Numbers matching?

[monaco66coupe]

More good reading most of which supports my actual real world findings of the 68 hp motors I have along with cars.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/matching-numbers-defined.10596/

Excerpt

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I think dieseldazzles post is a big help, as it explains why we see some with thirteen, and some with eight. I would like to go further to say that I found the vin# stamping on 68's was not limited to just HP stamped engines.
To not limit the fun, the question is why on all the 340 Dusters(70-71) I owned had the small U joint, but all Dodge Dart 340's(68-69 GTS) had the large U joint with external balance? I found that curious!

 

[moparnation74]

No, I believe what you have is correct too. In my neck of the woods I just saw Plymouths with eight digits in 69' model cars, and never did in dodge in 1969. Now sitting here remembering, I can say I came across a lot more dodges than Plymouths back then.HA! (I think subconsiously I just liked Chargers and Darts better) But, It could be I saw mostly late 69' models by coincidence. I don't know for sure exactly when the reduction began. By 1970 all across the line Chrysler products I saw or bought had been reduced to eight, which I wish they hadn't. it sure made it harder to determine what exactly an engine came from. of course, the GOVT cared only about car theft, not correctly documented cars 40+ years later.

I believe it Likely came down to sloppiness on Chrylsers part when applying numbers. Ask any A body fan to compare a set of 68-69 340 Exhaust Manifolds to a 1970. They are the same part number, but the quality of workmanship and quality of number stamping went to crap. (raised bosses reduced to simple stamping back of manifold)
Things started getting cheap in little ways. Lol

Sounds like it was a toss up until 1970.....Prior too you either had full or partial depending on the plant, person etc...

My cars are well documented back to original owners and the finicky ones have scoured over them...The GTX has 13 digits 10/68 build LR plant and my 36k survivor 69 Charger RT(restored due to bare metal areas form repetitive waxing) has 8 digits 4/69 build Ham plant...

So I guess the consensus can be 70 up is partial and pre 70 is either partial or full....

 

[monaco66coupe]

For sure! At least they aren't like the GM products back then. Chevy and Pontiac were not well documented, especially the SS and the GTO.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Just goes to show that ma mopar was weird.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Do not know if played into the equation but 1970 could have been the first year a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer could sell Dodge. Before that one could own both dealerships but had to be housed at different locations.

 

[AR67GTX]

I have a 68 (stamped C) 440 magnum motor in my 67 and I have tried to see if it has a VIN stamped on the rear but so far have been unable to find one. I haven't tried to copy the foundry date. It could be there however, very tough to examine in the car. For some reason I thought I remembered that the VIN stamping was sort of a running change in 1968. Not sure of anything.

 

[monaco66coupe]

If it is stamped C it is a 1967 model year engine. The date of assy is underneath the Letter C. For example,5-1 will be may 1, 67. any date after 8-1 on that pad will be built in 66' for the 67' model year.No 67's had vin#s.

 

[AR67GTX]

I mis-spoke - I want it to be stamped "C", but it's a "D".

 

[monaco66coupe]

That's cool. Then it is a 68' engine,the dates on the pad still reflect the month and day of assy.Still a great engine, even if not exactly year correct.