There should be a letter and numbers stamped on the block, right side, to the rear of the distributor that can be deciphered to give you the year your engine was cast.
If I remember correctly, the date code is: A=Jan, B=Feb, and so on. The next number is the day of the month the block was cast. The last number is the year it was cast. For example, my engine says F 3 7, which means it was cast June 3, 1957. I found out the decade by matching the numbers stamped on the intake manifold to a list noting the year they were made. There's one that says GM (folllowed by numbers). That's not it. The other one says "something like" 383etc. etc. etc. That's the one. So, since my number said the manifold was cast between 1956 and 1962, I knew the engine was a ninteen FIFTY seven.
Sadly, I don't remember where I got the manifold intake data. But I'm a newbie my own self and I puruse these forums on midnights. The guys who know their business will be awake in a while and will be able to correct my info and/or give you eveything you need to know.
But, if you're awake, and feel like lookin' around, that'll keep you busy for about five minutes.
Oh yeah- use SEARCH just to your left. It's got all sorts of info on past posts. Try something like "engine ID".
Good luck to you, D Winn!
