OK I have searched this site till im blue and i still dont see a difinative table for identifying engines by the stamps. I just bought an engine, a 225 im told, and supposedly an 80's truck engine. The engine is cleaned and easy to see now and all i can find are these numbers..F 530-5 on the drivers side along with a plate that reads 2688. On the passenger side the 2288 is again on a stamped plate. The only other numbers i see are near the "clock" and they are simply 123. Im thinking it is older than i was told because the head has the adjustable lash..also how can i tell if it is a forged or cast crank?..not sure though as I am new to this. Any help would be appreciated. It is going to go into a 1964 valiant.

also i was wondering about the head. I was hoping to buy a chrome valve cover for it but mine has three holes and all the ones i see have only two.

2688 both sides...not 2288

i'm sorry i cant really help you out other then give you a link to a vin number site
http://www.jonsteiger.com/www/moparvin/

and what is the purpose of the clock on the head i noticed that when i was cleaning my cyl head.

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Cuda Progress
The dart as it sits now

the clock is supposedly the time of the day the block was cast..

You're not looking for cast-in numbers, you're looking for stamped ones. Check for a machined pad on the block below the rearmost spark plug.

Chrome valve covers: No good ones on the market. The 2-hole ones you're seeing are junk, see Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

why would they put that on the engine/head, is it really that important

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Cuda Progress
The dart as it sits now

Yep, it surely is, for it allows easier tracing and quantifying of casting problems back to a particular shift at a particular foundry.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

ive searched that block from end to end and no stamped numbers..im thinking the 5 - 70 is mostl likely the date of casting but im not sure..ill go back and check under the last spark plug ..i saw a pad there but no numbers..could they be ground off for some reason?

just looked again...nothing there..

I don't think 5-70 is your casting date.

Stamped numbers: Keep looking, they're on there somewhere unless they've been machined off.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan..by stamped do you mean they are raised numbers on block wall or numbers that look etched in?... the 2688 numbers i find are on a plate that is attached with screws. I looked under the last plug and i have cleaned the engine form head to toe...i cant find anything. The head has numbers but no way of knowing if it is the original head. It has the 5/8 plugs if that matters..also has electronic ignition but again that might not be original..

http://www.slantsix.org/articles/parts-matrix/jpg.htm
This may help for a start.

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Lasse

Signet -66 225
Holley 600 Offy-5270 Dutra Dual,regrind. cam 272 0,420 110, head shaved 0.100 slight.ported
MSD6A
A904
7 1/4 3.23

The latter, number that are stamped in. The letters are lower than the surrounding surface. Casting numbers, on the other hand, are raised. The article skraecken pointed to will not help you; you've already found the casting numbers.
Did you check under the first plug, too?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

well i officially give up *L...ive washed, scraped, wire brushed every inch..they dont exist anymore i guess..but thanks to all that tried to help..i just wanted to know so if i get parts i dont screw up..