Octania

Database does not claim to be complete but it says the few casting dates ever made for D heads are:

3, 41, 136 ?, and 265

So, is there any way to use this info and a calendar perhaps to ascertain more info?

Let's say for example you find that "3" was a sunday in 1968.
1/3/67 would be too early to be making '68 heads, and 1/3/68 is ruled out assuming they did not work weekends. That leaves 1/3/69 [assuming that is not also a weekend].

Can anyone
-provide all known D head casting dates
-contribute to what is known about deciphering the YEAR of the casting, or, more particularly, which range of vehicle assembly dates would be expected for each of the known head casting dates?

I have a guy refurbishing the 1968 H/O and he wants to be sure that the heads it has are what it should have.

For my car, I was all happy to get ANY "D" heads at all, and casting date was not really a concern. Especially considering all the other replaced parts that are no longer as it was manufactured.

72xw30

My 68W30, built APR. 30/68 has D heads that have a julian date of 41.

My 69W30, built DEC. 10/68 has D heads that have a julian date of 265.

Cheers,

Sam

Octania

Thanks, Sam

So far I have deciphered:

Julian Day 1967 1968 1969
__3 Tu 1/3/67 Wed 1/03/68 Fri 1/3/69
_41 Fri 2/10/67 Sat 2/10/68 Mo 2/10/69
136 Tu 5/16/67 Wed 5/15/68 Fri 5/16/69
265 Fri 9/22/67 Sat 9/21/68 Mo 9/22/69

1968 being a leap year, the dates after 2/28 are one less for a given Julian number than they would be for a non-leap year.
Thinking we can rule out 1/3/67 and 2/10/67 as too early for '68 production.
Similarly, we can probably rule out 9/22/69 as too late for '69 production parts. They'd be making E's and F's by then.

41 4/30/1968 Sat 2/10/68 would be about 80 days before final assembly
265 12/10/1968 Sat 9/21/68 would be about 80 days before final assembly.

Assuming these are heads original to the car [I am never that lucky], this indicates that Saturday castings were made, for the most likely available dates were both Saturday.

66trakpak

I have a set of 171 date D heads

Octania

Thanks

day 171 might be

Tu 6/20/67 or
Wed 6/19/68 or
Fri 6/20/69

going over photos now
I found a D head photo showing day 194 also.

hurst68olds

I used to own a '68 W-30 "11B" build week.


I have 2 pics of the heads but can't make out the date? Which number is the date?

hurst68olds

I also had a pair of "110" but they came off a '73 455 in a boat.


110 = Friday, 4/19/68 "leap year"
110 = Sunday, 4/20/69

Octania

OK, add 110 to the mix after work

Interesting way to run valves there
must be an old mariner's trick

Octania

So far we have


Julian
Day____1967______1968________1969
__3__Tu 1/03/67__Wed 1/03/68__Fri 1/03/69
_41__Fri 2/10/67__Sat 2/10/68__Mo 2/10/69
110__Th 4/20/67__Fri 4/19/68__Su 4/20/69
136__Tu 5/16/67__Wed 5/15/68__Fri 5/16/69
171__Tu 6/20/67__Wed 6/19/68__Fri 6/20/69
194__Th 7/13/67__Fri 7/12/68__Su 7/13/69
265__Fri 9/22/67__Sat 9/21/68__Mo 9/22/69

forum refuses to space the text like the Excel sheet does so I tried underscores to get 'em spaced better

Assuming no castings were made on Sunday, we can rule out those days
Anything before 5/67 can probably be ruled out as too early.
Similarly, 9/69 is too late, by then they would be casting E and F heads for 1970 models.

pogo69

mine are original to the block.... number 15, date of 41 and a build date of o4e

2blu442

Chris, I just picked up a pair with Julian date of 132. Once cracked and may or may not be fixable... so I created a post asking if someone has a single they would be willing to sell or trade for.


John

hurst68olds

I had opportunity last week to check out the original engine parts from my 29K mile '68 H/O (blown up for the 2nd time in '89 by the original owner).
Was surprised to find a "110" & a "135" head. I always "assumed" they would be the originals & tried to contact the original owner to confirm but was unsuccessful.
8M409964 06A - Hern Olds Bedford, OH

I wonder if the "136" on the list should be "135"?

72xw30

My newly acquired 05D built 68 H/O has D heads that both have a casting date of 110.

Cheers,

Sam

camshaw

I need a set of Ds,keep your eyes open folks....

Octania

Bottom side, center, intake side- among the pushrod holes.

too small to make out in your pics.
"Ø110Ø" and "Ø135Ø" in post #12 above
Also typically topside, far end on your right as you face the engine from the side, just under valve cover gasket.

It typically has a screw head [ Ø ] visible each side, and of course will vary from 1 to 366.

64Rocket

The set of "D's" I have are date code #110.

Of which they are for sale.

Gene

camshaw

how much dean?

64Rocket

PM me for info

Gene