Chainsaw Repair

There's no way possible to cross reference the serial the number to get model number from it? What about decoding the serial number?

  I have a list of the different Poulan models and what years they were made but,  I do not have a list of serial numbers that go with that and I do not know of one.   If it was a Craftsman branded Poulan then they had their own serial numbers they used and you could identify a model from it.  For example I have a red Craftsman 3.7 but the serial number on it indicates it is a 3800 not a 3700.  I pulled the muffler off of it and it is a 3800.
Just from what I have seen of the pictures of your saw and what everyone has posted so far it looks like a 3700.  The side to side play that you are talking about is not a problem and common on these saws.  They are great saws and I am looking for another myself. 

Is there a carb mount gasket that I can use for remounting the carb from being rebuilt on the 3700? Poulan 530019099 has been discontinued. Can I use that sheeted gasket from autozone and make one if the old one comes off in one piece?

Here is 4 new ones with shipping    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Poulan-Carb-Gasket-530019099-/380675779495?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a20b6ba7

you could just get the proper gasket material and make a bunch. nothing special about the gasket.

i have no idea what autozone sells. however if it's one of them multi packs with a few different sheets, i'm sure one of them will. they will have an explanation on the package of what material will work with what chemicals. i know in the kits i buy, it's the dark gray "paper" i use for carb, cylinder and manifold/adapter gaskets.