How does one ID a 401 at a glance?

[5quarter]

This kinda like pre planning a funeral for the 230 ohc engine in my M715. its not if, its when it finally does become the "late" stock engine. ive considered many variations in engine swaps, 460 ford, 454 chevy, older dodge cummins (only if this falls in my lap) ... there are quite a few waggy's around here and i would like to be able to pop the hood and in 15 seconds determine if its a 401 or not. any tips would be greatly appreciated

thanx in advance

[Ristow]

glance at the side of the block.

[Casey]

You could look see if the vin has a 'Z' code and then check the block to be sure.

[fulsizjeep]

Popping the hood helps shed a little light on the engine while you crawl underneath.

[vintagetrks]

Originally Posted by Casey

You could look see if the vin has a 'Z' code and then check the block to be sure.

X2 The Z in the vin and the 401 cast on the side of the block will tell you what you need to know.

[fulsizjeep]

I'm tellin ya, you don't know for sure until you look under the skirt. That picture up there is an 88 GW. Ya don't know until ya look.

[fireman91186]

Originally Posted by fulsizjeep

I'm tellin ya, you don't know for sure until you look under the skirt. That picture up there is an 88 GW. Ya don't know until ya look.

Advice to live by.

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by fulsizjeep

I'm tellin ya, you don't know for sure until you look under the skirt. That picture up there is an 88 GW. Ya don't know until ya look.

YOU FUNNY!
Is this the voice of experience talkin' here? Ha! All in good fun...


Re the question, carry a nice brite flashlight and stick to wipe away oil/dirt perhaps and look under the motor mounts. As pictures above it is a 401 it says 401, if a 360, it says 360, BUTSOMEHOWEVER, I do belive you could find it BLANK. Others might be able to back me up ( I WOULD LIKE A CONFIRMATION ON THIS AS WELL) here but I believe there was a factory engine replacement block that was blank under there. If that is the case I guess you punt or are the heads different? Some way to ID the heads?

[Jeepguy77]

yeah the service block is blank it was made in a 360 bore but has cylinders thick enough to be bored to a 401 bore. So a blank one could be either a 360 or 401.

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by Jeepguy77

yeah the service block is blank it was made in a 360 bore but has cylinders thick enough to be bored to a 401 bore. So a blank one could be either a 360 or 401.

Pierce can a guy identify heads? I mean is there a difference in a stock 401 and 360 head that for SURE says either 401 or 360?

[Jeepguy77]

I believe the heads are the same between the 360 and 401, the 304 has different heads but the only way to identify those is to measure the valves since they have smaller valves.

[mdill]

Heads are the same,
If and only if the thing was totaly stock, would the Z code in the vin or the valve cover tag mean anything, have to look at the block castting on the side.
Take a flashlight a scraper (to get the gunk off) and a sheet of cardboard along on your search.