Need help decoding an engine.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 808
Likes: 2
From: east central Illinois
Interesting swap. Other folks have pointed out the obvious signs of a '63 223. Also, the 223 exhaust exits at an angle whereas the 215 exits straight down. It looks like the previous owner swapped timing covers in order to mount it in your panel. That timing cover looks like the one on my parts 215 that came out of a '52. I also have a 223 from around 1960. It was advertised on eBay as a '54 223 but I missed the subtle hints that it wasn't such as the valve cover bolt location and single accessory belt. I still made it work in my beater by swapping the timing cover for one with an integrated motor mount bosses.
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
Thanks for the response, everyone. I could tell that it was an OHV 6 cylinder before I pulled it. I thought that it was the right one when I pulled it, but then I found pictures of an actual 215 and was a bit confused.
This block has been rebuilt and rebored to 0.040". Not much room to go more. Plus, it has had a plug open to the weather elements and the cylinder walls have slight rust. I am probably going to trash the block and other parts that I can't keep as spares. I'll keep the timing cover and the carburator.
Are there any other interchangeable parts?
Ilya
This block has been rebuilt and rebored to 0.040". Not much room to go more. Plus, it has had a plug open to the weather elements and the cylinder walls have slight rust. I am probably going to trash the block and other parts that I can't keep as spares. I'll keep the timing cover and the carburator.
Are there any other interchangeable parts?
Ilya
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 6
From: Connecticut
There was alot of swaps and upgrades due to the fact you could just drop a 223 in place of a 215 with few alterations. Just think of a poor little 215 in a F-6 or 600! They had them and those poor little engines got worked. When they died, there was probably alot more 223's out there because of the limited span on the 215. The Ford Reman program was good for mix and matching parts to assemble a rebuilt. They'd start with a 223 early block, add a late head so it would fit later applications. THis 223 engine had a 10 year span with 3 major and minor changes. The biggest one was the head losing the 2 studs for cover bolts. Back then, if it fit, drop it in and get it on the road. No one cared about correctness. That's why we scratch our heads today and wonder because it's not as the book says!
Barry
50 F-1
Barry
50 F-1
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: San Jose, CA
Originally Posted by barry
There was alot of swaps and upgrades due to the fact you could just drop a 223 in place of a 215 with few alterations. Just think of a poor little 215 in a F-6 or 600! They had them and those poor little engines got worked. When they died, there was probably alot more 223's out there because of the limited span on the 215. The Ford Reman program was good for mix and matching parts to assemble a rebuilt. They'd start with a 223 early block, add a late head so it would fit later applications. THis 223 engine had a 10 year span with 3 major and minor changes. The biggest one was the head losing the 2 studs for cover bolts. Back then, if it fit, drop it in and get it on the road. No one cared about correctness. That's why we scratch our heads today and wonder because it's not as the book says!
Barry
50 F-1
Barry
50 F-1
I am probably not the first one to say this, but with all the knowledge you have, I think that you should write a book. Seriously!
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 6
From: Connecticut
I wouldn't know where to begin, and besides, I've had my truck 15 years now and it's nowhere near being close to done! I'd never get it done if I had to devote my time to a book. Besides, this is much more fun!!
Barry
50 F-1
Barry
50 F-1
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Barry this is great info. I believe my 60 f100 was a victim of one of these swaps/upgrades from what I gather about the history of the truck. At any rate, it just came out of storage today and delivered to my house. It's now in my barn waiting to get worked on but I have to wait due to knee surgery on Wed 
I was curious about the engine on this truck as well so I checked the code O3AE-6015-AO which is similar to 51Panaelman's engine code C3AE-6015-AC with the exception of the C instead of the O. Do you know if there's a difference between the two or perhaps i'm mistaking the C for the O?
Thanks.
I was curious about the engine on this truck as well so I checked the code O3AE-6015-AO which is similar to 51Panaelman's engine code C3AE-6015-AC with the exception of the C instead of the O. Do you know if there's a difference between the two or perhaps i'm mistaking the C for the O? Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 808
Likes: 2
From: east central Illinois
I believe you're mistaking the C for an O. That letter is the decade code. O would be something like the year 2080.
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 6
From: Connecticut
THat's right. Ford hasn't gotten that far yet. We'll never see that letter, that's for sure. THe new part number (since 1999) pefixes are crazy! You can't decipher any model or year from them. I've got to get used to them again, as I'm going back to Ford parts part time until I'm up to going full time again. Maybe I should have my head examined!!
Barry
Barry
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Originally Posted by Fat Fendered Ford
I believe you're mistaking the C for an O. That letter is the decade code. O would be something like the year 2080.
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini
Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini
You're right I doubled checked it and it is a C my bad. THingn is it's C3AE so that means the engine is a 1963 the truck is a 60 therefore it can't be the original engine.
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