Re: [Chrysler300] Value of correct date block

I meant that I don't think that there was any casting dates on 1960 Mopars plus I'm sure that there's a lot of engine blocks out there that were restamped when the engine was rebuilt. Fern

----- Original Message -----

From: Fern

To: LabLoverDC@xxxxxxx ; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Edward Mills Antique Tractors

Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 2:10 PM

Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Value of correct date block

Correct me if I'm wrong but I do think that there were any casting dates in 1960 mopars.

Fern

----- Original Message -----

From: Edward Mills Antique Tractors

To: LabLoverDC@xxxxxxx ; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 1:44 PM

Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Value of correct date block

Personally I would prefer to have a correct block, but correct would mean a reasonably correct casting date - one that is sufficiently earlier than car's build date. And having gone thru that on another project, it may take quite an effort to find such a block. Having a P41 block with an incorrect date code would probably not be worth my effort compared to just rebuilding what you have.

On 1/10/2014 2:25 PM, LabLoverDC@xxxxxxx wrote:

Hello All--Thanks to the excellent information offered here, I've determined the block in our 300 F appears to be from 1964 (V41 HP). As nearly as we can tell, at some point prior to our owning the car, a short block was put in. It appears that everything else (ram induction, carbs, heads, etc.) are proper and presumably original to the car.

The engine is out of the car, and we are undertaking a complete re-build of it. My question is, does anyone have an opinion as to whether we should stick with the 1964 block we have, or try to find a 1960 P41 block, which of course would still not be original to the car but would be mostly correct from a date standpoint? Does that add significant value (enough to make it worth it to go through the expense and trouble of finding a '60 block)?

For a point of reference, we are doing a complete, sub-frame off restoration. While we're not necessarily trying for a concours job, especially with detailed correctness in things like wires, labels, batteries, etc., it will be a very high quality restoration, perhaps one step down from concours (at least, that's what we hope to end up with). The car itself is a black/tan convertible with factory air, and all of the options appear to be correct according to the build sheet if that helps.

I would welcome anyone's opinion on this subject.

Shannon