Engine number identification

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Feb 22, 2022 | 10:14 AM

Dan Dare

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5th Gear

Joined: Feb 2022

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From: Pennsylvania

Engine number identification

I'm getting ready to re-build a Ford 300-6 engine for a special project, but I'd like to know what year it is before I start ordering parts. Before we go any deeper, the engine is not in a Ford chassis, so decoding the VIN is not an option.
Apart from a casting# (D5TE6015AA) located on the lower right side of the block casting above the sump to block seal, there is no apparent engine number. Apart that is, from a number stamped (could be cast) into the alternator mounting bracket which reads: E51E10239AB

I have a few more questions for the forum regarding this engine, but establishing the year and any other details these numbers reveal is a good starting point. Thanks in advance

Feb 22, 2022 | 10:19 AM

Dan Dare

Thread Starter

5th Gear

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From: Pennsylvania

300-6 engine

Here's the engine in question. No engine number?

Feb 22, 2022 | 12:12 PM

77highboy77

Mountain Pass

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 128

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From: Maple Valley

Based on this thread, there should be an additional number series after the block engineering number you've included. This will show you the date the block was cast. This doesn't mean that's the date that the block was used, it might have been sitting on the shelf for a long time, but it is the closest thing you'll be able to use to determine the date of the engine. Based on the engineering numbers you've provided, the block design was a 1975 engineering design (D for 70's and 5 for 75). The alternator number however would be a 1985 (E for 80's and 5 for 85). This either means the alternator bracket was replaced at some point, or Ford was potentially using 1975 designed blocks all the way into the mid-80's.

Feb 22, 2022 | 12:21 PM

dlburch

Cargo Master

Joined: Jul 2005

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From: Kansas

there is an E1TE-6015-AA, so that puts your block between '75 and '81.

Feb 22, 2022 | 02:45 PM

Dan Dare

Thread Starter

5th Gear

Joined: Feb 2022

Posts: 5

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From: Pennsylvania

Engine number Identification

2 pics here - the first one shows the cast in block I.D. followed by a long space before the Ford logo. Looking closely after a good wire brushing, you can see inthe 2nd pic, a very feint rectangular outline in this space, but there is no evidence of any numbers either stamped ot cast into this rectangle.
Are there any other distinguishing marks on the block (or even the head which appears to be of the same vintage but I cannot verift that) ?

Feb 22, 2022 | 03:23 PM

mikeo0o0o0

Hotshot

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 14,333

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From: Stanley, VA

Check out this thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...date-code.html

As you can see, there's a lot of discussion when it comes to Ford casting numbers.
With the exception of certain "high performance" engines (hi-po 289, Boss 302, Boss 429, etc.) Ford never stamped an actual engine number on the block. They only had casting numbers for the casting itself, casting date, foundry ID etc.