i'm trying to figure out the codes on my motor before I order stuff for a rebuild. I *thought* this was the original '62 motor, but the numbers on the boss on the right side of the block aren't to be found in my '62 manual. And, according to the manual, there should be a maltese cross stamped on there as well.

what I've got on the boss:
S17 1207

The number cast into the side of the block is 2202843-8

I found an engine number decoding page on a Barracuda site, but since it's cuda-specific it only goes back to '64. Anybody know of a site that lists engine data for the earlier cars? Anybody know what the above codes mean?

thanks in advance..

tim

S17 1207

S17= 170 cubic inch motor

1207= manufactured December 7, 1962

A maltese cross stamped ont he pad means that you have .001 undersize bearing shells. I have a 68 motor out of a Dodge Dart that has a maltese cross stamped on the pad. Does anyone know if this is a bad thing for a performance buildup?

Reed

OK... i must have read the manual wrong. I thought *all* 170's were supposed to have a maltese cross stamped on the boss. This makes more sense.

Reed.....I doubt that you have anything to worry about concerning the undersized bearings. It's not uncommon to build a performance engine from a core, and turn the rods & mains down .010, or sometimes more, to clean everything up. I suggest what you have is an engine where something happened at the factory, (say, a scratched journal), and the crank was turned or polished to clean it up, and a .001 under bearing was used in it.

I do suggest that if you go about rebuilding it, that you carefully dimension-check all the rod and main journals, as it was also common to turn only the damaged journal for the repair.

Roger

Thanks Roger! I'll be sure to tel lthe machine shop to double check every bearing. I wish I had the time and tools to build the engine myself but, alas, I don't. I do use a really good machine shop though.

www.budsmachine.com

Reed

You're quite welcome. A little lucky, too, as a good machine shop is sometimes difficult to find. The shops around my area have a small block Chevy mentality, due to the amount of dirt track stockers in the midwest. Good luck on the new engine.

Roger