Engine Block P/N - A Question for JohnZ

[rich69rs]

John:

When a block was cast, there was the casting number and casting date on the block, but nothing that in anyway indicated its final useage.  As far as I know, nothing was present on the block until the pad was stamped with partial VIN and engine code during final assembly.

My question is this.  Block casting number 3932386 had multiple uses; two were 327 (2-bolt main) and 302 (4-bolt main).  As the block was being machined, what told the machinist whether or not to drill for 2 or 4 bolt mains?  After this machining was completed, without any discrete p/n on the block identifying it as a 2 bolt vs. a 4 bolt main block, how were the blocks properly tracked until final assembly?

Did the engine plant simply store 2 bolt blocks in one area and 4 bolt blocks in another?

Thanks

Richard

[JohnZ]

Precisely the same situation existed for 350 and 400 blocks - they were also machined for both 2- and 4-bolt mains depending on application, with no external identification either way. The mains were machined with the caps in place, and a visual check of the three center main caps was the only way to differentiate the 2-bolts from the 4-bolts.

[rich69rs]

10-4

Thanks John