I have a 69 383 Roadrunner built 4/69. It has the correct 2468130 block but it was cast in Oct 1968. Both the pads near the distributor and the one on the bottom of the block near the oil pan flange are blank. I assume this means a warranty or factory replacement. The question is: I can I tell if this is an HP engine? It does have the 4-barrel but that can be slapped on any block with the right manifold.
Thanks

 

i think the factory would cast blocks, heads, ect. and let them set out in the weather to season them for as long as a year or so. so a block cast date might be older than the build date. this guys know more and better info on this subject. i will say that this guy IS the last word on this subject.
http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm

 

Thanks, that helps. Should I be worried the there is no stamping on either the pad near the distributor or the one on the bottom of the block near the oil pan flange? they are both blank. Is there any way to make sure this is an HP block?

 

there is no difference in a hp and non hp block

 

some times there IS a difference in engine color. as i remember.

 

A warranty block is going to get what ever is available. They did NOT leave them outside for a year. The machine shop had maybe 1-2 months
supply ahead of what was being used

 

I did check out 440source.com and I highly recommend it. They confirmed that there on zero difference between a block with the HP code vs. one with out. The difference is in the cam and heads so any block can be an HP if it is built correctly. Unless you are doing a numbers matching restoration any date correct block will do.