Looking for the correct blank casting number for a 79 400 TA. Also need the date code from the same engine. I'm trying to verify my 79 400 4-speed car and I'm getting some conflicting information in my books. My engine has the correct PWH code but no vin stamped, and the "P" is bigger than the "WH" and is not as close to the "W" as the the "W" is to the "H". Date code reads J247 which would make it correct for 78 but the casting number that I found is 481988 which is correct for 73 and earlier. Shed some light on this subject. PLEASE........Thanks

**** Ok...found the blank casting number that was supposed to be for 77-79 400ci, which is 568557. Can anyone verify that their original 79 400-4spd came with this casting number? Thanks

[This message has been edited by David (edited 02-06-2000).]

Looking for the correct blank casting number for a 79 400 TA. Also need the date code from the same engine. I'm trying to verify my 79 400 4-speed car and I'm getting some conflicting information in my books. My engine has the correct PWH code but no vin stamped, and the "P" is bigger than the "WH" and is not as close to the "W" as the the "W" is to the "H". Date code reads J247 which would make it correct for 78 but the casting number that I found is 481988 which is correct for 73 and earlier. Shed some light on this subject. PLEASE........Thanks

**** Ok...found the blank casting number that was supposed to be for 77-79 400ci, which is 568557. Can anyone verify that their original 79 400-4spd came with this casting number? Thanks

[This message has been edited by David (edited 02-06-2000).]

DAVID:
IN MY BOOK WH IS A 1979 400 220HP MOTOR. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WEB PAGE TO HELP YOU FIND OUT THE DATE. I HOPE THIS HELPS. www.boyleworks.com/ta400/psp/blockid.html

Blocks for the 79 Trans Am and Formulas equipped with the 400 engine have the PWH engine code stamped on it. Oddly, many of the 400 castings were made in earlier years. As has been written, about 10,000 were stockplied (held back) for use in the 79, the last year that engine was offered by Pontiac. Blocks may have castings from 77 or 78. The key is the PWH which was the block for the 79. The VIN number should have a "z" code and should appear on the dash and block. By the way, my engine casting is the same as yours. I am the orginal owner of my TA, so this info is correct. PWH and VIN coincide on the block and dash.

[This message has been edited by Bill Boyle (edited 02-10-2000).]

I ordered my 78 about March or April 78 and you could no longer get the TA 6.6 with the auto as they were starting to stockpile them for the 79 4 speed cars.

For anything regarding the 77-79 W72 motors, contact John Witzke. He has done tons of research and investigation on these cars. He can be contacted at [email protected]