Spitfire Head casting year

[Doxerman51]

Anyone know the year Spitfire head 1313826-2 was cast. I'm sure it's a 251 or 265 head, just was wondering what year it was manufactured.

[c49er]

Because of the # you show it was made in 1949-1950 meaning its a 251. A 1400... part # would be a 265 which came out in 1952. Spitfire is a Chrysler head.

[Doxerman51]

Hello c49er,

Thanks for the Info. I pretty much thought that it was a 251 head, just wanted to ask someone "in the know". I also have another Spitfire head with casting number 869847-1. Have been told it is out of a 41 Chrysler. One difference I noticed was that this head has the Spitfire name in much bolder letters than the later head. assume it to be a 241 head. I plan on installing this head onto a Chrysler Industrial 236 block. Will then install the engine in my 41 Dodge WC12 4x4 Military pick up truck. Should give me a bit more oomph than the 230 I have in it now. Thanks again for the Info.

[jcmiller]

Is there a reference on the web for decoding these? The casting number on mine is 1311810-6. It's in a 1942 Plymouth but the block is not a P14 and there is a factory replacement tag. Thanks, Jeff

[Doxerman51]

Hello JC Miller,

The casting number on your head shows that it was cast anywhere from 1942 to 1954. The engine size would be a 217.8 CI motor. Can you get the block # located underneath distributor along the bottom side of block above the oil pan?

[jcmiller]

Thank you. It looks like the block number is 2 28 49. Is that the date? What does the A mean?

How can you tell from the head casting number that it's a 217.8?

Edited November 18, 2011 by jcmiller (see edit history)

[Doxerman51]

Hi JC,

Yes that is the date that the block was cast. The block number itself should be found toward the rear of the block just above the oil pan and on the same side as the cast date. The number should be 1119729- 1 or 2. The 217.8 motor only had a 4 hole crankshaft while the 230 motor had an 8 hole crankshaft. The blocks are Interchangeable, but if you want to turn a 217.8 into a 230 you must use both the crankshaft and the connecting rods from the 230 into the 217.8 or vice-versa if you want to turn a 230 into a 217.8. Hope this helps.

[jcmiller]

Thanks Doxerman. I'm still curious how you decoded the cylinder head casting number into the engine size. Does the code tell you the year and you go from that, or can you get the engine right from the code? Thanks, Jeff

[Doxerman51]

Go to the mymopar.com webpage. On the left of the page click onto tje subject titled my mopar tools/reference

[Doxerman51]

To continue, that page will direct you to a new page, look for a subject on that page that is titled "mopar casting dates" click on to that and schroll down till you see a listing for the 6 cylinder L head engines. That is where I got my Info. Hope this helps.

[jcmiller]

Perfect! Thanks for that link. I had not seen that site before.