Hi,
Hopefully someone can help with pinpointing the engine number (serial number) on my 72' 351w engine in my 1949 F1? I have located the casting number behind the starter motor which is D2AE-6015-BA-10 and 3C12.

If you know where it should be that would be a great help. Ideally I don't want to dismantle the engine to find it but need the number to register the vehicle here in the UK. The engine has been painted at some stage so if it is normally visible, it maybe covered in paint, although I happy to remove the paint to find it.

Any help would be greatly appreciate, as always on here.

Thanks

Richard

 

I also have that engine. The number that you quoted in that location is the only number you will find on the engine. I haven't come across any other. I have had my 351w engine for over 30 years and it's been in 5 different projects so I have had a good look at. If you decode that number it should give you a lot more information. The number dummy can certainly help you with this. BTW 49's rule eh, and pardon me, welcome to the site.
Mervy

 

A partial VIN is located on the back of a 351w. Just below the driver side head. It least it is on my 1970 block. Here's a pic from the interweb for reference.

 

Ford did not stamp separate engine serial numbers on their engines. But after 1968, they did stamp a partial VIN for tracking purposes in the event the part was stolen. It would have the last number of the model year, a letter corresponding to the assembly plant code, and the 6 digit consecutive unit number of the vehicle it came from.

The numbers you posted are the cast identifier for the block, and the date code, 3C12, which means your block was cast on 12 March, 1973. That makes it a '73 engine, not a '72. fyi.

 

D2AE-6015-BA block casting number is a foundry mark. Cannot be cross referenced to Ford part numbers.

3C12: Cast March (3) 12, 1973 (3). By the time the block had seasoned, been assembled, then shipped to an assembly plant to be installed in a vehicle, could have been in late 1973.

If so, it would have been installed in a 1974 Passenger Car.

351W: Misc 1969/89 FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1975/97 Econoline / 1981/96 F150/350 & Bronco / 1997 F250/350.

 

Mervy, Rick, Wayne and Bill,

Thank you all for your helpful advice and information. I've certainly learnt a load more about the engine in my truck and also found the engine number. It was exactly where Rick said. I did not need to remove any paint, just a lot of dirt but found it, photo below.

Thanks once again for all your help. Really helped me out with this.