What does this engine code mean?

[Reg Evans]

It is common for comercial rebuilders to mark their work to protect themselves during warrantee work. I'm not refereing to the shop on the corner, but rather Sears, Wards, Jasper, and others who sell mass rebuilds.

The attached picture is a block that one day, (I hope), will move from the corner of the garage to under the hood of my P-15, M23#24I73#.

An M23 engine is a 230 from a 59 Dodge Truck. I have one in my 49 Suburban.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Rich..was there not something along the lines of a given number of upgrades a car can have and\ndstill be considered..say the number three comes to mind..these being some period accessories and such add on bling..it has been 9 years since I have had any of my cars in any judging event..and as the AACA advances in jusging to account for safety items so do the locals in reard to said items..but I still have a negative vibes after being a judge and attending the judging conference prior to the start of the show where the "sponsors/organizers" were pretty much say x cars need special consideration for their support...why earn respect when you can buy it I guess..

[jcmiller]

This car is in Portland now but reportedly came from eastern Oregon. So maybe the Department of State Police theory is correct? I'll check with Oregon DMV to see if they have any knowledge about it.

Last fall a guy in north Portland had an engine for sale with the number DSP 30908, he said it came out of a 47 Ply I believe (that might not mean anything). Maybe the DSP could be a rebuild from a shop in the area? I've been curious about the DSP code too, hope someone can identify it.

[Plymouthy Adams]

you're welcome

[desoto1939]

Rich..was there not something along the lines of a given number of upgrades a car can have and\ndstill be considered..say the number three comes to mind..these being some period accessories and such add on bling..it has been 9 years since I have had any of my cars in any judging event..and as the AACA advances in jusging to account for safety items so do the locals in reard to said items..but I still have a negative vibes after being a judge and attending the judging conference prior to the start of the show where the "sponsors/organizers" were pretty much say x cars need special consideration for their support...why earn respect when you can buy it I guess..

Period Correct or aftermarket accessories are not permitted. If there is an accesorry that is onthe car then it has to be a factory option and it is the owners responsibility to provide the proof that it was a dealer option not an option that you could get from Pep Boys or a speed shop.

One point to remember that the more factory options that you put onthe car does not necessary meanthat you get more consideration with juding. At times these extra items can hurt you. Every item that is put on can take off points because of paint, not fitting properly etc. So a plain Jane car really stands a better chance of scoring higher than one that is all decked out.

There is not upgrade count on a car, basically it has to to be period correct so you can not have a sealed beam conversion on my 39 Desoto and have sealed beam headlights. The sealed beam even thought a later possible dealer option to help with lighting is not acceptable becasue the original car did not come with this and this is considered incorrect and major points off. radials tires on a car when radials were not even produced.

The one point I am trying to make is that if you are going for a point car then please research what the various organizations are looking at so that you are prepared and knowledgeable about their system.

Rich hartung.

[Niel Hoback]

Reg Evans, I cannot thank you enough for clearing up a three-year old mystery for me. I would never have figured that out. It is the perfect answer I have always wanted. There is a build date of 59 cast in the block, but I never would have guessed a truck engine.

Thanks for making my day.

[Captain Neon]

I can almost guarantee that POC judges will check your engine number.

As long as the POC continues its minimum point requirement to even be considered for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place trophies, I do not see much future for the popularity of its national meets. Current leadership has stated adamantly that that aspect of national meet judging will remain.

It baffles me that the nicest car garnering the most points in some classes only brings home a 2nd or 3rd place trophy. I am not a trophy hunter, and find setting around at a show to be a weekend afternoon poorly used. Lots of guys are, though, and the label of rigid gets tagged on to the POC when 1st place trophies aren't awarded.

[Reg Evans]

Reg Evans, I cannot thank you enough for clearing up a three-year old mystery for me. I would never have figured that out. It is the perfect answer I have always wanted. There is a build date of 59 cast in the block, but I never would have guessed a truck engine.

Thanks for making my day.

That makes my day knowing I could help !

[jcmiller]

I talked to a guy at the DMV today and he had no knowledge of it. He tried searching for the code in his records and found nothing. He also searched generically for DSP with a wild card and found nothing. A vehicle history report is available from the DMV for $25 so I might buy that when I get the title switched to my name.

I also have an inquiry in with the state police but they have not replied.

This car is in Portland now but reportedly came from eastern Oregon. So maybe the Department of State Police theory is correct? I'll check with Oregon DMV to see if they have any knowledge about it.

[Frank Ollian]

I did no know Oregon DMV would search history of a vehicle,

what information would this include? Names and addresses of previous owners? How far back would they go? Thanks for this info.

Frank

[BobT-47P15]

Here's another idea........you might call or stop by the oldest machine

or engine shop in your area......see if anyone that may have been

around many years would know anything about those engine numbers.

Also, how about an old timer working in a local owned auto supply

(or any auto supply)......maybe one might remember something.

Any veteran mechanics still working in any dealership you're

acquainted with? Or finally, any old car people in your town....

you can often find them at a weekend cruise night, or a show.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Bob, you left out the live chicken, lock of hair, bottle of red wine, 25.00 and a visit to the local voodoo high priestess

[BobT-47P15]

......hmmm, maybe this lady could help........

[

[jcmiller]

This from the website:

Vehicle Title History

Copies of all title transactions dating back to when the vehicle was first titled in Oregon or to the extent DMV has kept such records.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/records/available.shtml#VRecs

I did no know Oregon DMV would search history of a vehicle,

what information would this include? Names and addresses of previous owners? How far back would they go? Thanks for this info.

Frank

[jcmiller]

I got my 1942 Plymouth home this weekend and found an aluminum tag tucked beyond an oval plate on the firewall. It reads: For Parts Specify Model 220 See Replacement Engine Parts List for Explanation of Model.

I googled Plymouth Model 220 and found the Plymouth judging standards. They read: Factory replacement engines can be identified by the lack of a serial number stamped on the engine number pad of the block. They can also be identified by a tag reading “For Parts Specify Model 220”. Although Chrysler did build other replacement engines, only replacement coded 220 is correct for any Plymouth passenger car from 1935 through 1949, including all

Plymouth PT commercial models.

So I can't be sure because the tag was not affixed to the engine, but it looks like there is a decent chance the motor is a factory replacement.

[Andydodge]

What did I say?.................lol.............andyd