I am trying to figure out what year my 289 is. I am not sure the difference between date codes and casting numbers. I have a dat code of 5/19/67 and a casting of 1968 so does this make the engine a 67 or 68? Any help understanding the differences in crate codes and casting would be appriciated. 7e19 c8oe-6015-a Thanks Matt
It's basically a Cleveland cast, 1968, 302 spec block that was phased in for 289 builds late in the '67 model year... Most all the late '67 289 used this block, and was still being used into '69 to assemble 302...
The compression for the 67 and 68 289 are different correct? so why does this say 67? Is that just the date before it was bored out. I am just confused on 2 different years on the block to identify 1.
Head volume, gasket thickness, plus piston dish & height in block determines compression ratio... AFAIK the deck height is same for a '67 289 block & that "A" 302 block used to build yours... Sooo as long as the heads and pistons are at orig spec, it's still a '67 289, just used a block designed for later engines... I have a '68 289 around here that uses the "B" block that has has 302 in the valley(same as yours will have), those blocks were never actually used to build a 302, '68 289 only...
I guess my confusion in all this is how a 67 289 is also 68 302. Its stamped with 2 dates. I just cant get the feel for decoding these blocks,
How is it stamped(actually cast) with two dates??? The casting date is 7E19, which is May 19 1967, or still well into '67 production... The engine casting number C8OE-6015-A is a '68 number but is not really relevant, other than the oddity... If I remember correctly there are no actual '67 289 blocks(I'll have to check on that one), blocks with '66 casting number(not date), were used till the swap to the '68 block... Same deal occurred with the above C8 block, was used on into '69 production... EDIT just checked, no C7 289 blocks were produced... Cleveland was using a C5('65) block while Windsor was assembling 289 using C6 blocks...
It is stamped just like this in the starter area. 7e19 c8oe-6015-a The date code I get the c8oe-6015-a=68 makes me confused.
7E19 is the date... As stated above the C8OE-6015-A casting number is irrelevant, just means they switched to a block that was suitable for both 289 & upcoming 302 production... The C8 blocks supposedly have slightly longer cylinder to better stabilize the piston at BDC, but I've heard it said there is no measurable difference in either the C5, C6 or C8 blocks...
