What Year Is My Engine?

[rixcj]

When I bought my jeep, it came with a remanufactured 401. Is there any way I can tell what year the engine is? It has aftermarket valve covers, so the metal tag is not there.
I ordered a new fuel pump. The catalog offered 2 choices: 1976-83cj with 304-401 V8, or 1972-1975 cj with 304-401 V8. I took a guess and ordered the 76-83 one. It was the wrong one. It would have mounted completely upside down.
Is there any way to tell the year?

[joe]

Not w/o that tag and even if it were there it really just tells you the date of manufacture of "a" motor. Not necessarily of the particular motor under the cover. Not one of AMC's brighter ideas.

[Chrome]

The fuel pump looks as if it were upside down on AMC engines. I would go back and ask to see the two choices side by side. You have to stay on your toes when buying parts for AMC engines because the kid behind the parts counter is sometimes clueless as to what a AMC engine is. I picked up a oil filter today for the 401 in the J10 and had to argue with the parts kid that it was a AMC 401 and not a Chevy 400. The 360 has the most common mix up by folks calling it a Dodge motor.

[rixcj]

The fuel pump looks as if it were upside down on AMC engines. I would go back and ask to see the two choices side by side. You have to stay on your toes when buying parts for AMC engines because the kid behind the parts counter is sometimes clueless as to what a AMC engine is. I picked up a oil filter today for the 401 in the J10 and had to argue with the parts kid that it was a AMC 401 and not a Chevy 400. The 360 has the most common mix up by folks calling it a Dodge motor.

I ordered the fuel pump out of a 4WD hardware catalog. They didn't show a picture, just listed them. It's on it's way back there, now.

[rixcj]

Not w/o that tag and even if it were there it really just tells you the date of manufacture of "a" motor. Not necessarily of the particular motor under the cover. Not one of AMC's brighter ideas.

Actually, if I knew the date of manufacture, I'd know what year my engine is!

[Gambler68]

it doesnt matter with the fuel pump, it'll work. The non upside down one (earlier) is preferable if you're worried about vapor locking. Either will work though.

[fulsizjeep]

What Gambler68 says is true.

[shadowjeep]

yep, i have seen more older 304's with the upside down pump. 360's and 401's are right side up.

[rixcj]

I appreciate all the fuel pump info....but, I'd love to know the year of my remanufactured 401.Any way to tell? Or doesn't it really matter? Are they all identical, no matter what year they are?

[Chris P.]

If it has the original intake manifold there should be a date cast into that, but like the valve covers, there is no way to tell if it is original.

I think there is also a date in the lifter valley?