Are there numbers on the engine that will identify what year the engine was made?

I was told by the PO that its a 390. I have not verified that. She also stated it is not the original engine.

What else can I find out from engine numbers?

Thanks

 

theres a 4 digit code on the block behind the oil filter that montana_highboy told me about. mine is 4D10 which i was told means 1964 april 10 hope this helps

 

What year of truck is it? I think the only real way to know is measure stroke.

 

Nothing other than the year the block was cast. As far as casting numbers go, different displacements used the same block castings (i.e.: 360, 390, 410) That's if there are casting numbers (lots of 68-69 castings lack an engineering (casting) number. Measuring the stroke will give you a rough idea as to what engine it could be.

 

Thanks guys....I'm really me interested in knowing what year the motor is and finding out what heads are on it.

I'm going to measure the stroke soon to verify its a 390. As soon as I can afford it I'd like to put an intake/carb and headers on it.

 

whats your casting date code by the oil filter? you may need to take a wire brush and clean any grease and grime off to read it. i know i had to

 

Do measure stroke. I had every reason to presume my newly acquired 75 highboy was a 360. Measured for giggles anyway. Turned out to have 3.75" stroke. Damned thing doubled in value just sitting there.

 

Hey guys. Better late than never I guess. The code on the block is 9M20
I also got a code off the heads by the lifters when I had the valve covers off. 5A14

They look like 2 different date codes.

So do you think the block is a 69. The heads maybe 75? How do you tell the decade?

Thanks

 

The block is a '69 the heads are '65 (if they were '75 they'd have two "dots" under the first digit).

 

Does it look like there might be a couple dots under that number? I'll have to get under there and try and get a better shot.

 

I see two dots, making the block a 69

The two dots represent a "second decade" casting, iirc Ford used the two dot system from 69 until the end of the production run in 76 to distinguish the later blocks from the earlier 59-66 blocks.

It was somewhat redundant as the 59 blocks would have a B9AE number cast as well as the date code, so it wasn't really needed.

 

Thanks Montana. OK a 69 block and 65 heads. Confirmed its a 390 yesterday by measuring the stroke. Now I need to figure out what headers and intake to get.

What do you think of this? Offenhauser 360 Aluminum intake

 

That's a 70 model year block with a Dec. 69 date.

 

That's correct. I was focused on the year and forgot about the Dec. 20th casting day...

It could possibly even be a 71 model year block if it sat around for 9mos, but Ford typically used these blocks within 3-6mos after casting.

 

Thanks guys