Hey again guys, this is again about the 73' F-250 Ranger XLT i just bought (Its being towed to my house today sometime).

I Pulled the original Vin Plate off the firewall behind the motor last night and ran it through a couple of VIN checkers and its left me kinda confused, especialy after reading around and searchinf these forums.

First Vin check: 351 motor
Second: 391 (??)

Now, by what ive read here (based off valve cover bolts) if the covers have 5 bolts its a 351 correct? Heres where im stumped, this motor has 7 valve cover bolts. 4 on the top edge of the cover, and 3 on the bottom edge. The valve covers are a VERY faded blue Powered by Ford Racing type (thats what it says)....i cant go off the carb type. It has a damn 4 brl carb manifold that the old owner attached a valuecraft 2 brl carb ontop of just to get it running again it turns out.

VIN: F25HPR28842

Then some more stuff im unsure of...

21-324
HX 133 BDY 4 WDE
MR COMB MLD XLT RKR
C Y E 4M2 J MID AFT

Thats exactly how it all looks on the firewall placard.


Sooooooo, and i looking at a truck that was motor swapped sometime in the unknown past? This is really important to me as im getting ready to order parts and i need to make sure i get this right.

 

F25 = F250 2wd
H = 390 2bbl
P = Twin Cities, NM.
R28842 = Concecutive Build Number

133 = 133" wheelbase
Mid and Aft fuel tanks
J= Power Steering
XLT = XLT package

It is probably a 390 that someone added a 4bbl intake to.
I'm sure that Dennis can decifer the rest.

 

What about the valve cover bolts? Or am i completly off base with that one? I though it was more than 5 bolts was a 400/460 motor (in my case 7 bolts).

 

A FE engine (360,390,427,428,etc) Should have 5 bolts. If you look at the valvecover where it meets the head, see if it if it bolts to the head and intake manifold, then it is an FE.

 

7 valve cover bolts is a 429/460

You took the info off of a Buck Tag not the Vin rating plate.
That info is for the assembly line.


The Info you need is on the door jamb.


Oh! The #391 is the Ford Plant number for that Engine.
MR is the exterior colour
M= Wimbledon white
R = Red

WDE I think is the axle ratio.

BDY 4 = Conventional Cab Styleside Box

MLD= XLT chrome package

RKR is tires

4M2 is interior trim

I'll look up the others.

 

Humm, so it may actually BE a 429/460? I hope so. Ill take some pictures tomorrow afternoon if that helps of the engine and what not.

Odd though, the paint isnt red/white.......

its Brown/white. Original style and everything just different. Guess it was painted awhile (long time) back.

 

Correction:

In 73,
R code was either Sequoia Brown
or
Tidewater Aqua (light Blue)