Hi guys, total noob here. I have recently inherited a 1963 C10 with an aftermarket 454 big block in it. There's literally no paperwork for the engine and I was wondering how I could ID it so I could know what parts to buy when I start tinkering with this thing. I got it started up and idling, but there's also a helluva knock during idle in one of the passenger side cylinders. I've read a few different things that I guess it could be (Tappets, valve heads being out of adjustment. etc..) So I wondered if there were any oracles here that would like to check out some vids I uploaded to see if they could make a guess I can start in the right direction. As far as experience goes, I haven't done much more then replacing the top end of a 1990 Ford 302, some water pumps here and there, and converted an air-ride suspension to coil spring. I'm still learning about engines but I have a feeling' I'm going to be addicted to tearing this thing down piece by piece every weekend YouTube - malkowskitube's Channel

Update: I just remembered it has "Turbo-Jet 425-HP" on the air cleaner, does this mean it's a Mark IV? Sorry I'm kind of scatter brained, just had our 2nd kid last Monday and haven't had much sleep since lol

 

welcome to the forum and congrats on your new born!!!!!!!!!!!!
now on the other hand I'm not a mechanic so it looks like you are speaking Chinese to me!!! but I know that some other members on here will be able to help you

 

Thanks for the warm welcome! I got Brutus (Name of the truck haha) home today, he's running pretty good.

Wish I could help narrow down my issue, but I can't even find the damn casting numbers on the block. Hope to have an aha moment and find them tonight in the garage.

 

definetly pull the valve cover to see if the valves are going up and down about the same amount .check for any loose rocker arms bent push rod's .the 454's had a tendency to loose the #8 exhaust lobe on the camshaft because it one of the last to get oil to it ,i know i lost one on my 1970 chevelle .there should be a pad (boss)on the passenger side front of the block at the top with block id numbers or get the casting number on the driver's side top of the bell housing area of the block .you should be able to identify it with those .

 

Thank you so much, I'll be starting to check that out tomorrow. I did find the casting number with my cell phone camcorder (thing is coming in handy!)
14015445 which doesn't seem to help me narrow it down as I matched that to "<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="3"><tbody><tr><td>78-'90</td> <td>two- or four-bolt</td></tr></tbody></table>"
lol, I'll try to find the block ID numbers on the passenger front tomorrow.

 

i guess the date code is on the passenger side web for the bell housing it should spell month day year

 

I wish this thing was out of the truck so I could see these numbers better lol.

So I climbed my 6'6 frame as much as I could under the hood, and found a "031" on the passenger side of the block where it connects to the trans bell housing, and a "98835" on the front-passenger side of the block at the top of the head which I'm guessing is partial VIN?? and on the back driver-side part of the block, near the "14015445" casting number, I found what looks like a "CFE",or"CFD" or "CPD" or "CFE". I was hoping this was the engine id suffix but the issue is that casting number shows up as 1975-1990. I assume it's one of the "CPx"'s since "CFx" doesn't seem to exist. While any Engine Suffix ID's starting with "CP" seem to only be from '71 to '72. So I'm more confused then ever. Maybe i'm completely reading the letters wrong but it's hard to get a good shot with my cell phone camcorder. I took some screenshots from the video I shot that I think shows the possible the best.

I figure I'm either reading them wrong, or this is not the actual ID I'm looking for that dates and ID's the block.


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Got the valve cover off the driver-side, still working on the passenger. It's really crammed into this C10 Bay, It's got tons of room to work except for those top corners of the valve corners close to the firewall

Did find the numbers for the heads though, 14092360 85-88 Truck Oval Port

So one step closer I guess

 

yeah you could have a hodge podge of parts put together which aint no big thing unless you are a stickler for origonality .some time's thing's fail .

 

K been trying to reply to this for a week now, gunna give it one more shot. THANK YOU OLD DOG, you were totally right, just needed a valve adjustment, no more knock, but there is still a tick which I'm guessing is the lifter on #8 since it was beat up so bad by the super loose roller rocker.