So my 77 f150 was advertised with a 400 when I bought it, supposed too be newly rebuilt, plus new clutch. The clutch started slipping after about 2 months and the truck would overheat but as I drove it max of 3 miles one way I lived with it until the clutch finally was bad enough I parked it. I wanted to tow with the truck so bought a replacement 12" clutch and proceeded to take it apart. The engine did have new pistons, 30 over, and it was a 4" stroke but was I surprised to find the flywheel drilled for 11"! I looked at the VIN more closely and saw the stock engine was a 351M which explains the clutch. The casting numbers on the block were for a '77. I dug about a pound of crap out of the water jackets and reassembled after having flywheel resurfaced and drilled for the 12" clutch, and put it back together.

The clutch I took out was all glazed over, it appears the flywheel wasn't resurfaced during the overhaul, which caused the slippage. The disk was nearly original thickness but shiny looking. I'm assuming it needs to be rebuilt before use.

With water flowing through the block as it should, it doesn't overheat any more.

Time has gone by and now I am wondering if there's any way to figure out what the engine was first built as. There are no stickers or decals anymore after at least two disassemblies and cleanings. Are there any engine ID numbers stamped into the block that would give me a clue where it came from and what it started out as? I know it really doesn't matter, but I'm a curious guy.

Thanks,
R.

 

You should take a stroll through the Sticky at the top of this forum, all sorts of good information in there... including this:

Bubba's M-Block Ford V8 Workshop

 

Reading that will help, but it won't answer all your questions. That's because you may have the original block but it may have been stuffed with 351 pistons and crank from the factory. Then someone changed the crank and pistons in the rebuild and you have a 400. Pretty simple.

 

Right, it won't answer everything - but he can learn about the date stampings & casting IDs and where they're located to do some research.

 

Absolutely. Since he's "curious" that will certainly help and is a good read as well as reference. I just didn't want him to think it would answer all the questions if someone has changed out the internals.

 

I thought Bubba's thing had a picture showing date stampings on the timing case cover flange but I must have seen that pic elsewhere, I guess... but IIRC it depends on where the block was cast and date stamps can be in different locations, another of which I think is back by the oil pressure sending unit near the foundry ID markings... but it's been a while and I may be wrong....

 

I don't remember a pic of the timing cover area, but it might be in Bubba's stuff. However, I can take a pic of my two blocks later today and post them if that would help. (I actually have three, but the one in Rusty isn't as easy to photograph as the two on engine stands.)

 

I would say only if you can find a date stamping there; IIRC it's on the pass side near the top.

 

Well, Chris, your memory is pretty good. Look like what I found with a search of "date stamps cleveland block". Turns out it is on Bubba's:





And, here's that spot on Dad's. If you look closely there are two stamps, one above my finger and the other below it.






Here's the bottom stamp. Note that the #'s are right-side up and the letters are up-side down. The pic after shows everything reversed, just 'cause I can. Anyway, that would suggest that Dad's engine block was cast in July of '81 as "G" would indicate the 7th month, although the week shouldn't be a zero. However, that's a bit suspect as the Cert Label says the truck was built in Nov of '80. Also, having talked with the original owner we know the engine was never disassembled, much less out of the truck.





Here's the other way 'round pic:






And, here's the stamp that is above my finger in the picture. I added layout dye to try to bring out the stamp, but it didn't help much. In any event, it looks like "0025 A" to me from viewing it with the naked eye, a magnifying hood, and the pictures. But, I have no idea what that means.

 

Thanks, that'll get me started. Coming from the Mopar world, I was hoping for something similar to the EngineID pad that has model year, date, and how the engine was built.

Anyways the pictures were a help and I'll have to spend some time with Bubba.

Thanks,
R.