peterls1

iTrader: (6)

Just wondering how to know what year block u have when purchased guy had no idea and have some arp head bolts but they seem way long so i might have an older block that takes the short bolts, any info can help like running a number off the block or something.....thanks

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

on the top side of the block near the water pump is a casting date will read some thing like A132. It is always a 4 digit code with the first digit being a letter.
A= January
13= the day of the month
2= 2002

peterls1

iTrader: (6)

Thanks a lot man!

peterls1

iTrader: (6)

What mine appears to read after cleaning is, heres the pic

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

Thats a tough one.
Looks like

02F04

It could be ment to read as
02 july 2004

I would have to look at some newer blocks to see if thats how it changed.

I know the bolt hole depth is posted on this site some were... the 04 up should all be the same length on the bigger holes.
the 99-03 have the out sides 2 holes in the niddle row are not as deep as the rest.

stock48

iTrader: (16)

The short bolts are 2004 up which is a good thing. You have the better block, rods and pistons.

sprayedenali

iTrader: (11)

You sure? I remember the 99-04 having the doffering length bolts and the 04+ all being the same length...? Maybe I'm mixed up tho

peterls1

iTrader: (6)

Well I have the long arp bolts and when I lay a head on the block and put in the bolt it literally goes an inch and gets tight with about 4 or 5 inches to go before it ever sinks the while way so I assume I'm needing the shorties..........?

sand man

03+ are drive by wire
04+ have better block and shorter bolts
05+ have better heads and better conecting rods
07+ have the bigger intake manifolds+ 87 mm TB

also you can take the part number of the block its in the back on the driver side you can check it online and compare the p#s

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

Yes you have the 99-03 style bolts you need the 04 up bolts.

Off the top of my head I believe the early bolts were around 6-7 inches long and the later 04 up bolts were around 3 inches long.

I could only find a picture of the 99-03 all side by side. The middle bolt in the picture is the about the same length as all the 04 up bolts. On the 99-03 it only used the shorter M10 middle bolt on the out side of the midle row of bolts.

in 04 they used the shorter style bolts on all the M10