VIN Help
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 34
From: West Fort Worth, TX
VIN Help
I am sorry about this but I have search on the web and here in the VIN Decoder in Articles/Spec and nothing. I am interested in what the 8th Character (D) is for the engine. The truck has a 351W. Also is the J code for Transmission the C6? Finally, is the 01 for axle have anything to do with it having a 9in? Thanks-Stephen
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Yeah, the FTE VIN decoder is sometimes wrong, it tries to tell me my truck has a natural gas-powered engine. 
This is why I generally use Ford's own decoder but even it isn't entirely accurate.
It's at https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp
A 'D' for an engine in 1981 is the 4.2L, 255 cid, I *think* it's a 6-banger but not positive. Pretty rare.
The 'J' for the transmission is a C4.
The '01' for the axle decodes to: Ford, 2,800 lb. capacity, 2.75:1 ratio, non-limited slip.
My information comes from the 1981 factory shop manual, these things don't delineate via consumer-oriented terms such as "9-inch."
This is why I generally use Ford's own decoder but even it isn't entirely accurate.
It's at https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp
A 'D' for an engine in 1981 is the 4.2L, 255 cid, I *think* it's a 6-banger but not positive. Pretty rare.
The 'J' for the transmission is a C4.
The '01' for the axle decodes to: Ford, 2,800 lb. capacity, 2.75:1 ratio, non-limited slip.
My information comes from the 1981 factory shop manual, these things don't delineate via consumer-oriented terms such as "9-inch."
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 34
From: West Fort Worth, TX
Thanks. Well I guess the 185k on the speedo doesn't reflect the mileage. I wonder where the engine came from and if it still has the original c4? We shall see. I am sure it has the original rear end because the 9 inch is 2.75 gears and NLS as indicated on the tag.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
The 4.2L/255 was a V8 that *looked* like a 302, until you removed the intake or heads.
It used a valley pan intake gasket, like a 351M/400, and had a smaller bore. Very lousy engine, no power, and few lasted more than 50K miles.....
It used a valley pan intake gasket, like a 351M/400, and had a smaller bore. Very lousy engine, no power, and few lasted more than 50K miles.....
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 34
From: West Fort Worth, TX
Well crap. In my ignorance this may not be the 351W that I had hoped. I have only had this truck a week. I did some searching and was told that you can identify a 351 by two easy ways: the intake measures 9 inches across and the valve cove has 6 bolts. I know the other way is that the top of the timing cover is not touching the bottom of the head but have not been able to get a good look. I wonder how I can tell that it is a 255? I can say it is a two barrel carb and the drive home last week proved that the engine was very week but I assumed it was low compression needing a rebuild as planned.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I googled 'ford 255 v8 engine' and learned a bit, there's a Wikipedia page that talks about it a bit:
Ford Windsor engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ford Windsor engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 34
From: West Fort Worth, TX
I wonder if anyone can tell from this picture. I am going to go out to take a closer picture of the intake. According to wikipid, it should have that open tunnel intake, whatever that looks like.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 34
From: West Fort Worth, TX
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I can see it has dealer-added air conditioning. 
Maybe somebody else who knows these engines better will be able to identify it by your pictures, or will ask for closer pictures of < some component > .
I'll take a look through the parts catalog and see what I can find there....
Maybe somebody else who knows these engines better will be able to identify it by your pictures, or will ask for closer pictures of < some component > .
I'll take a look through the parts catalog and see what I can find there....
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Stephen,
I looked in the FoMoCo parts catalog but there's nothing remarkable about this engine in it.
Does your engine still have an ID tag on the passenger-side front of the rocker arm cover?
I looked in the FoMoCo parts catalog but there's nothing remarkable about this engine in it.
Does your engine still have an ID tag on the passenger-side front of the rocker arm cover?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
I can see it has dealer-added air conditioning.
Maybe somebody else who knows these engines better will be able to identify it by your pictures, or will ask for closer pictures of < some component > .
I'll take a look through the parts catalog and see what I can find there....
Maybe somebody else who knows these engines better will be able to identify it by your pictures, or will ask for closer pictures of < some component > .
I'll take a look through the parts catalog and see what I can find there....
I believe the 255 has a unique block casting number, due to the smaller bore. I've heard that they cannot be bored out to 4.0" in order to turn it into a 302.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
This isn't the tag I was originally looking for (which is smaller and stuck to the front of the pass side valve cover) but perhaps the Emissions label that you posted will do just as well - it says it's a 4.2L:
