Cylinder Head Date Code

[partshunt]

I have a 1948 Front head off a panhead with a date code A-8. would that break down to indicate Jan 1948? If not, otherwise, how does one decifer the code?...thanks for any & all replies...Joe

[Robert Luland]

That's what it be!

[partshunt]

Thank you very much. Looks Like I may have guesed it right for a change lol....Joe

[partshunt]

I have another 48 pan front head with a date code L-7. That must be Dec 1947. Built for the 1948 run. Are they common?...Joe

[Jerry Wieland]

Thats probably the earliest series of the 48 head. It should have a boss with a screw in it directly top center. Jerry

[partshunt]

Jerry, I looked it over, dont see the screw head and boss. Exactly where do I check?...Joe

[Re-cycleInc]

I thought the "I" was skipped so it wouldn't be confused with the number 1 so the L code should equal November, right?

A= January
B= February
C= March
D= April
E= May
F= June
G= July
H= August
I= skipped
J= September
K=October
L=November
M=December

[partshunt]

Certaintly Scott- I forgot about the letter "I". I may have read that somewhere. Palmers book possibly and it slipped my mind but I do think now you are correct on that one.........Joe

[Chris Haynes]

The screw block was very early. By December they had been making '48 heads for five or six months. The cast in dam was in use by then.