Help finding casting date on 318

[Jim Ward]

Hello,
I am helping my neighbor with his 73 scamp 318. There are no casting numbers like I am used to seeing on the rest of my small blocks. There is a 4 digit code that says 1343 next to the casting numbers.

The best I can tell the assembly stamping indicates a 1973 block built in the Mound Road assembly plant the the 10,000 calendar day isn’t making sense. I do not see any VIN stampings below the passenger side motor mount either.

Any help is appreciated.

Build sequential numbers are:
3M318R C7052308

 

[volaredon]

Pass side towards the front, above the motor mount ears if I remember right

 

[Jim Ward]

Pass side towards the front, above the motor mount ears if I remember right

There is nothing there.

 

[4spdragtop]

I dunno if I've ever seen the "1343" casting before? Marine?

 

[Jim Ward]

I dunno if I've ever seen the "1343" casting before? Marine?

I’m not sure Steve. The car is a 73 and the block appears to be a 73 and there is also a pentastar cast into the side of the block. This one is strange to me, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

 

[4spdragtop]

Pentastar? I've never seen one on block before? Another silly question, could it be a DC block?

I’m not sure Steve. The car is a 73 and the block appears to be a 73 and there is also a pentastar cast into the side of the block. This one is strange to me, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

 

[Jim Ward]

Pentastar? I've never seen one on block before? Another silly question, could it be a DC block?

I hope not! If a guy was gonna buy a block from DC at least buy a 340 or 360! Haha