[1960 shark]

Ive owned my car for quite a few years now and never had any real fitment problems as far as buying parts. Its basically been bone stock except for a few minor changes.

Well i ran into my old friend that sold me the car and he informed that he swapped out the engine in my car a few years before he sold it to me, so my engine is not original.He told me they bought an old pontiac and put that motor in my car, and him being a chevy guy he doesnt know what it was , just that it was a pontiac and that it "looked " like my car.

My engine is going in for a rebuild (rod bearings are shot), and now im not sure exactly what year it is. So im asking for engine code help.

the serial numbers on the block are, 36P 340588
the casting numbers are X 543680 1

thanks in advance

[stevep]

Look at the date code for the block, which is located by the distributor.

Looking at the info that I have, it appears to be a 62-62 389 4bbl out if a Bonneville or Star Chief.

That means that it should have the trans from the 62-63 too.

[Stuart]

543680 is the casting number for a 1963 block.

[1960 shark]

I checked the numbers next to the distrubutor,

it appears to be, a O or a C and than 183.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by 1960 shark

I checked the numbers next to the distrubutor,

it appears to be, a O or a C and than 183.

Than I'd say it is a C, so the build date is March 18, 1963.

Which agrees with what Stuart has posted about the casting #.

Now I am curious about the trans? Did they adapt the 63 trans to fit the 60, or did they change the front section of the 60 trans to fit the 63 motor?

[1960 shark]

I spoke with my friend, and he told me that they had to adapt the drive shaft to fit the trans.Im guessing it was the length because Ive been underneath the car and the drive shaft looks like a 60" 2 piece shaft with the coupling.

the tranny has a cast # number on it,, 8619238 CFDPM4

[Stuart]

That 36P is a 1963 engine code for a 303hp four barrel engine with an automatic transmission, the 340588 is the VIN of the car it came out of.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by Stuart

That 36P is a 1963 engine code for a 303hp four barrel engine with an automatic transmission, the 340588 is the VIN of the car it came out of.

I think that the 340588 might be motor sequence # ??

There should be a metal tag on the left rear of the trans case right over the pan. It should say PBS 63 if it is a 63 trans. A 60 trans would say something like PA 60.

If it is a 63 trans, (if you say that they had to adapt the driveshaft, something isn't stock), I would like to know what trans mount was used and if it is the original crossmember.

[Stuart]

From www.wallaceracing.com: Full VIN's were stamped on the block on '63 and earlier engines. From '64 thru '67 no VIN, full or partial, was stamped on the block. Fed law mandated the partial VIN stamp from '68 up.

[60man]

Quick ID for a 60...although I think others have solved the ID..
Does intake have a bolt securing to the timing cover ?
60 did not have this.
Don't understand the shortened driveshaft unless trans is a Slim Jim or TH400"
If a Jetaway/Stratoflite 4speed auto was used..I would think it would be a direct bolt up ??
A 59-64 Hydro should be the same lenght...IMO..
Curious...

[stevep]

59-60 Strato-Flight used a different tail housing than 61-64 and it mounted differently. 59-60 mounted at the front of the tail, 61-64 mounted at the rear of the tail. I think that the 59-60 tail is shorter than a 61-64. I can look later.

Pre-60 had a 2 piece bellhousing where a 61-up has a 1 piece and 60 was the last year for that particular bell housing bolt pattern.

[1960 shark]

I re-checked the bearing support assembly on the drive shaft, definitely not stock.When i unbolted the bearing support I noticed that it had 2" angle brackets welded to the frame (about 4" long) , the actual crossmember/ tranny support bracket, bolts up to the angles with 4 bolts.I didnt notice this at removal because the whole area was covered in oily road dirt, and, ive never removed it before.I cleaned it and did notice that whoever did it, actually did a good job.