Basket case 340.. Timing.

[FSHTAIL]

While doing the Tremec tkx conversion, I decided to completely pull the engine out since the rear main seal is leaking anyways, while I was in there I put a new oil pump and oil pan on there, nothing special, standard replacement melling, aftermarket direct replacement oil pan. 

I did basically a rattle can rebuild because the previous owners of the car painted it snapper green and the majority of the paint had flaked off due to bad prep. 

So it turns out I have a late 69 casted 340 block, but with a cast 72-73 crank with external balancer on it.   I have no idea if the crank is a 340 crank or a 318 crank, but the external balancer does not have a timing mark on it, so I did the best I could with a vacuum gauge and called it good enough.   

My timing marks are on the driver side of the block, how can I tell what I have as far as getting the timing light to real properly. 

My block has some stamped numbers in it, is there any way to identify what type of vehicle this may have came from? I'm thinking it may be an a body block, but I am uncertain. 

The engine looks to have been freshened up at some point it's life, so it seems like a pretty good runner to keep going with what I've got. 

From the day I got it to where I'm at now. 
Nothing's really correct or the best of the best, but it's a lot more presentable than what it was.  😁👍

[340challconvert]

Here is a starting point;
There should also be a partial VIN in two places on the block. On the front of the block under the right cylinder head (hidden by the alternator) and on the drivers side of the block just above the oil pan rail. There is a little machined pad there they stamped the numbers in these places.

Specific to the crank; if your crank has a casting number of 2658393, it is a cast 318 crank.  72-73 340's used a cast crank, which is the same crank and rods as the 318 uses. only the 318 will have a neutral balancer, and the cast crank uses it's own specific "340 cast crank" balancer.

Crank and rods for a 70's 318, are the same identical parts for a 72-73 340. Just have to have the right balancer. (heavier pistons make it necessary)

[Mr Cuda]

The answer to your question is to use a piston stop in the #1 sparkplug hole. Rotate the engine backwards till  it stops,  mark the balancer,  rotate forward  till to stops, mark the  balancer.
TDC is in between.
You will never know what they used to build it, hopefully for years to come, or you can take it apart.

[Bullitt-]

   But don't worry so much about #s.. Follow CP's timing instructions https://forum.e-bodies.org/reference-material/18/setting-timing/213/msg2055#msg2055

[FSHTAIL]

I tried looking these numbers up was no luck. 

The answer to your question is to use a piston stop in the #1 sparkplug hole. Rotate the engine backwards till  it stops,  mark the balancer,  rotate forward  till to stops, mark the  balancer.
TDC is in between.
You will never know what they used to build it, hopefully for years to come, or you can take it apart.