The eight digits 37440124 break down as first 4, 3744, are 10,000 day calendar date and the last four, 0124, are unit built that day.
Website with 10,000 day calendar.
http://maxwedge.com/articles/10k.php
I put 0128 in the first response... Oops!
If the stamping is really an R and not a P, then it would be a low compression engine. The R designates regular grade fuel.