| 1st digit | Y | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd digit | M | Medium price class |
| 3rd and 4th digit | 43 | 4 door hard top |
| 5th digit | K | Engine standard performance 440 CID |
| 6th digit | 8 | 1968 (year of car) |
| 7th digit | A | Assembly plant (Lynch Road,MI) |
Last six digits indicate sequence number | ||
Imperials are (Y) Chryslers are (C) etc.
Imperials were either medium price class (M) or high price class (H)
Imperials were 2 door or 4 door (23 or 43) - the 3 means hardtop.
Imperial convertibles are (27)
| 1966 | 440 cid J |
|---|---|
| 1967 | 440 cid K Standard performance |
| 1967 | 440 cid HP L High performance HP |
| 1968 | 440 cid K std. per. |
| 1968 | 440 cid HP L HP |
| 1969 | 440 cid K std. per. |
| 1969 | 440 cid HP L HP |
| 1970-78 | 440 cid T std. per. |
| 1970-78 | 440 cid HP U HP |
SEVENTH DIGIT - ASSEMBLY PLANT
| 1959 | 7-Warren Avenue Plant |
| 1960-61 | 4-Warren Avenue Plant |
| 1962-67 | 3-Jefferson Avenue Plant |
| 1968-75 | C-Jefferson Avenue Plant |
NUMBERS ON THE ENGINE ID PAD
440 is a 440 cid
D indicates the year - 1968
8/24 means that the engine was assembled on the 24th of August
A indicates 0.020 oversize cylinder bores
Maltese Cross indicates undersize rods or mains
Diamond indicates .0008 oversize tappet bores
HP indicates High Performance
E indicates cast crank
| L | 1958 |
|---|---|
| M | 1959 |
| P | 1960 |
| R | 1961 |
| S | 1962 |
| T | 1963 |
| V | 1964 |
NEWER ENGINES, ON THIS PAD
| A | 1965 |
|---|---|
| B | 1966 |
| C | 1967 |
| D | 1968 |
| E | 1969 |
| F | 1970 |
| G | 1971 |
etc etc.
Much other information is obtained from the various other numbers on these engines and can be read if the number and its location is known. Also most if not all parts are date coded. One look at your alternator, for example, will tell me if it is correctly dated for your car.
The numbers and letters on the fender tag hold a wealth of information also. I can decode most or all of these numbers. If it has a number, that number has a meaning. Cars older than 1966 are difficult and I am not familiar with the newer that 1978 cars. I can read engines from way back. I have a list of old hemi engines and the year and model of car can be matched to the engine numbers.
