Buzz
Since the mid-1950s, Ford Motor Company has been affixing identification number tags on some of its engines, a practice that extended to all engines starting January 1964. These tags provide crucial information such as the production month and year, model year, change level number, and the CID (cubic inch displacement). In case the tags are missing, a casting number can also be utilized to gather specific details.
Step-by-Step Guide
Utilizing the Identification Tag
If it's fragmented, it's almost certainly a Ford engine.
Spot the ID tag beneath coil attachment bolts for six-cylinder and select eight-cylinder engines. This tag, engraved with alphanumeric characters, unveils the year, make, and model of your engine. Locate it under the bolts on either side of the engine's front, a standard position for engines produced post-1964.
- The tag is roughly three inches long, half an inch wide, and crafted from aluminum.
- If unsure of your engine type, recall the valve cover bolts as you proceed through the following steps to narrow down options.
Inspect beneath the dipstick attachment bolts for eight-cylinder, 352 Model engines. This inspection is performed underneath the dipstick, the tool used to measure engine oil levels.
Search below the heat indicator bulb, carburetor attaching stud, and ignition coil bolt if the tag remains elusive. These locations represent the final checkpoints for the tag's presence. If absent, it might have been dislodged, misplaced, or visible only when the engine is dismounted. Insights about the engine can be gleaned from its location:
- Indicator Bulb: 360, 330, 391 engines.
- Dipstick Tube: 352 engines.
- Carburetor Stud: 401, 477, 534 engines.
Master the art of reading the ID tag accurately. Once the ID tag is located, decoding it correctly is essential. Fortunately, the process is straightforward. From top left to bottom right:
- Cubic Inch Displacement (CID): The first three numbers, positioned in the top left corner, denote the engine's size.
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Manufacturing Plant: The single letter adjacent to the CID indicates the engine's production site. 'C' stands for Cleveland, 'E' for Ensite, Canada, and 'W' for Windsor, Canada.
- Year: The subsequent two numbers represent the engine's manufacturing year. For example, 70 indicates production in 1970.
- Month Built: The hyphenated number and letter signify the production month. Months are alphabetically assigned, with A for January and M for December. There is no 'i' to prevent confusion with the number 1. For instance, 0-A corresponds to January 1970, and 5-C signifies March 1975 (assuming the year code is for the 1970s).
- Engine Code Number: The final 3-digit number serves as the engine's unique identifier. You can look up this code online to access your engine's specifications.
Understanding Casting Codes
Search for nine-digit casting tags to unveil insights into your engine's make and model. These tags are imprinted on the engine during manufacturing and aid in identifying the correct parts for replacements. Additionally, they contain valuable information to enhance your understanding of the engine.
- If the letters are obscured by dirt, use a rag and degreaser to clean the engine.
- Typically located on the engine's side, the tag may not be visible in older car models. Utilize a light source to inspect both sides of the engine.
- Example: C5AE-9425-B
Decipher the first two digits of the identification tag to ascertain the engine's production year. These digits represent letters. For instance, 'B' indicates production in the 1950s, with each subsequent decade denoted by the following letter (e.g., 'C' for the 1960s, 'D' for the 1970s). The subsequent digit signifies the specific year (e.g., C9 for 1969, E4 for 1984, etc.).
Examine the third digit in the casting number to determine the engine's design. Each digit corresponds to a specific vehicle design, although standalone engines or modified cars may deviate from this standard.
- 'A' - Generic and full-size engine
- 'D' - Falcon
- 'E' - Truck
- 'F' - Foreign Trans-Am racing
- 'G' - 1961 to 1967 Comet/1968 to 1976 Montenegro
- 'H' - 1966 to 1982 Heavy truck
- 'J' - Industrial Ford
- 'L' - Lincoln
- 'M' - Mercury
- 'O' - 1967 to 1976 Ford Torino/all Ford Fairlane
- 'S' - Thunderbird
- 'T' - Truck
- 'W' - Cougar
- 'Y' - Meteor
- 'Z' - Mustang
- '6' - Pantera
Ensure that the fourth digit is always an 'E.' This digit indicates the part type, with 'E' standing for 'Engine.' Therefore, the fourth digit in Ford engine identifications should consistently be an 'E.'
Examine the following 4 digits, the final digits in the engine number. These digits will consistently range between 6000 and 6898, delineating the part numbering system for the standard engine assembly. Each section of the engine will correspond to distinct four-digit numbers.
Inspect the last digit, typically a letter, to determine the variant of your component. For instance, if your engine replicates the original design, this letter will be A. If it represents the third iteration of the engine, it will be denoted as C, and so forth. This digit can extend up to three characters. For example, AB would indicate the 28th variant — 26 for A-Z, followed by two for A-B.
Pointers
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To locate the tag, you may need to cleanse sections of the engine. Therefore, bring along a bottle of degreaser, a wire brush, and a rag during your inspection.
Essential Tools
- Grease remover
- Steel bristle brush
- Clean cloths
