Here are the casting identifications for a particular block. The casting number is shown above, “D N” indicates whether it was cast during the day or night, and the dial indicates the hour.
The assembly pad indicates when the engine was assembled and whether it was equipped with high-performance parts.
This tag is critical in documenting a numbers-matching car. It served as production information for the assembly line and was attached on most cars before they were even painted. At most assembly plants this tag was attached to the inside driver-side fender shelf with one screw and then bent up so paint reached under the tag. It was then screwed down with the rear screw. This is the reason the front screw is painted the body color and the rear screw is natural. This factory bend as well as various punched-out inspector marks and additional stamped markings from the top down are found on original tags. There are major differences between the pre-1969 fender tags and the 1969 and 1970 tags.
The Lynch Road assembly plant fender tags included the least information and had a different layout of the codes. They are usually not painted and are natural in appearance because they hung inside the car during painting instead of being attached to the fender. Consequently, they are not bent on the corner and neither attachment screw is painted.
If a car has a very rusty fender tag you can find a company to remake the tag with enough documentation. If a car does not have a fender tag one can be re-created if you have the car’s build sheet. Without the build sheet a correct tag cannot be produced. “Fake” tags can be spotted, and a bogus tag usually makes the entire car suspect. If the tag is missing it is preferable to just leave the car without one. But a missing fender tag makes the car worth at least 25 to 40 percent less than the same car with the original tag.
On pre-1969 fender tags the VIN does not appear on the tag, but the Shipping Order (SO) number does. This number is on the body of the car instead of on the VIN such as those on the 1969–1970 cars.
The VIN is found on the dash on the driver’s side stamped into a metal plate on 1968–1970 models. For 1966–1967, the VIN is attached to the front of the doorjamb. The VIN is found on the dash of all 1966–1970 B-Bodies.
Where else are the vehicles’ VINs located? On Plymouth and Dodge B-Bodies you find them stamped in the following places: engine, transmission, radiator support, and trunk rail lip. Pre-1969 cars have a Shipping Order number instead of a VIN.
Engine and Transmission
On the 1966 and 1967 B-Bodies you don’t find VIN stamps on the engines or transmissions; only cast numbers and date codes. It is important to know the history of the car to ensure original equipment.
On 1968 cars the SO number is stamped on the top of the engine where the engine and bellhousing or transmission case meet. It is also stamped on the passenger-side pad of the transmission. These two numbers need to match because the same stamp was used on both.
On 1969 cars produced before January 1969, the entire VIN is stamped on the engine pan rail. After January 1969 and through 1970 cars, the partial VIN of the car is stamped on the engine’s pan rail on the passenger’s side of the car. It is also stamped on the passenger-side pad of the transmission. These numbers match because they were stamped at the same time with the same stamping mechanism. You can compare these numbers by taking a piece of paper and a pencil and rubbing the pencil over the paper while it is placed on top of the stamped number.
Cast date codes are also found on all transmissions and all engines on the passenger’s side of the block. You also find stamped date codes indicating the assembly date of the engine, on a machined pad, located on the front of the engine. The pad for the 440 is on the driver’s side; for the 383 it is on the passenger’s side.
Radiator Support and Trunk Rail Lip
The numbers here are of a different font than the numbers stamped on the engine and transmission. Usually stamped upside down on the radiator support you find either the SO number or the partial VIN, depending on the year of the car.
Chrysler stamped the VIN onto the radiator core support on 1969-and-later B-Bodies. This number must coincide with the in-dash VIN tag to be numbers matching.
Component Codes
Major components have date codes and are important to check before purchase. They should not be viewed as deal breakers if they are missing but a bonus if present and functional.
• Rear axle
• Radiator
• Wiper motor
• Glass
• Wheels
• Seat belts
• Jack
• Horn
• Alternator
• Carburetor
• Torsion bars
• Lower control arms
• Exhaust manifolds
• Hoses
• Fuel pump
• Starter
• Coil
• Relays
• Motor mounts
• Brake parts
• Headlights
• Power steering pump and cooler
• U joint clamps
Several types of date-code markings were used on most parts. For example, 509 stands for May 9 and B23 stands for November 23. Here is a breakdown of the month codes.
1 = January
2 = February
3 = March
4 = April
5 = May
6 = June
7 = July
8 = August
9 = September
A = October
B = November
C = December
Much detail went into the system of component coding. Here is a list of coded and dated items found on all A12-coded 1969½ Plymouth Road Runners and Dodge Super Bees.
• Alternator (PN 2642537)
• Master cylinder (PN 2808577)
• Starter relay (PN 4638260)
• Plug wires (date: H 1Q 69)
• Distributor tag (PN 2875982 IBS 4014D 7 9)
• Front carburetor (PN 3412050 R4391)
• Center carburetor (PN 3412053 R4392)
• Rear carburetor (PN 3412051 R 4394)
• Viscous drive (PN 2806070)
• Fan blade (PN 2863216)
• Coil, short (PN 2444242)
• Coil, long (PN 2444241)
• Paper tags on carbs (50 on front,