You can find some info on Ford V8 Engine Identificationon www.Fordification.com website too

 

As Orich stated; the dist system has been upgraded, and wasn't on your '71 302 engine. But it should take the smaller 5/8th inch spark plugs.

 

Thanks for that info.
I'll check out the other website and hopefully will be able to find out what engine this is.

 

My son checked out the other website and he says it's a 351. There are 6 bolts on the valve covers and the area around the distributor sits up about 1-2 inches higher and there's a small lip behind the distributor.
Does that sound right?
Then, for ordering parts for the engine does it really matter what year engine we have for parts? Or, will all or most 351 parts work?

 

The Dura Spark is a good ignition system. Get a 15/16" socket to use it to rotate the crank shaft to feel the timing chain slack. Mark the harmonic balancer and check with a ruler , if there is more than 1/2"-3/4" free movement you need to address the timing chain replacement. It looks like the vacuum advance is turned to the right as far as it can go which indicates a loose chain.
The Motorcraft/ Autolite carberator is the easiest one to rebuild and will help to smooth out the engine. Try to replace all the vacuum hoses also.

 

Post the engineering numbers off the Dizzy, off the dipstick, and carb tag if it's still there. Maybe I can figure out about what the 351 came out of.

 

Here's what I could find:
Tag on the distibutor
48 D9SE 12127 AA 8J-08

Printed on the dipstick above the full line
DOAE=6750-C Ford M


I didn't see anything on the carburetor.

 

D9SE12127AA crossed to part number D9SZ12127A. 1979 Crown Vic and Thunderbird with a 351W.
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I don't have a microfische crossover slide old enough to cross D0AE6750C. Back then usually the engineering numbers and part numbers went hand in hand. So I am assuming that dipstick was part number D0AZ6750C. Which was replaced by D5OZ6750A. Then discontinued.
D0AZ6750C....69/72 F100 with a 302. 70/72 cars with a 351W.
D5OZ6750A....73/75 F100 with a 302. 73/75 cars with a 351W.
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So it is my guess the PO got a 1979 351W out of a T-Bird or Crown Vic in a wrecking yard. Installed it. Then couldn't find the dipstick so they stuck the dipstick from the truck's original 302 in it. 302 and 351W oil pans have different mount pattern to the block. So your engine should still have it's T-Bird or C/V oil pan on it. The T-Bird oil pan was the usual Car front sump pan. The C/V one was different. Maybe even dual sump pan. Take a look at your oil pan to see which one it is.

 

351Ws from 1969-1975 had (16) intake bolts, L-shaped water passages at the ends of the heads (the intake would have to be off the engine to see the water passages), and had 18mm sparkplugs requiring a 13/16" socket to remove the sparkplugs.

'76 and later 351Ws had (12) intake bolts (just like the 289s/302s), rectangular water passages at the ends of the heads and 14mm sparkplugs requiring a 5/8"socket to remove them. The '76-later carbureted 351W heads (302s of this era as well) have smaller intake and exhaust valves than previous years and bigger combustion chambers --read; super sucky, low compression, smog heads.

 

I counted 17 bolts on the transmission oil pan. I think that means it's a C6, right?
I haven't checked the code on the block - by the starter.
The engine oil sump is deep at the front of the engine.