Engine Block Casting Date

[NickVyse]

25 minutes ago, Conserv said:

 

Agreed, Nick!

 

August 24, 1962 ("24 H62").  And clearly Eisenwerk Bruehl ("EB") from the beginning of the NK.  Looks like a two-freeze-plug block!  1600?

 

Thanks for posting!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

1500, that's all they made back then, and the NK was only introduced in September 1962!

 

[Conserv]

I finally have half-decent photos of my '76's block:

 

1.  VIN/engine number 2742541 - car manufactured April 23, 1976 (note that the 2-liter stamping -- "2,0" -- is in a corner of the boss, not centered like many)

 

2.  Block cast March 26, 1976 ("26C76")

 

Thus, this block was cast about one month before the car was manufactured.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited May 9, 2017 by Conserv

[jgerock]

Adding to this thread on engine block stampings, there is a good Service Bulletin in the archives

 

[Conserv]

On 12/29/2018 at 4:47 PM, jgerock said:

Adding to this thread on engine block stampings, there is a good Service Bulletin in the archives

 

 

Great, Jim,

 

So that explains when the “2,0” (and “1,6”, etc.) started appearing on the engine number boss: approximately June 1971.

 

The first photo below illustrates the “old” system described in the Service Information bulletin. The photo is courtesy of Jim Gerock and it is of VIN 1679747, a U.S. 1971-model 2002, manufactured in January 1971. The code number is 2552.

 

The second photo illustrates the “new” system described in the bulletin. The photo is of VIN 2780601, a U.S. 1974-model tii, manufactured in December 1973. The displacement is 2.0 liters.

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited December 31, 2018 by Conserv

[jgerock]

Here is my 71 block with the (4) extra numbers stamped above the VIN

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, jgerock said:

Here is my 71 block with the (4) extra numbers stamped above the VIN

 

Thank you, Jim,

 

I was looking for a photo showing the “old” numbering system, but couldn’t find one! Do you mind if I copy this into my email with the photo of the “new” numbering system?

 

Much appreciated,

 

Steve

 

Edited December 31, 2018 by Conserv

[Sahara]

If my engine has “SB” in the code stamped on it does that mean it’s a short block?

[ray_]

14 minutes ago, Sahara said:

If my engine has “SB” in the code stamped on it does that mean it’s a short block?

 

 

I think it refers to the high antimony content in the iron.

 

Cheers,

[Sahara]

3 minutes ago, ray_ said:

 

 

I think it refers to the high antimony content in the iron.

 

Cheers,

What are the implications of high antimony content? Did some blocks have less of it?

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, Sahara said:

If my engine has “SB” in the code stamped on it does that mean it’s a short block?

 

Photo of the stamping?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[Sahara]

12 minutes ago, Conserv said:

 

Photo of the stamping?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[Conserv]

10 hours ago, Sahara said:

 

 

RealOEM.com shows 5417922 as a 1978 320i (e21), manufactured December 1978.

 

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select?vin=5417922

 

If the casting date on your block is December 1978, or within a few months prior to December 1978, it was a factory-original block for that particular number 320i. Stated differently, it would not, under those circumstances, be a replacement block.

 

I, quite frankly, have no idea what that “SB” means... ? Given the German origin of these engines, a factory stamp would most likely represent German words or a German phrase if it represented an abbreviation or acronym. Thus “short block” would probably not appear as part of a factory stamp.

 

Perhaps your post will bring out more examples? Over time, we’ve figured out how to decode a great many ‘02 details.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited December 31, 2018 by Conserv

[jgerock]

3 hours ago, Conserv said:

 

Thank you, Jim,

 

I was looking for a photo showing the “old” numbering system, but couldn’t find one! Do you mind if I copy this into my email with the photo of the “new” numbering system?

 

Much appreciated,

 

Steve

 

You can use it.  I forgot I had taken the pic.

[ray_]

11 hours ago, Sahara said:

What are the implications of high antimony content? Did some blocks have less of it?

I was joking. Sb is the abbreviation for the element antimony. 

 

?

[jgerock]

5 minutes ago, ray_ said:

I was joking. Sb is the abbreviation for the element antimony. 

 

?

I you engrave a "C" after the SB you can tell everyone you have a small block Chevy V8 in your 2002.