I hope someone can help! I purchased a used motor which was sold (per the VIN) as a 1981 T-Bird 4.2L V8 2bbl OHV to install in the 1981 F100. My month-long dilemma started with a leaking carb. Since I knew that 2 rocker arms were cracked, I thought I would fix all at once. But when I ordered the parts for the 255, they do not match. No parts dealer, Ford dealers, or local engine rebuilders can help me id FOR SURE what the block, intake and heads are by the markings I have taken from each. Some suspect it is 302 or 351 (windsor, cleveland, everyone has a guess), others think it IS a 255 and parts are practically unobtainable new. So here goes, be patient. I need to know what beast or hybrid beast this is. I have rods sitting in 60 weight oil and winter is blowing in Minnesota!
BLOCK: above starter: EOAE D3C with "15" stamped sideways to this number, "80" stamped on block, passenger's side by freeze plug near starter.

13
80 raised stamp, driver's front behind power steering pump

MANIFOLD: 0318
R EOSE 9425 FC 10W from left to right on back

F.O. off #1 piston: 1, 5, 4, 2, 6, 3, 7, 8
2,3,5,8 ports are raised on intake. Carb is 2 bbl that attaches to raised alum. intake, one hole through each port to back of carb, into EGR valve. 2 metal fuel lines (one each bbl, driver's side larger) stick out of raised part of intake which carb attaches to, approx. half way up. Distributor in FRONT. Choke heater plate cover on pass: DOAE
OATE with 2 bolts. Flat metal plate across from it on driver's side marked with a "B", 2 bolts.

HEADS: Driver's: has a "B1" stamped on outside corner, closest to pow steer pump. Under tappet cover, driver's side: 5 bolts, no washers, and 3 "allen-type" hex heads. A broad line, not an "I" or a "1" and 9753 in a circle. Large 78, this is most prominent mark. Again, the broad line and E4. Ford emblem vertical. Symbol: like a small "c" inside a larger "C", line, P (?, maybe smaller capital D instead of line and P) Heads have metal cooling pipe connecting each other together from back (firewall) EBR tube: F814B. Exhaust valves have removeable caps. threaded pedestal, fulcrum guide, rocker arm, fulcrum, attaching bolt (not stud). Any direction as to who might be able to, or other markings/features that might positively id these parts would be immensely appreciated.

 

I can help with some of it. The part numbers are saying 1980, so it's no earlier than '80, which leaves out the 351 Cleveland for sure! And the firing order is 302 like, which leaves out the 351w. The block number's car line, "A", is Ford, not surprising, but the intake manifolds car line, "S", is Thunderbird, which seems odd.
Didn't understand the part about 2 fuel lines sticking out of the manifold, what?
I can't say for sure its a 255, I've never seen one. So 255 vs. 302 is still a question.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Dec-01 AT 10:06 AM (EST)]Measure the bores of the cylinder block. If it is near 3.68 inches it is a 255. If it's near 4.0 inches, it's a 302.

I just found in my book: ESOE-AE is a 1980 255.

 

If you don't mind having to replace the intake gaskets, pull the centerdome and there will be a raised casting number in the lifter gallery the will tell you for sure. It will have the number 302 or 255 depending on which it is.

RCC

 

Hello and thanks. What book are you referring to? Maybe I have it, I found a goldmine of older Chilton's at a used book store. You mentioned the code ESOE-AE. If you note in my orginal message, the block is marked EOAE and the part of the intake mark includes EOSE. Is it any combination of these letters that id it as a 255? I have had several responses (thanks to all!) that involve removing the intake. If I can avoid that, I'd rather. I did not mention that this intake manifold has a valley pan. In between the cylinder parts there is air space, it's open so you can see the valley pan. Also the block appears to have been originally (factory) painted gold, was that color used for a particular motor. I have not any suggestions as to the heads yet, do you know if there are particular symbols that id this part? Have a peaceful holiday.

 

As a new user of the message board, I just realized that each of my replies to those of you who answered show up as a new posting so forgive me messing it up! On the intake I had described 2 metal stems as "lines" extending horizontally from the front of the raised part of the aluminum intake. They were capped with rubber caps on the motor when I bought it and may be emissions related or manifold vaccum, since they are grooved like a rubber hose would fit over them. The closest description I've found would be that these are EGR port and spark port vacuum lines. Again thanks to all who take the time to help. If you have any carpentry questions, I can return the favor!

 

Woops, I didn't notice that was a manifold number. The number I listed IS for a 255 block, and I got it from "How to rebuild your small block ford" book. How much money do you have tied up in this engine? If it is a 255, I have heard this engine wasn't one of ford's "better ideas". It has extra thin wall castings in the block and very small valves in the heads.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Dec-01 AT 11:06 PM (EST)]"goose"

That was quick! I had read that about the 255 in carcraft or somewhere as well, but I have had good performance from this motor with regular maintenance so until the body falls apart I'll keep going. The biggest expense will be the carb, unless I am forced to take the intake off to figure out the heads and intake and then the valley pan will go.............yikes! Regarding the EOSE on the block = 255, thanks. Then the EO A E on the manifold: someone told me that the S versus the A: A stands for full size versus S for midsize? If this is true, is it possible that the intake came from a full size and is mounted on a midsize? Or doesn't that matter? One of my concerns about pinning this down to not only size but model is I am not sure if the torques and plugs, etc. differ. I wish I could find the original owner of the t-bird that this motor supposedly came out of to see if he rebuilt/replaced what. Sigh.

I'm back, I got it backwards: the BLOCK is EOAE and the manifold has EOSE in it. So it would be a midsize intake on a full size (255?) block. All these numbers are driving me nuts.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Dec-01 AT 00:54 AM (EST)]An "S" in the product code position means Thunderbird. If it were a garden variety 302, I wouldn't think it would have an S code intake on it. So that seems to say the intake was something different than what a 302 needed, which leads back to the 255. I don't think the 255 was in LTD's, only the T-bird and smaller cars like that.

The 255 is such an oddball, it is not even listed in the title of this Forum!

 

"goose"

Thanks again to all. SO everyone seems to think that it might be a 302 block because of the A code. If a 302 block fits a 255 intake, I think maybe the original owner replaced the block. Looking through a lot of technical manuals, etc, the very puzzling feature of this intake is that, while I can find pictures of raised port 255s, the pictured ports that are raised are opposite of mine, and the firing order on mine is on the number 1 port, whereas the ones in these manuals are on either 4 or 8. I noticed that some were built in Canada, and I'm wondering if that might explain this. My next step is to take pictures of it,I guess, and hit the junkyards! I wondered why the 255 is not in the listed engines but am at a loss and searching. I had started in the 4.2 V6 board since that is the same size of this V8, and members there suggested this forum.

 

 

I have junked a 255 Ford engine out of and early Mustang send me an email of your needs I may be able to supply the parts you need. You can put a 255 intake on a 302 I have done that. It probable wasn't the smartest thing I ever did but it did work.