Matching numbers?
- Thread starter Zer0
- Start date
wild70stang
New Member
- Nov 11, 2005
- 317
- 0
- 0
milner351
Founding Member
on my old boss302 there was a boss on the top of the block just behind the intake manifold, basically the same surface the intake sealed to... that was stamped with the last 5 digits (i think) of the VIN, so there was no question of "dates" it either matched the vin or it didn't.
I'm not sure if this is the same on the earlier models however.
I'm not sure if this is the same on the earlier models however.
dennis112
15 Year Member
Ford, at least in the 60's didn't make it a common practice to stamp VIN # on engines or transmissions. Actually to find one is quite rare--it is more common for GM to mark their engines.
Most Fords parts that do have VIN stampings are the truly special cars and engines, such as the Boss 302, 428CJ, or 289 Hipo K code engines--even then Ford didn't necessarily stamp them.
On your 64' Mustang, the best you can do is to verify that the engine installed has casted part #'s and dates that are near (and certainly not later than) the assembly date of the car. I believe that it is commonly accepted that most engine blocks, heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc. will probably have been cast maybe 2 months before the actual car build. It could even be as much as 4 months (or more) or closer to 1 month.
Because of this, and the fact that the Mustang was introduced at the end of 1964, most Mustang people will accept any 64' built 260 V8 as being the proper engine for your original 260 VIN'ed car.
Most Fords parts that do have VIN stampings are the truly special cars and engines, such as the Boss 302, 428CJ, or 289 Hipo K code engines--even then Ford didn't necessarily stamp them.
On your 64' Mustang, the best you can do is to verify that the engine installed has casted part #'s and dates that are near (and certainly not later than) the assembly date of the car. I believe that it is commonly accepted that most engine blocks, heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc. will probably have been cast maybe 2 months before the actual car build. It could even be as much as 4 months (or more) or closer to 1 month.
Because of this, and the fact that the Mustang was introduced at the end of 1964, most Mustang people will accept any 64' built 260 V8 as being the proper engine for your original 260 VIN'ed car.
If you have a 64.5 ( or rather an early 65 according to Ford) and it's got a 260 in it, then it's a pretty good bet that's the original engine. Unless someone replaced it in the last 40 years. Now, you SURE it's a 260 ? Could also be a 289 or a 302, same basic engine. really hard to tell one from another unless you know what to look for. The casting numbers on the block will tell you for sure and it should have a 5 bolt bellhousing ( early 289's did there as well, so the casting numbers are fool proof here)
milner351
Founding Member
Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it. I've only really "cared" about numbers matching on my boss302... good to know that info about the casting number/vin relationship.
reenmachine
20+ Year Stangneter 
Just for reference, the blue '68 fastback I'm building had the original C-code 289-2bbl and C4 in it, and both are stamped with the car's VIN. The block is stamped on the flat surface just behind the intake and the trans is stamped on one of the bosses on the top surface. I'm fairly certain that this practice started in '68, and then only sometimes. I've seen it on 390 cars and the like, but never before on a "lowly" C-code car.
1320stang
Founding Member
reenmachine
20+ Year Stangneter
No, I haven't made much of a fuss about it. MCA may be interested though, now that you mention it. The engine and trans are still sitting here -- I'll snap some pics of the numbers later. It's pretty neat.Edbert said:
reenmachine
20+ Year Stangneter
It's a customer's car so I blurred out the last 3 digits, but you get the picture. It's interesting that the 3 digits denoting the body style and engine type are left out: 8R150XXX.
dennis112
15 Year Member
I was going through my Toploader 4 speed cases and ALL 4 of them have serial #s similar to the block that Reen has. The 428 CJ and the 64' 390 ones I can understand as possible being marked because the are "special.".
The other 2 blocks are RUG E3's which are common wide ratio boxes found behind 69' 302/351's.
Interestingly, one E3 was made for a Califorinia built car. It was stamped 9R119xxx on the upper LEFT hand "Ear." The second E3 was from a Dearborn built car and was marked 9F110xxx on the upper RIGHT hand ear.
It appears that serial # stamping was much more common in the late 60's.
The other 2 blocks are RUG E3's which are common wide ratio boxes found behind 69' 302/351's.
Interestingly, one E3 was made for a Califorinia built car. It was stamped 9R119xxx on the upper LEFT hand "Ear." The second E3 was from a Dearborn built car and was marked 9F110xxx on the upper RIGHT hand ear.
It appears that serial # stamping was much more common in the late 60's.
Similar threads
