Need help with block identification

[goose]

Someone just gave me a 383, complete but in parts. I have no idea what year it is or what its original application was but am hoping that somebody out there can give me some info from the casting numbers on the block, which are

1851829-3
L.L.

Also the pad under the distributor says

ML383
2356

I didn't have enough time to clean the grease off underneath the valve covers to look for casting numbers on the heads, but I'm pretty sure they are the original heads for the engine. I do know that the engine came out of a manual transmission vehicle originally.

Thanks in advance!

[Karl43]

Look around the block for a casting date. I usually play with small blocks, so I cannot tell you exactly where to find it.

[Hammer 74]

Looking in my cheat book I can not find your ID number listed. The ML383 is Assembly plant ML and 383 is size. ML is not listed and the 2356 is the 10000 day calender date of Jan. 9 1968. Check some more numbers. The heads would narrow down the ID search.

[warlockpowerwagon]

Are you sure you have the casting number correct? I cannot find your number, but a close one 1851729 shows a 59-64 383. More numbers is sure gonna help.

[451boy]

That is a weird set of numbers you have there. I don't recall ever seeing anything like ML383 before. Your best bet is to find the casting date on the side of the block. It sounds like an early engine, maybe a late 50's vintage.

[goose]

The casting numbers were on the passenger side of the block (the only side I had access to). I just had a few minutes to look at it and then I had to leave... the engine unfortunately is a 4-hour drive from my house. I knew I should have tried to locate the numbers on the heads!! The fact that the heads have a lot of heavy oil/grease buildup under the valve covers tells me that this thing was run without detergent oil, which means it's probably a fairly old engine. This would explain why y'all are having a hard time with the numbers. Hell, maybe it's even one of the RB 383's! I guess next time I go look at the engine in a few months I'll try to clean the gunk off the heads to find their numbers, and also check the crank stroke to see if it's RB or not.

[djswwg]

RB 383-I don't think so Goose! All RB's are 413 cu. in. or larger. Clean the gunk off the side of the block. You will see the build date in large raised numbers................djs

[goose]

Warlockpowerwagon's number seems to be the right thing, I may have misread the 7 as an 8. I just found out this morning that the engine came out of a '60 Chrysler which also jives with the number and the fact that the heads are so dirty.

I'll try and find the info on the RB 383 for you guys, I know they made them but they are pretty rare 'cause they were only made for about 2 years. They are an RB so have the 3.75 stroke but have a really small bore, actually if you think about it with the 3.75 stroke and 383 cubes they must be the same bore/stroke as a shivvy "383".

[goose]

go here to learn about the RB 383. The info about the tall-deck version is not right at the top of the page.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/383.html

[djswwg]

Hi Goose, thanks for the website about the B-RB engines. Till now I never knew that some 383's had a raised block design with the 3.75 stroke common to the 440's. Thanks for the info. S'cuse me while I go eat my humble pie! ...........djs

[Doug Wilson]

Sorta the opposite of a low-block "B" 400.