I bought a 1985 cj7 with 258 I6 not to long ago. but I've bought parts for the motor and they don't seem to be right.
I'm thinking the motor may have been swaped for an 1986 or some thing. How can I tell what year the motor is? The nubers on the pass. side block say 207 22 but I don't know what that means. Anyone know how I can tell what year it is?

There should be a letter in the engine date code like, 207C22. That would mean it was made in 1982 (if it was made after 1980) on the 22nd of July. Here's a link to the info. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

http://www.amcrc.com/tech/engine.html

I am more curious to know what it is that does not "SEEM" to fit... Much more than what year it was made.
Please splain what it is that is worrying you.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Ok just when I thought I was getting somewhere now I totally confused.
According to the link JeePete gave me (thanks JeePete) The motor is (as long as it was made after 1980) an 82. If it was made before 1980 it is a 1960. If it was an 82, the 85 parts I been getting for it should work. The valve cover and gasket I got for it is strait on one side but the one that come of the motor kinda curves back and forth on both sides.
Any picÆs I can find of valve covers show the one that curves on both sides fits 1964-1980 and the one thats strait on one side fits 1981-1986. And I canÆt find anything for a 1960 witch its looking like my motor may be. Unless too I donÆt know if it would fit) it has an prier 1980 head on an 82 block. Is there any way of telling the year of the head? I donÆt know I so confused <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> about the whole thing. Any help on the mater is much appreciated!!!

Now we are talking... I suspected you were speaking of the valve cover gasket.
What you have is the gasket for the plastic valvecover and the valve cover for an early HEAD! The engine will support about 4 diffeent heads all with different covers..
So you clean up the cover and take it to the local parts house and get a gasket to fit!
Because there are so many different cover stiles I have not seen a gasket set with them all in it..
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

So the shape of the cover is not going to give any indication of the motors year?

Nope! Only the head.. Some years had 2 or more valve covers/heads. Even the length of the head bolts changes with the heads..
As far as I have seen the engine blocks do not change.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Blocks 81 and later have differences in the castings to make them lighter. That much I know. But how to actually identify the differences I don't really know. Perhaps some one who knows could chime in? Also, 81 and later engines have lighter cranks. I believe AMC eliminated half of the counterweights to help get the weight down.

this seems a little too obvious but...every late cj i've seen has the 2 digit year stamped into the head on the front drivers side. like mine is an 83 cj7 but it has an 82 engine in it. is there a number there?
Brian <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I can't seem to find any dates or numbers on the head so I thinking it must be an earlier model. According to the engine code link from
JeePete ('http://www.amcrc.com/tech/engine.html'); it could only be 1969, 1978 of 1982.
Being that theirs no dates on the head (this is assuming block and head are of same year)
ItÆs not an 82. Now correct me if IÆm wrong but I donÆt thing the 258 was made in 69(?)
Yesterday I was able get a valve cover gasket that fit, it was for a 1980. According to the engine code itÆs not an 80. so I thinking its a 78 because (again please correct me if IÆm wrong) IÆm under the impression their were no changes between 78 and 80.