Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

[John D.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Here's a photo that has been passed around. This is from the 1965 production line. Look at the back of both heads: H L. It corresponds to the engine suffix code.

Nice pic Tony. Notice the bell housing has very little overspray. John

[Tony S.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Thanks John. Notice all the blackout paint on the exhaust pipes.

[Michael J.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Thanks John. Notice all the blackout paint on the exhaust pipes.

True, my '64 had that too, but be careful, that observation will get you in trouble with some judges...........

[Tony S.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Michael. That depends on the judge's skill level.

[Rob M.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Michael,

I'm with Jim on this one ... I think it's the job nimber. The RF is pretty easily identified as the suffix for FI. To confirm the other is the job number, you might look for the job number on the passenger side of the firewall/foot well while the engine is out. See if they match.

BTW - very cool photos.

[Michael J.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

I'll take a look and see if I can find anything. It could be that FI cars were assigned a job number with an engine designated, and other engines weren't.

[Jim D.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Michael,

I'm with Jim on this one ... I think it's the job nimber. The RF is pretty easily identified as the suffix for FI. To confirm the other is the job number, you might look for the job number on the passenger side of the firewall/foot well while the engine is out. See if they match.

BTW - very cool photos.

If it's a job number, it's not the same as the one for the car. The number on my engine is "13" whereas the job number for my car is "N272". It may be a run number, engine plant job number or maybe an inspectors number.

[Michael J.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

If it's a job number, it's not the same as the one for the car. The number on my engine is "13" whereas the job number for my car is "N272". It may be a run number, engine plant job number or maybe an inspectors number.

I can agree Jim, just found my job number, 364, so it is not what is written on the backside of the head:

[Mike E.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Is it really chalk? I would be surprised that chalk was durable enough, even shortage-term. I would think it was either grease pencil or paint marker. They were marking blocks this way long before 1964, by the way.
An important distinction, too, is that it was under the engine orange paint. That means it would have been done at Flint, not at St. Louis. There was no engine-body scheduling taking place at that point, so it could hardly be a build number that would correspond with the body. I'm with Loren, that it would likely have been an inspector's mark. Im also thinking that inspectors checked randomly, so that would explain why many unmolested engines have no inspector mark like that.

[Michael J.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

I think the available evidence supports this theory, thanks Loren, Mike, and Jim. BTW, it sure looks like chalk, maybe it is some industrial strength stuff.........

[Alan D.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

The subject has been addressed before just not sure what book it is in? Did find in Adams Vol 2, see page 28 where the markings on rear of head can be seen then turn to page 74 (same picture) where these marks are referenced as Job # and Eng HP.
My heads are marked "RX" pass side, 370 dr side, which is the job number of a Mar 64 car and that is not under the orange paint so believe it was on the production line, as for the side markings these are under the orange block paint, so assume at Flint. These productions questions are good one's for John Hinckley. Below is a 63.

[Dan H.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Hi Alan, my production number on 64 13708 is 219 just for reference. I've checked this with a slightly earlier 64, and it adds up to the difference between the vin numbers and the job number. Yours must have been in slightly different sequence to have the 370 number, but who knows ?
Dan

[Alan D.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Dan, my engine was a re-grind so it floated around the factory floor. Recall original owner told me hia friend & him ordered the same equiped cars
on the same day except his (mine) came in a month later - that may have been the re-grind delay??

Well I have reconsidered my "as for the side markings these are under the orange block paint," remark for two reasons 1. the "RX" knowledge would not be available at Flint it would be the factory build list which would know if the engine was for an RH, RX, ect So even though the block paint is fading or even disappearing the white grease marking remains. and 2. somebody more knowledgeable disagreed with me.
Vaguely remembering these discussion back in WW II Days (well at least sometime ago)

[Dan H.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Hi Alan, yup my friend's bought new 64 'RX' equipped FI vert has the grind out, and very visable RX on side of block, on top the orange paint. I'll bet there's no orange overspray on the TI distributor base either.

[Alan D.]

Re: Markings on rear of heads on a '64 fuelie

Yep - "no orange overspray on the TI distributor base" Approx what number or date of friend's car?