Easy ways to date engine:
'53-55 engine had generator bolted to oil pan rail casting of engine block.
'55-62 had gen mounts on side of block just above oil pan rail casting.
'53-55 Used a 4" water pump pulley
'55-62 used a 7" water pump pulley
Engine block casting date is cast into block above starter, just to the right of the CON4 cast into block. A-L is month, two digits is day, last digit is year of decade cast. For example: A154 would be Jan 15,1954.
L040 would be Dec 4, 1960.
'53-55 had straight oil pan rails, the '55-62 pan rail sort of 'doglegs out' as it goes toward the back of the block.
good luck
chip
