Engine casting number shows 1978??

[HAFROD]

Guys, I am trying to see if my 3.8 Buick turbo engine is correct for my 1979 Turbo Century. I looked up the casting numbers online and it shows 1261438 is for turbocharged 1978. Would a 1978 engine be correct for a 1979 car? Sorry, I have never did a numbers matching car before. I usually throw originality out the window. The rarity of the car would be cooler if the engine is correct. And yes, I know 3.8s suck and my car is not valuable

 

[ck80]

Guys, I am trying to see if my 3.8 Buick turbo engine is correct for my 1979 Turbo Century. I looked up the casting numbers online and it shows 1261438 is for turbocharged 1978. Would a 1978 engine be correct for a 1979 car? Sorry, I have never did a numbers matching car before. I usually throw originality out the window. The rarity of the car would be cooler if the engine is correct. And yes, I know 3.8s suck and my car is not valuable

When was your car built? Remember, 79s would have been built probably starting May, and certainly June of 1978. So, an early build I'd think it definitely would. Even into January or February they would he pulling engines randomly from the stock at the assembly plant. If you had a late 79, built mar/apr/may I'd be doubtful

 

[HAFROD]

When was your car built? Remember, 79s would have been built probably starting May, and certainly June of 1978. So, an early build I'd think it definitely would. Even into January or February they would he pulling engines randomly from the stock at the assembly plant. If you had a late 79, built mar/apr/may I'd be doubtful

How do I find out when it was built?

 

[ck80]

How do I find out when it was built?

Easiest way is the gvwr/tire sticker in the drivers door. It has a month year date it 2/78 or 3/79, etc.

If that is missing or painted over then youre looking at eithet having the window sticker, getting a broadcast sheet under the seat, hood, etc (people find them different places.)

 

[HAFROD]

 

[HAFROD]

I still can't find the date but I've lost my reading glasses. The sticker in the door is unreadable

 

[HAFROD]

I would think the date should be here

 

[Turbo Zach]

All I know is you do not want 78 heads, and intake. They are different and will not match up to anything else they say.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

When was your car built? Remember, 79s would have been built probably starting May, and certainly June of 1978. So, an early build I'd think it definitely would. Even into January or February they would he pulling engines randomly from the stock at the assembly plant. If you had a late 79, built mar/apr/may I'd be doubtful

back then, an early build was usually sold as 1/2's, as in "78 1/2". the chevy citation was release as an "79 1/2". just like the mustang was a "64 1/2". now a days the rule has been relaxed and anything after january can be sold as the next MY. this usually happened for something monumental. like a new model, complete redesign or a sales war with the competition. this was not the case with the regal, century, or the turbo cars.
its not unusual for a manufacturer to use up previous MY stuff in the beginning of the next MY. with yours being a low production specialty eng, that is a possibility.

also, gm loved using julian dates instead of calendar dates.

 

[Jeff Blagden]

under the hood is there not a medal tag it should have the year on mine it is 80 for 1980 the letter of the alphabet is the month it was produced mine has an A so it was built January 1980 if it says 78 D then it was built 1979 in April the tag is on top of the firewall closer to the passenger near the leaf screen by the wipers I am not good with the computer or I would send pictures the you decode all of the paint and the factory it was made and so on mine is a black tag with 2 bolts holding it in place