Just says that the single capitol letters identify high preformance. Still stuck on the AA

Look for any additional number that follows the primary four-number string. They typically appear as single capital letters, which identify highperformance models; performance high, medium and low risers; sport models, or thermactor-air pump engines, made of aluminum.


How do I Identify a Ford Cylinder Head by the Letters on the Head? | eHow.com

This article is full of hokum. The AA just means that the part has been 26 times (A = original part, B through Z = 25 changes plus one for the other A equals 26 revisions). It does not denote anything else. Reference "How To Rebuild Your Small Block Ford".

 

I have a little more info if this helps clarify Ill be thrilled
there is 427 stamped on the radiator shroud. It has the screwed in soft plugs. exhaust manifold reads d2te9431-aa. It has d3te stamped onthe passenger side block by the starter. It also has the lines and resivour on the passenger side that run into the radiator. on the front passenger side it has 1c1393l
also on the bottom of the firewall tag is cxe?j right before it says mid aft the fouth letter looks like a 6 or c any ideas would be really appriciated

 

Since it is in a 74 F-100 with a Y code,73 block casting, 72 exhaust manifold; that fits for a slathering vanilla 360 truck engine. It is in no way a 427 as the casting codes don't come close to the timeframe of the 427 or 428.

 

"427" marked on shroud has nothing to do with engine size.

Look on the upper left (drivers) side corner of the fan shroud for the Ford ID number. It's probably D3TA-DA or D3TA-8146-DA / Might be C8TA-S

Ford part number: D3TZ-8146-C (replaced C8TZ-8146-K [Marked C8TA-S]): Same shroud used 1968/76 F100/350 360/390 without Super Cooling radiator.

You are making a mountain out of a mole hill with this D2TE-AA head casting jazz. I already gave you the info (post 2) as to what this head was used on.

You are trying to prove to yourself that your truck has a hipo engine. It does not .. guaranteed .. after you posted the above casting numbers.

There was only one D2TE 360/390 head. The AA suffix does not designate 26 revisions, that's utterly ridiculous.

Your truck originally came w/a 360. The D3TE block casting number prefix was used 1973/74 for the 360/390 block which is the same.

Measure the stroke to determine engine size: 360 = 3.50" / 390 = 3.78"

D2TZ-9431-AA is the left exhaust manifold casting number. Casting numbers are foundry marks, cannot be cross referenced to Ford part numbers.

All this D2TE jazz means is that the manifold was cast in 1972, but there's no such thing as a 1972 only left exhaust manifold for FE F100/350's.

There are two different left exhaust manifolds: 1965/67 F100/350 352 & 1973 F100 360: Ford part number: C5TZ-9431-A .. Use with heat riser valve.

360/390: 1968/72 F100/350, 1973 F250/350, 1974/76 F100/350, Ford part number: D0TZ-9431-A (replaced C8TZ-9431-A & B) .. Use without heat riser valve.

CXE and other codes stamped on the firewall buck tag: Codes on buck tags were used by assembly line workers to assure that certain parts installed on the truck matched the build sheet.

Most of these codes cannot be decoded.