Need help in identifying an older Ford engine block. Supposedly the block is a 1969 302 from a mustang. Where are the numbers and what do i look for? I really need to positively I.D. the year of the block.

Thanks in advance

 

69 should have a C9AE or such cast into the block and on most every other part of the engine .. and if original carb is still in place there should be a thin aluminum tag with the year stamped into it bolted to the carb base

 

Thanks for the info. So, would i be wrong to assume C8 would mean a 1968 block?

 

The casting number should be on the block behind the starter. It will tell you when the block was cast. It will not tell you the block was for a Mustang. You can also pull the valve covers and check the casting numbers on the heads. C8 is 1968 C9 is 1969. An original engine is not as common anymore. 1969 cars were manufactured from mid 1968 through mid 1969 so the casting may be c7, c8, c9.

 

If the engine has a "C8..." casting number then it is correct for a '69 Mustang...the casting number only shows when the casting was first done, not each year. A 351W for '69 would have had a C9 casting number because that was the first year of production for that engine. The 302 was cast first in '68 and no changes were made for '69 so the engines used in '69 would have had a C8 casting number. Just like all 5.0 engines used from 1987-95 have an "E7TE..." cast into the block...because the casting was done in 1987.

Now there is a casting date on everything cast....All Ford parts that have been cast have the casting date on the part somewhere. Casting dates can be later than the casting number...for example...a C50E casting number can be recast at any time without changingthe original casting number...but usually a different letter is added after the casting number to denote the change. The Casting number plus the casting date should be looked at to determine an actual date of production.

You will see a circle that looks like the top of a flat head screw on each side of the 4 digit casting date...for example(imagine a straight line through the circle): O 6B12 O ......This date shows the year as "6", "B" means February and "12" would be the day...so that would be a casting date of Feb. 12th 1966. The part was cast in either 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 etc...let other factors determine which decade(casting number for example as that would normally change by decade)....But February is the month and 12 is the day of the month.

Here is the breakdown of months: A=Jan; B=Feb; C=March; D=April; E=May; F=June; G=July; H=Aug; J=Sept; K=Oct; L=Nov; M=Dec.

 

to bad paul doesn't have glasses

 

Cast number is C8OE

I'm assuming it's a 302 from a 1968 Fairlane?