Technical California folks, help needed- what does this engine number mean?

I am working on figuring out as much as I can about an old cadillac engine before I tear into it. The engine is a flathead 322-346 from a Cadillac or LaSalle. The number is stamped circumferentially on the water pump mounting boss. It includes CAL which make me wonder if it was a CA dmv renumbering or if it is a symbol of a rebuilder.

The engine was put in between 1944-1950s. Any help is appreciated.
Thank you!

 

For comparison, here's the original number stamp on the 41 Caddy engine that was in my brother's 40 LaSalle.

You didn't mention whether you have a Cadillac attached to this engine, or if it has a valid title, or anything like that which might mean this number could matter. If the same number does not appear anywhere else, then it is meaningless at this point in time, is my guess.

 

CA DMV assigned number stickers were just that stickers. The CHP inspector that placed the assigned VIN on an ot MGTD I had years ago stuck it to the frame and then drilled and riveted it. But the DMV employee that gave me an assigned VIN for a special construction trailer just stuck it on the frame and suggested I stamp the VIN myself on the frame. So it is possible that back it the day the DMV assigned a VIN that the owner then stamped where you show it and the actual vin sticker disappeared. But I doubt it but that's JMO.

 

Tank engines

 

It no longer means anything.

 

Thank you for all of your responses.

No, it is no longer in a Cadillac. It was used for repowering a hot rod in the late 50’s. However, the whole drive line was installed in the current car by Hayward Cadillac. So, the number doesn't appear on the body or paperwork.

Very interesting. Did the CA DMV also require the engine be stamped with a matching number?

If it is just a DMV assigned vin from a car in the 1940's or 50's; then it would likely be meaningless- unless my car was titled under this number rather than the 5 digit factory body number when it was rebuilt during the 50's. The car was initially rodded in 1944 in CA, but it supposedly had an Olds engine at the time. Given that the engine is dressed in Edmunds speed parts, I didn't know if it could have also been a number from the machine shop that built the engine.

 

No, but they sometimes the blue tag was attached to the engine on motorcycles.

 

They used to try and blue tag our bikes too, even if you had an original title. Back then we used to go to the state offices in Sacto to get around it.

I cannot help with the numbers but odd numbers would certainly not keep me from tearing one down for overhaul. Stamped numbers do not have much effect on tolerances.