V8 I.D. BOSSES

The easiest way to determine what engine you're looking at is by locating and decoding the stampings on the I.D. boss. This machined pad includes the displacement, build date, and other special information relating to that particular engine. The information on the pad is hand-stamped and may be difficult to read without cleaning the area up. But, since this is the most simple way to identify various Chryler engines, it's worth the trouble. The location of the pad varies on small block, "B" and "RB" engines, and they're listed below:

SMALL BLOCK

SMALL BLOCK: Locating the I.D. pad on a small block is the simple part -- decoding the information is where it gets tricky (more on that later). The pad is found on the driver's side front of the block below the cylinder head on both "A" and "LA" small blocks. With the engine in the car and all the accessories in place, it may be hard to see, but it's there.

BIG BLOCK

BIG BLOCK: Locating the I.D. pad on big blocks is the easiest way to distinguish a "B" engine from an "RB" engine. On "B" engines the I.D. pad is located on the passenger's side of the engine just below the cylinder head next to the distributor base; on "RB" or Hemi engines the I.D. pad is located on top of the block directly in front of the the intake manifold valley pan, next to the distributor base toward the driver's side.

ENGINE STAMPING CONTINUED...