I've been enjoying Doug Dutra's book and read the section about where to locate the VIN no. on the engine. After clearing some grime and lowering my self with a mirror, I discovered that the engine on my '82 truck does not have anything stamped there.

It's hard to say if it was always blank or ground and polished away. I didn't see any obvious tooling marks on the boss. So I guess I may have one of the non stamped factory replacement engines that Doug made mention of? Or someone removed it for whatever reason. Also if I remember the book info correctly, my '82 should have blue engine paint. My manifold side is grease free but no evident paint, just a little rusty. The other side is pretty well grimed up, I'll have to clean it. I haven't searched for the date and factory codes behind the alternator yet. I suppose it may have had black paint at one time from a post '84 and got removed in Gunk fest? Anyhow, does anyone know if a factory replacement long block would have arrived without paint in that era? Or maybe a rebuilder didn't paint it after hot tanking? Just ramblin'. Thanks

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1982 Dodge D150 ( Ram)
225 with A833OD. 2bbl. Non power brakes