I am trying to decode my 394 and, I have looked around the site and can not find any casting or suffix codes or any engine specs. Does this site list those codes? Thanks Dan

 

No, but tell me what year and I can probably find them for you out of the shop books. Remember that 59-62 have big cast iron timing cover/water pump. 63-64 are aluminum timing cover/water pump.

In all cases, E suffix is export low compression and S suffix is Starfire.

 

Where do I look to find the suffix code. Yes my engine has the round water pump and cast iron timing cover. I did notice that the heads have the 23 cast on the exhaust ports and I did hear that the 23 castings were suppose to be a better casting? Don't know it that is true or not? Block is a CFD casting 582813. There is also a 74 and a 3 so I am assuming one of those #'s is a julian date code. Either Jan 3, 1962 or June 14 or 15 depending on if 62 was or was not a leap year. Sure wish there was more data here.

 

Ya gotta remember half the folks here cannot identify with 394s. They're used to 65-later engines.

Look on the LH head, between center exhaust port and valve cover. There's a machined pad there. The numbers/letters stamped into it identify the engine.

1962 engine serial numbers start at 300001.

In 62, F prefix indicates a 2-barrel engine, G indicates a 4-barrel.

No suffix letter indicates standard 10.25:1 CR on 2 and 4 barrel engines.

L suffix indicates domestic (US/Canada) low compression 8.75:1 2-barrel engine.

E suffix indicates export low compression 8.3:1 in 2 and 4 barrel versions.

S suffix indicates 10.5:1 CR Starfire engine which also has a more radical cam and valvetrain.

 

This is exactly what I was looking for. Are you telling me the suffix is on the head and not the block? What do you know about the heads? Is there any truth to the 23 castings? Thanks Dan