Years CID Casting Number: Notes:        
1955 287 518037          
1956 316 521560          
1957 347 523293          
1958 370 528456          
1959 389 532000          
1960 389 536387          
1961 389 538181          
1961 421 SD 538181 no transfer lug        
1962 389 538181          
1962 389 542426 Stock Replacement        
1962 421 SD 538181 no transfer lug        
1963 326 538211          
1963 389 543680          
1963 421 544988          
1964 326 9773153          
1964 389 9773155          
1964 421 9773157          
1965 326 9778840          
1965 389 9778789          
1965 421 9778791          
1966 326 9778840          
1966 389 9778789          
1966 421 9778791 Early Year        
1966 421 9772611 Late Year        
1967 326 9786339          
1967 400 9786133          
1967 428 9786135 4 bolt main        
1968 350 9790079          
1968 400 9790071          
1968 400 9792506 Ram Air 4 bolt        
1968 428 9792968 4 bolt main        
1969 350 9790079          
1969 400 9790071          
1969 400 9792506 Ram Air IV 4 bolt main        
1969 428 9792968          
1969 303 546313          
1969 400 9792968 Ram Air V 4 bolt main        
1969 428 545887 Ram Air V 4 bolt main        
1970 350 9799916          
1970 400 9799914          
1970 400 9799914 Ram Air III ( 4 bolt)        
1970 400 979991 or 9799915 Ram Air IV (4 bolt)        
1970 400 481708 4 bolt main        
1970 455 9799140          
1971 350 481990          
1971 400 481988          
1971 455 483677 HO 4 bolt main        
1971 455 485428 Late HO        
1972 350 481990          
1972 400 481988          
1972 455 485428          
1972 366 (485)212          
1973 350 488986          
1973 400 481988          
1973 455 485428          
1973 455 (490)132 SD no transfer lug        
1974 350 488986          
1974 400 488988          
1974 455 485428          
1974 455 (490)132 SD        
1975 350 488986 Early        
1975 350 500810 Late        
1975 400 481988 Early        
1975 400 500557 Late        
1975 455 500813          
1976 350 500810          
1976 400 500557          
1976 455 500813          
1977 400 568557          
1978 400 568557          
1979 400 568557          
               
Notes:
All 421/428/455 blocks have a "TRANSFER LUG" cast into the block near the distributor hole.
1955-1958 blocks had no side motor mounts, they used a mount under the timing cover
All blocks prior to 1964 had the casting number on the passenger side of the block.
1964 & up have the casting numbers by the distributor (Except 421's)
1959 thru 1969 blocks have 2 motor mount holes
1964 was the start of block mounted starters
Starting in 1965, cylinder head oiling passages were eliminated from the blocks.
1955 thru 1966 have 2 freeze plugs per side.
All the above information was taken from Pete McCarthy's "Pontiac Musclecar Performance" book.
               
Date Codes:   J23= October 2,1963  D083= April 8, 1973 (or 1963 !!)
The letter is the month, followed by the day (one or 2 digits) and the last number is the year.