First thing that threw me that this was not the right Engine to the car,
Is the Pad shows E440 HP. Motor casting date on the block is 7-68, Pad date is 8-12. (right at that 68/69 border). I have been searching for that VIN to put to rest that it is or is not the right motor (leaning towards is not). Across from the vin stamp on the top part of the block to housing So far I havent found anything except 2 small dimples on that flat area across from it about the size of a pencil head, it is on the motor across from the transmission stamp and dont see signs that it was grinded. Below that area where it dips down to the OIL Sender unit (I removed it) there is a L and on the area that raises up to the flat surface (transition area)which joins the that is between the motor and tranny there is some pitted area like its been ground or something just didnt happen right its sort of grooved (hard to describe). But its only for about 1 1/2 inches right in the oilsender pump area but not on the flat surface at all.

From the length of the transmission stamp this wouldnt be enough to cover more than 3 or 4 charachters max of the transmission stamp which seems to be 5 / 6 inches.

But I feel like I am searching for a needle in a haystack since the motor is in the car and its close to the firewall and the hood is still on.

Anyone have specific locations and or pictures so I can gauge whether this is stamped or raised and where the common areas to look and approx total lengths of these stamps.

I wouldnt even be driving myself this crazy about this but so far everything the guy told me that I doubted and so far all I have been able to do is prove him right.

Pics and general details appreciated length exact location on the flat surface on the transistion area of the block (dip).

So I can put to bed that it is or is not the original block. Since its early 69 everything seems to be stamped 68 the distributor etc..
Thanks.

 

[clk68]

Also as a quickie I know I had read that the smooth surface near the Starter motor and the transmission inspection plate (looks similar to the ID Pad on the front of the engine) would hold the number on a 69 but this part isnt stamped at all its completely smooth. So that spot doesnt work. The only spots I could find with some sort of writing after a bit of degreasing is the area under the oil sending unit and to the right of that (closer to the driver side) again on the area that raises up not the smooth area thats about 1/4 inch wide flat. But from what I can tell this areas markings dont seem to be numbers nor indentations. So did this motor just not get a vin stamp and it was a border 68 / 69 motor before they got heavy into marking things?

 

[moparstuart]

if its completely smooth its most likely a warranty block

 

[moparstuart]

this is what is would look like with the partial vin stamped in it

 

[clk68]

Stuart,
first whats a warranty block? Secondly where exactly is this location can you zoom out? I havent noticed a spot that looks like this is it by the oil pan? I want to make sure I am looking in the right spot.
thanks so much..

 

[moparstuart]

alot of these cars when new and just a few years old had the motors abused and needed to be replaced early on .
Under warranty or if you paid for a new block then it was blank in that spot where the vin is stamped on your original black and yes that is next to the oil pan .

 

[MoparBill]

I believe 68s had the VIN by the oil sender and 69s started by the oil pan rail-passenger side under #4 spark plug. 67 and earlier had no VIN.

 

[moparstuart]

here is a shot of one of mine with the pan off

I think this is a 70 challenge six pac motor ?

 

[mattsmopars]

If it has the E 440 HP stamp on the pad at the front of the block it was originaly installed in a 69 year model car as that is what the E stands for.
Even though it was cast 7-68. A 1968 installed block would be stamped D 440 HP on the front pad. As for the 69 block in your car now it will have the pictured ID pad on the passenger side oil pan rail of the block more toward the front. As stated a 68 engine would have the partcial vin stamped along the mounting flange were it mates up to the bellhousing for the trans.
Also if possible could you post the partcial vin from the 69 engine as I am looking for the original block to my 69 GTX as I am sure other may be as well. Thanks, Matt

 

[MoparBill]

X2- Post the VIN, one of us may need it!

 

[clk68]

Hi guys thanks I would have completely missed this spot I found it though I had been under that engine a dozen plus times but never noticed the side was so caked with stuff that area was almost flat. After much degreasing etc... I am still sadly confused.
I can say with relative certainty its not the original factory engine for my car and it wasnt smooth. But it seems like the stamper or stamp machine was having a bad day because there was a lot of stuttering like a 3 stamped offset from itself a couple of times. But as far as I could tell (I am guessing I need to crawl under and see if I can get one more better look) it almost looked like I had a full vin 8 (or possibly x or s) 29L9B239026 I am thinking I need to look again since there should only be 8 charachters and they werent a terribly hard stamping like the tranny had it was very light. Anyone ever see this on that pad? And is it possible to have a full vin?
Dont know if this helps anyone. And some of the numbers may be a little off will try again in the am. But if this is close to anyones let me know since I am not sure on every charachter.

 

[moparstuart]

can you get a picture of it ? could it possible be Xs29L9B239026 ???

that would be a late nov , or december charger R/T

 

[69Coronetrt]

can you get a picture of it ? could it possible be Xs29L9B239026 ???

If it is and "L" and "B", the chances are good it is from a Charger R/T (XS). Alternatively, that is also in the range of Charger 500's (XX).

The VIN would be consistent with a C04/C05 SPD.

A car of that SPD would probably have all 13 digits stamped on the pad.

 

[moparstuart]

If it is and "L" and "B", the chances are good it is from a Charger R/T (XS). Alternatively, that is also in the range of Charger 500's (XX).

The VIN would be consistent with a C04/C05 SPD.

A car of that SPD would probably have all 13 digits stamped on the pad.

i already checked with danny my charger 500 expert and vin guru he says most likely not a 500 my 500 is 217088 and a B20 or november 20 date



i also emailed chris at the 69 registry to see if he had the car listed

 

[mattsmopars]

Some 69 year engine and trans got the complete VIN stamped on the pad.
Not all , but some and that is the only year I have ever seen that done.
Hope that clears some of that up.
Matt

 

[bluefury]

E series, (1969)

Here is a scan of page 8 of Technical Service Bulletin NO. 69-25-1, August 28 1968 showing the VIN location on the various 1969 engine and transmissions.
A unstamped pad in these locations indicate a warrenty, or replacement engine, which is the next best thing to numbers matching provided the dates fall within the warrenty period.

If anyone is interested I have exact duplicates of the entire 8 page Bulletin titled "1969 Model Identification and starting serial numbers "E" series".
Cost is $10.00 postage included.

Also included is a shot of a "E" series 440 HP engine with complete VIN.

 

[clk68]

I will check but I even a picture or me re-reading may not get it right the stamping is a little wacked as I said its not straight its almost on a slight diagonal as I recall. The number isnt stamped deep and it doesnt seem to be as large as the ones on the post here and as I said there is like a studder like 333 all within lets say an 1/8 of inch from each other I wouldnt think someone would add this and add it after the fact? But let me see if I can review it one more time I completely cleaned the area though so I may not get 100 percent accuracy on it due to the conditions mentioned above. And has anyone has seen the samp in smaller numbers and misstamping/not in a straight line? Could this have been due to this block being clean being a warranty block and someone adding it later? Ill see if I can get a pic.

 

[moparstuart]

chris at the 69 charger registry did not have this car/ or its vin listed yet

 

[clk68]

So I double checked I can make out the xs29l 3 or B missing the back. L is double stamped BBB. and only about 1/4 of an inch by 1/4 of an inch similar or a little smaller in size to the number on the id pad from the front of the engine looking down at the E440. From the pictures it seems that everyone elses stamps are semi large approx 3/4 to 1 inch or is this just how the pictures show it and everyones are well defined?
It seems any decent sanding of this area the stamp would disappear. (probably good I used mostly degreaser). Can anyone comment on how large their lettering is?

And if its possible someone did this after the fact since its barely indented? Unlike the Engine Pad and the Transmission which is clearly defined? And not miscued?

The lettering barely scratches the surface and there is no indication that anyone has messed with this area it was hidden under 1/4 inch of grease. From what I saw on the other areas Especially the transmission I would have to grind it for a bit to remove it (which I wouldnt do) if I wanted to hide something which doesnt match what I see there at all.

Here is a picture its poor quality but you can almost see nothing there. Which is basically what I am looking at.. Poor quality barely stamped area.

 

[moparstuart]

its very common to have bad stampings and double stamping if one didnt show up well
but your picture really sucks you need to get a better camera