Engine without a casting number identification

[scotauto]

I'VE RECENTLY AQUIRRED A RANCHERO FROM 1973 AND WAS WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY WAYS TO IDENTIFY THE ENGINE WITHOUT CHECKING THE STROKE AND BORE ETC. i CANNOT FIND ANY CASTING NUMBER ON THE BLOCK (ABOVE THE STARTER) .cAN IT BE SEEN WITH THE STARTER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS IN PLACE? i HAVE NOTED THAT THERE IS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR A 302(I THINK). dOES THIS FIT ON A 351 ALSO? i'VE ALSO MATCHED BOUGHT SOME SPARK PLUGS FOR THE ENGINE AND MY SUPPLIER ASSURED ME THAT IF IT HAD THE "LARGE SIZE" PLUGS IT WAS DEFINETELY NOT A 302, BUT PROBABLY A 351. hOWEVER THE SMALL TELL TALE SIGNS i CAN SEE LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A 302. i WOULD LIKE TO BE PROVED WRONG AND FIND IT IS SOMETHING BIGGER!!

[grclark351]

you might have to drop the starter to see the numbers. i think all the W(windsor) style engines used the huge(18mm?) plugs, about the size of a thumb. this would include 289, 302 and 351w. do some investigating of the firing order, this may help single out which engine you have, and/or drop the starter.

[scotauto]

DRopped the starter and under all the mud found D4DE-6015-AA then under it 3J17. I have looked up that the engine is a 302, but what does the 3J17 stand for?

[grclark351]

it's a date code. i think it says december 17 of '73, the 3 being the year of the decade, the j being december and the 17th.