44 replies to this topic

[hanra]

Here is the cast code from my HT 308.


Pretty certain its either 5 or 6 J 5

Which means 5th or 6th September 1975. My car is October 1975 so that is correct that the motor was cast a month or so prior to build date.

As far as I know its:

A = Jan
B = Feb
C = Mar
D = Apr
E = May
F = Jun
G = July
H = Aug
J = Sep
K = Oct
L = Nov
M = Dec

I isnt used as it can be confused with a 1 I guess?

[S pack]

Brad, yours is 5 J 5. 5th September 1975.

Cheers
Dave.

[hanra]

Cheers Dave, depending which way you look at it, it sorta looks like a 6 but also looks like a 5....?


But yeah, Im gunna go with 5 also.

[S pack]

ok so it day/month year. what does the clock dial next to it refer to ?

Time of the day.
The clock on Brads 308 shows 1.00 o'clock.
I presume it is 1pm, however if they had night shifts in the Foundry then it could be 1am.

[v8xu1pete]

Excuse my ignorance, but where do you find this date code.

[hanra]

Just behind the top of the timing casing/water pump.

[v8xu1pete]

Thanks Brad, will check mine out.

[Uncle Chop Chop]

So it is a 1 number code for the year. What if you had 308 blocks cast in 1968, 1978, 1988 and 1998? How do you tell then?

[xu2308]

I have a QT 308 V8 Engine, it has the Engine Number, but there is no date code on it, where it should be ????????

Edited by xu2308, 10 December 2012 - 11:22 AM.

[rodomo]

I have a QT 308 V8 Engine, it has the Engine Number, but there is no date code on it, where it should be ????????

Attached Files

•  V8 date code.jpg   138.2K   67 downloads

[Collo]

So it is a 1 number code for the year. What if you had 308 blocks cast in 1968, 1978, 1988 and 1998? How do you tell then?

Engine number is a good start.

[yel327]

So it is a 1 number code for the year. What if you had 308 blocks cast in 1968, 1978, 1988 and 1998? How do you tell then?

As above engine number, but also by other telltales on the block. 1968 is easy as they use US date coding.

[xu2308]

only thing i can see there is a i or a 1 and thats it

[TerrA LX]

So it is a 1 number code for the year. What if you had 308 blocks cast in 1968, 1978, 1988 and 1998? How do you tell then?

68, if they made 308's that far back, would be First Gen Red neo seal rear main with two ribs on the rear of the block around the main and two short centre bolts either side in the valley for the heads, 78 would be Second Gen Red rope rear main with two short centre bolts either side in the valley for the heads with 4 ribs on the rear around the rear main, 88 would be Blue/Black rope rear main with two long centre bolts either side in the valley for the heads with 4 ribs on the rear around the rear main and 98 would be PFI Black rope rear main seal with the 4 valley bolts deleted.

There are some more little tell tale signs like side castings, gearbox mountings and chain tensioners etc etc but the above is the main tell tale signs.

[v8xu1pete]

My red 308 block has the date code J151. Does anyone know what this means.

[TerrA LX]

Having the letter infront ie J151 instead of the middle ie 15J1 leads me to believe it is first gen red block with neo rear seal.

[v8xu1pete]

What years & models does first gen refer to. My engine was built up & installed around 1985, but I have no idea where the engine came from. Are there any identifying features that are visible with the engine installed & together. The engine number is not the original one, has been restamped, so that doesn't help me.

[TerrA LX]

Is there anything on the side of the block such as HP or 308?

[TerrA LX]

Block on left is first gen red neo seal, one on the right is second gen red rope seal.
Notice the difference on the rear boss where the dowel pins are?

[v8xu1pete]

Thanks, can see the difference by the 3 dowel pins, quite obvious. Will have to look down there & see which one mine looks like. Will also check out the HP or 308, is that down the side between the welch plugs.

[TerrA LX]

Yep.

[v8xu1pete]

Yep.

Is it on the drivers side or passenger side.....or both.