390 Questions
Junior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth USA
390 Questions
lee, thank you for that info. I will go out and check that out tonight, as soon as the temperature becomes tolerable. I'm sure you are right about the engine parts being mixed & matched. Is there a way to date any other engine parts?
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
390 Questions
If your really lucky there should be a metal tab under the coil to intake manifold bolt. I have the C6ME-A and never knew what it really was, 390,428cj(yeah right) but i found the tag and it had 67 390 H so I knew what I was dealing with.
Gregg
66 F100
Gregg
66 F100
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 22
From: Lacey, WA
390 Questions
DHH
Yes, many of the parts on your engine will have a date code. Look on the #1 runner of the intake and look between spark plugs on the heads. All will be in that format of 8C15. I have even seen the date code on my water pump and bell housing.
Lee
Yes, many of the parts on your engine will have a date code. Look on the #1 runner of the intake and look between spark plugs on the heads. All will be in that format of 8C15. I have even seen the date code on my water pump and bell housing.
Lee
Junior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth USA
390 Questions
So far, other than the 352, cast under the left head, I cant find any #s resembling any of those you guys have told me about (on my block). I did find an upside down casting of "55 DIF" near the oil filter housing though. Does that mean anything? I will have to go look at my neighbors old 390 if I have time this weekend. It will probably be easier to locate the #'s you refer to on an engine that is out of a truck before trying to locate them on my truck. I haven't looked at the intake manifold or anything else since reading the previous post.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 22
From: Lacey, WA
390 Questions
DHH
The first time I went on a "Numbers" search I took along a few rags and a puddy knife. Those numbers can be hard to find under a 1/2 inch layer of oily goo! At least that is what my engine had on it before the rebuild. If I remember correctly the best way to see the date code located at the oil filter adapter is while lying under the truck looking up. Its only about 1 1/2 inchs long and date codes I have seen look like tags that have slotted screw heads on each end. Not real screws since this is a casting but that's what they look like.
Not sure what the "55" is that you found but the DIF is Dearborn Ironworks Foundary. At least that's what Ive been told.
You should also find other numbers/letters on the heads along with the date code. Something like C6AE-H. These codes can be decoded to tell ya what kind of heads you have. Also cc volume and valve size.
An excellent book you can pick up is "How to rebuild big block Fords" by Steve Christ. I got mine from Amazon for around $18.00 Everything you ever wanted to know about FE's.
Take care and good luck,
Lee
The first time I went on a "Numbers" search I took along a few rags and a puddy knife. Those numbers can be hard to find under a 1/2 inch layer of oily goo! At least that is what my engine had on it before the rebuild. If I remember correctly the best way to see the date code located at the oil filter adapter is while lying under the truck looking up. Its only about 1 1/2 inchs long and date codes I have seen look like tags that have slotted screw heads on each end. Not real screws since this is a casting but that's what they look like.
Not sure what the "55" is that you found but the DIF is Dearborn Ironworks Foundary. At least that's what Ive been told.
You should also find other numbers/letters on the heads along with the date code. Something like C6AE-H. These codes can be decoded to tell ya what kind of heads you have. Also cc volume and valve size.
An excellent book you can pick up is "How to rebuild big block Fords" by Steve Christ. I got mine from Amazon for around $18.00 Everything you ever wanted to know about FE's.
Take care and good luck,
Lee
Junior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth USA
390 Questions
I got under the truck and looked up at the filter housing and finally found the tags with what look like slotted screws on the ends of them. There are two of these tags. The top, as I was looking at it, had a "W" on it and the bottom said "F5". Do these mean anything? I thank you for decoding everything I have found so far. I will look into getting the big block book you referred to earlier.
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