Identify engine

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Nov 23, 2015 | 08:55 AM

RCouture

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Joined: Sep 2015

Posts: 16

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From: Young Harris Ga

Identify engine

Bought a finished 53 F-100 with a Ford 302 Racing engine and AOD trans. from a widow who knows nothing about the build. How can I identify what year etc this engine is and what it came from . Any numbers I can find and location on block and any cross ref to those numbers? How can I tell if it was a crate engine or a rebuild. The guy left no paperwork or info and he passed away after building the truck.

it has a mild street cam for sure and big Holly carb on it.

Thanks for your help

Nov 23, 2015 | 12:43 PM

Conanski

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 31,930

Likes: 1,499

From: Ottawa, Ontario

There is no way to know exactly where/what the motor came from unless it has some decals or tags on it. You can ID the relative vintage of the motor by finding the block casting numbers down near the starter, but again you will never know what is inside without dismantling it. The heads will also have casting numbers but in most cases they are on the underside and not visible on an assembled engine, but some numbers are visible on later cast iron heads. If you can determine that your block is from the late 80s or later then have a look at the front outside corner of the heads near the valve cover to see if a capital letter or letters are visible.