The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 261

I bought a 261 and SM420 today. I’m trying to figure out what year the 261 is. The casting numbers are pictured below. Any help deciphering is greatly appreciated.

The head is a later 261, 56-62 head with an 86.2 cc combustion chamber. If you remove the valve cover, the casting date will be right there and you can pin it down even further.

3759365 is a 1959 block.

If you show us the other casting numbers on the block (below and aft of the distributor pad), we can tell you the exact year and month the block was cast. Here's an example

I’ll have to remove the starter to see that number there’s a lot of crud in that area.

Did some more scraping and found k68 at the starter, is this November 6, 1958?

Yes, I think.
Wait to hear from others.

I forget now if they skipped the letter “I”. If so then it would be October 58. Either way it’s a block for the 59 model year.

Good question, I know they used "I" (eye) on the chassis serial numbers for September, I can't confirm if they used "I" on the engine casting date codes... but something in my old memory is saying they didnt...

Mike B

OK, someone needs to end this thread with an "Aye aye." for it to truly to be resolved.

An I or an eye, and for a 1 and maybe for a lower case L (l)?