Flathead Engine ID - HL?

[natendee]

Hello all!  I'm new to the forum and thought you all may be able to help me ID an engine I'm rebuilding.  Its a flathead six with 3.25" bore.  I'm assuming it's a 230 but haven't measured the stroke yet.  The engine number on it is HL 3319.  It was in a Dodge WC63 and has rebuild tags on it from 1962 written french.  Clearly it wasn't originally in a WC63 as my understanding is that the engine number for those would have the T223 prefix.  In looking around I couldn't find anything identifying what the HL prefix designates.  Can someone help?

[JBNeal]

It was not uncommon for engine numbers to be removed by rebuilders, as vehicles were titled by engine number prior to VIN registrations...this was done presumably to prevent duplicate vehicle registrations when rebuilt engines were installed in different vehicles and subsequently sold, creating headaches for state taxing authorities especially when ownership is questioned in a legal proceeding.  The fallback on engine identification is block casting date, combustion chamber bore and crankshaft stroke...block casting date is below the distributor; head casting date is above distributor.

[natendee]

Ok, thanks.  It has two number sequences cast into the side of the block above the distributor.  The pad below the distributor has no number on it.  I'll post some pictures later today when I have access to them.

[natendee]

Pictures of driver's side of the block.

[natendee]

[JBNeal]

to clarify, the head casting date is on the head, directly above the distributor.  The number above the distributor on the block might be the block part number.  If there are no numbers below the distributor, I believe those are pre-war blocks, but not sure when casting dates were added to engine blocks.

[natendee]

Ok. Thanks for the info.  Certainly appreciate the insight!