I'd like to confirm that my recently purchased ambulance has the original engine in it, or at least the same size as the original. However, I'm not too savvy on identifying Ford motors by sight. Can someone tell me what I should be looking for, either an identification plate/stamp somewhere specific, or some telltale signs of the different similar engines that I could use to tell them apart?

 

No 429s ever in E series as OEM.

If it is a 385 series engine as OEM, it is a 460.

Easy way to ID:

2 bolts: 239/256/272/292/312 (produced from 1954 to 1964)
5 bolts: 332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428 (FE engine)
6 bolts: 221/260/289/302/351W
7 bolts: 429/460
8 bolts: 351C/351M/400
Engine codes are in the VIN. Not sure what code for your year, but if you post that and the info off the warranty/data plate (drivers door) you can get more info.

 

I'd have to take apart most of the stuff under the hood to get an accurate count of the engine mounting bolts.

Here's the info from the door plate:

VIN: 1FDKE30L5GHC19548

WB: 138
TYPE-GVW: E302
BODY: HK
TRANS: G
AXLE: 53
SPRING: O L

I'd love to know anything you can tell me based on that.

 

OK stand by, it sometimes takes a day or two to catch the eye of folks who can decode these things.

 

I tried a number of online VIN decoding tools. Some don't like my VIN at all. A few disagree about my engine. However, half of them say I've got the 7.5L V8 (that's the 460), so I'm gonna guess that's what was really in it to begin with. Now to dig under the hood and make sure that's what's still there.