Identifying engines in junkyards...problems...

[dfeghali]

Hi,
I am willing to buy an engine (probably a high compression electronic fuel injected 8V B230/16V B234) for my 360 from a junkyard.
I had an unsuccessful search to know where to find the manufacturing date stamped on the engine block and/or the engine code.
The only clue that I have is that a 3 digit code is stamped on the timing belt cover and it stands in a way for the engine code. For example :
940 = B21A
888 = B23A
my current engine has a 556 stamped and it's a B19E

Does that makes sense ?

And how do I know that the engine is a high compression one ?
Thanks a lot for your help
David.

[Ride_on]

I don't think there is any easy way, other than to know the spec of the original car. My 240 haynes manual shows;

B21A 8.5:1
B21E 9.3:1

B19A 8.5:1
B19E 8.8:1

740/940 I think these are more the 3 digits numbers, and you probably want B230 rather than B21.

940 data (label on the timing belt cover)
B230F 9.8:1
B230FB 9.3:1
B230FD 9.8:1

These are all lower than the B200s from the earlier 360s (10:1). If anything it maybe possible to know from the head code near the thermostat, but the pistons can also make a difference.

I you really want power 940 turbo is the way to go.