I bought a home made tractor (you have to see it to believe it, send me your email address and I will send some pictures). It has a Ford engine and tranny in it. I initially thought it was a 351M but thanks to this website I found out that by the 6 bolt valve cover heads that it may be a 351W. I also found out through this web site how to tell the difference between a 302 and a 351W.

Now for the real questions. How do I find out what year it is? I imagine there are some casting marks some where, where do I look? If it is a 302, how do I know that it isn't a 289?

This site is amazing. The willingness of everyone to help each other out is inspiring.

 

The casting numbers are on the block, near the freeze plugs, towards the back bell housing area. Mine are right on the side of the block where the starter would be, which is on the passanger side of the engine for my truck.

 

You have to have the starter out to see those casting numbers as well. Look through the info on this this link, it will tell you how to decode the casting numbers:

http://www.pacificnet.net/~fastoso/castingcode.html

The 302 came out in 1968, so if the casting number is something like C80E-6015-XXXX (the last 4 digits, represented by Xs could be a number of different things that really aren't important to us at this time) then it's probably a 302. If it's an earlier number, like C50E0-6015-XXXX then it would be a 289. You could also count the number of bolt that hold the bellhousing to the engine. If there are 6, then it's a '65 or later engine, 289 or 302. If there are only 5, it could be a 221, 260, or early 289. The cahnge from 5 to 6 was made in mid-'65. There is also the possibilty that it's a 255, which was built in 1980.

BTW, why don't you post that pic in your gallery? Sure sounds like a Ford Truck to me!

And as to your last statement...we try! It's the members who make it great!