Hey guys, I'm trying to identify what kind of engine and what year of engine I have in my 85 f 150, I ran the vin number on the truck and according to that its supposed to have a straight 6. I believe its a 302, the code stamped by the starter reads A0AE, and there was the number 80 stamped in the lifter valley, if there's any other codes, let me know where they should be and I'll go look and let you know whats there! I'm trying to find a distributer for it thats duraspark (originally tfi) and I can't seem to find one that will fit, that's why I am unsure about it being a 302, I tried useing a dizzy from an 84, but it was too big around the o ring and the shaft was too short and also too big in diameter... Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Can you post a pic?

 

 

Yes, it's a 302. Well, I suppose it could be a 255 but that's unlikely...

Look down by the starter and in addition to the engine casting number, there should be some smaller digits cast there, that would be the date casting code. Also, looking at the pics you posted, you see the small flat pad at the base of the driver's side cylinder head right at the front of the head, on top of the long bolt from the timing cover/water pump? Clean that off and there should be some digits stamped in there, that's the assembly date code which would tell you the date the engine was actually assembled.

 

Awesome, thanks! I'll check it and let you know if I have any problems!

 

Do you still have the intake off? Cylinder head casting numbers are on the underside of one of the central intake ports, you should be able to see them with a small mirror with the intake off. You should also find a capital letter cast into the head on the outside corner just below the valve cover. Block casting numbers are on the side down where the starter mounts.

 

255s have the "open" intake with a valley pan, like a Y block. Looks like a regular manifold, which is good for the OP.

 

Sorry to start this up again but since I got you guys all curious, I took the dizzy to the ford dealership and had them check that out, they told me the engine was more than likely an 86, because it was a tfi dizzy, can't remember what he said the part number came back as... Wanna say a Lincoln or something, I pulled all the numbers I could find on the block but they said based off of those it would only narrow it down to 80s, but 86 the apparently changed the engine block slightly making the shaft on the distributor needing to be 1/4 inch longer than its predecessors, so I went through a lot to achieve the DSII conversion I was looking for! lol

 

With an 0AE in the casting prefix, that's an 80-84 302 block. And something you do not want to hot rod. This was the block with the least amount of iron content in the decks and bore bottoms. Any 302 distributor will fit. The TFI unit had a longer shaft, but the oil driveshaft is the same for all. The longer shaft just gave it some added rigidity and strength. Look at the lower front corner of the passenger side head, if these are post 1985 heads, there will be an "S", or "T" there, The "S" heads are the E6SE heads with the high swirl 68cc chambers. The "T" heads are the better (by 25 HP) E7TE heads with the 64 cc chambers.