Hemi ID

[60K T/A]

How can I ID the year of a hemi engine block?  Was there a preferred range of dates? What should I look for when buying one? I'm new to this. If I remember correctly I read some time ago that the 426 was used for Chrysler Marine?

[Chryco Psycho]

Casting date is on the side , serial # is along the oil pan rail , but I believe these blocks were cast in batches & not used up very quickly so the casting date vs the install date can be further off then wedge blocks but I may be wrong there

[Oldschool]

Unless you are needing a date correct block, I would spend my money elsewhere on a newer High Performance block. Even they are getting a little more difficult to find, but a gently used World Block, Mopar Performance block, Indy block, etc, would be money better spent imho...   

[rUNCHARGER]

It's really hard to find a good block these days. If it's used you really have to check them over for cracks and other damage as lots of them were used up in racing applications. No one casts iron blocks anymore and it is unlikely anyone will in the future. I guess what I'm saying is try to find the best block you can and don't worry about the #'s on it. My last real Hemi car was a 66 Coronet and I used a new MP casting in it. I looked for a used block with correct 65 dates and every one of them that I found had cracks.

Sheldon

[60K T/A]

I need to know what I m looking at when I check out a car.  Numbers matching or period correct is not important. I just want to stay away from the problems. Are the cracks visible and is/are  there certain areas that are more prone to fatigue and crack?

[Chryco Psycho]

cracks are usually hairline & will only show up with a mag test or UV

[rUNCHARGER]

I found a few blocks that were right for my old car that had cracks in the main bearing saddles.

Sheldon

[Topcat]

One of my heads had a crack that wasn't visible.

It was almost $500 to repair it.
That was cheaper than a new head.