Is there anyway to tell the manufacturing date for an engine? I was led to believe there was an engine swap (79 in an 82 chassis) but am not sure.

Thanks again, everyone has been helpful with my questions.

Walt

 

Dude, this is something I'd definitely like to know, becuase I don't know exactly which year my new engine came from. Unfrotunately IIRC, I think you can only get an approximate idea from some small changes with each engine... the 79 should be easier to pick out though... I can't remember how tho

Jon

 

Do you have a pick of the engine? The easiest way to tell if it is a '79 or an '82 is that if it has an oil pressure sender or not. If it is an '82, it will have the mushroom shapped part just to the right of the arrow in the pic. If the engine is out of a '79, it will not have this. Hope this helps.




Kent

 

there should be a casting number on the engine itself. Its identical to the VIN number. If you get a chart that translates what each number means, you should figure it out.

At least Piston engines are like that. Hence, "Numbers Matching" Cars.

 

RX-7's have casting engine numbers, but these (atleast on the FB's) do not match the VIN of the chassis you have

that mushroom shaped sender isn't really a reliable way to check

But look where that think threads in. if it the engine is a 79/80 it will have two 1/8" parallel thread ports here.. also where the water port is. the one that goes to the heater core. if the nipple is removable with a 23mm wrench. (this can be plugged with a 14mm 1.0 pitch parallel thread plug..) it is a <80 rear housing.. once you remove the flywheel, above the rear Stat gear will be the casting "R5"

this same casting ("R5")appears right below the water pump on the front housing and near where the oil fill neck is.

If the engine has a pressed in water outlet on the rear side housing, it is an 81+

if this same nipple comes out into a "Tee" it is from a 84/85 (due to the top-mount oil-cooler)

There are so so many interchanges here, and i know i will forget something if i even attempt to list them all. using that rear housing water port thing will help.

S1 (79/80) water Nipple threads out
S2 (81-83) Straight single outlet pressed in nipple
S3 (84/85) Tee fitting nipple.

also bear in mind this only tells you what the rear plate originally came from..... assuming you have the complete ORIGINAL engine..

 

Where is it stamped, on the valve covers?


Whoever told you this was very misinformed, and absolutely incorrect. Anyone can plainly see the number stamped on the engine does not even follow the same format as a VIN number.

 

No, I actually think they put it on the cam Covers