Ford Motor Company has included identification number labels on some of its engines since the mid-1950s and all since January 1964. These labels indicate the month and year of engine production, model year, change level number, and CID (cubic inch displacement). If you can't find the label, you can also use numeric interpretation to get specific information.
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Method 1 of 2: Using Identification Labels
Step 1. Use the number of valve cover bolts to narrow down the search for the type of engine you have
The valve cover bolt is the large bolt on the top of the engine and holds the plate (usually labeled “Ford”) on the top of the valve. The number of bolts present indicates your machine type and helps find a more useful ID label.
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2 bolts:
239/256/272/292/312
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5 bolts:
332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428
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6 bolts:
221/260/289/302/351W
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7 bolts:
429/460
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8 bolts:
351C/351M/400
Step 2. Locate the ID label under the coil fixing bolt for 6 cylinder and some 8 cylinder engines
A label is a series of numbers and letters engraved inside and used to interpret the year, make, and model of the machine. Near the front of the car. You can find labels here for all 6-cylinder engines made after 1964, and on some V8 engines.
- This label is approximately 7.5 cm long, 1 cm wide, and made of aluminum.
- If you have doubts about the type of engine you have, remember the number of valve cover bolts. This will help narrow your choices.
Step 3. Check the bottom of the dipstick fixing bolt on the Model 352 8 cylinder engine
The dipstick is a small plastic stick used to check the oil.
Step 4. Look under the heat indicator light, carburetor mounting rod, and ignition coil bolt if you still can't find the label
There are several places that can still be searched. If not, the label may have come off, fallen off, or is only visible when the engine is removed from the car. Depending on the location of the label, you can learn more about the machine:
- Indicator light: engine 360, 330, 391.
- Dipstick tube: 352 machine.
- Carburetor Rod: engine 401, 477 534.
Step 5. Learn how to properly read ID labels
Once you've found an identification tag, you'll need to know how to read it to get the right information. Fortunately, machine labels are easy to interpret. Starting from top left to bottom right:
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Cubic Inch Displacement (CID):
The first three numbers in the upper left corner indicate the size of the machine.
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Production Factory:
The single letter to the right of the CID is the machine's manufacturing location. "C" for Cleveland, United States, "E" for Ensite, Canada, and "W" for Windsor, Canada.
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Year:
The next two numbers are the year the machine was made. For example, 70 means the machine was made in 1970.
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Manufacture Month:
Hyphenated numbers and letters (-) indicate the month of manufacture. The months are sorted alphabetically so that A = January and M = December. There is no "i" so people don't misread it as the number 1. Code 0-A means January 1970, 5-C March 1975, etc. (assuming the machine year code is 70).
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Machine Code Numbers:
The last 3 digit number is the special identity of the vehicle engine. You can search the internet for this code to see the current specifications of your machine.
Method 2 of 2: Interpreting Casting Labels
Step 1. Look for the nine-digit casting label to learn more about the make and model of the machine
Casting labels are engraved during machining, and are used to help locate the right part if it needs to be replaced. This code also contains a lot of information so you can get to know the machine better.
- You may need to clean the machine with a rag and a little degreaser if the writing is not clear due to dirt.
- This code is usually on the engine side, but you may not be able to see it when the engine is an older model. Use the flashlight to scan both sides of the machine and find the code.
- For example: C5AE-9425-B
Step 2. Read the first two digits on the identification label to find out the year the machine was made
These digits are letters. If the letter "B" means the machine was made in the 1950s. Every next 10 years, the code changes sequentially: “C” for 1960, “D” for 1970, and so on. The digits after the letters are the original year. So, if it says C9, it means the engine was made in 1969, E4 is 1984, and so on.
Step 3. Read the third digit in the casting number to determine the machine design
This code is in the form of letters, indicating the basic design of the vehicle shown below. Of course, this code must match the car it's listed for (e.g. Mercury is codenamed E5M), but don't forget sometimes the vehicle has been redesigned or you have a standalone engine.
- "A" – Full-sized general machine
- "D" - Falcon
- "E" – Truck
- "F" – Trans-Am foreign racing machine
- "G" – 1961-1967 Comet/1968-1976 Montenegro
- "H" – 1966-1982 Heavy truck
- "J" – Ford Industrial
- "L" - Lincoln
- "M" - Mercury
- "O" – 1967-1976 Ford Torino/all Ford Fairlane
- "S" - Thunderbird
- "T" - Truck
- "W" - Cougar
- "Y" - Meteor
- "Z" - Mustang
- "6" - Pantera
Step 4. Make sure the fourth digit is the letter "E
" This digit indicates the type of the section. The letter "E" stands for engine aka engine so this letter is always the fourth digit in the Ford engine code.
Step 5. Read the next 4 digits, which is the last digit in the machine number
These four numbers will always be between 6000 and 6898, which describes the numbering of common machine assembly parts. Different parts of the machine have their own four-digit number.
Step 6. Check the last digit, usually a letter, to determine your version of the piece
If the engine model is based on the original design, the letter is A. If the engine is the third production version, the letter is C, and so on. This series can be up to three digits long. For example, AB is the 28th version, 26th for A-Z, and 2nd for A-B.
