Build date code
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From: willamette valley ore
Build date code
Here is a pic of the intake from the 289 I am rebuilding. The build date on the block is stamped 7B3L. I know that the 7 is 1967, the B is February, the 3 is the day of the month and the L is the change. In this case L would be the 12th change to the 289 engine for the model year 1967. But what was the 12th change? Is there a list of the changes that were made during production? Steve
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
3 refers to the third week of the month, not the day of the month.
L refers to the 11th change, not the 12th, because Ford skips the letter I on casting numbers, casting dates, vehicle production assembly dates (seen mainly on car Warranty Plates thru 1975) and etc...because it looks too much like the numeral 1.
A = January / M = December.
But that change does not mean it applies only to this casting date.
It would be implausible to have 11 casting changes for only one model year.
It applies to all the 221/260/289 casting changes from circa July of 1961 thru the third week of February 1967.
The 221 and 260 engines were introduced in the 1962 model year. Production began in July or August of the previous year.
The 289 was introduced for the 1963 model year, same production info applies.
One change I do know about: 1965 (and earlier) 289 engine blocks cast prior to 8/23/64 have 5 flywheel bolt location holes, after 8/22/64, they have 6.
The timing covers used on these earlier engines (and the 221/260's) are aluminum, the later covers are cast iron. The waterpumps are also different.
L refers to the 11th change, not the 12th, because Ford skips the letter I on casting numbers, casting dates, vehicle production assembly dates (seen mainly on car Warranty Plates thru 1975) and etc...because it looks too much like the numeral 1.
A = January / M = December.
But that change does not mean it applies only to this casting date.
It would be implausible to have 11 casting changes for only one model year.
It applies to all the 221/260/289 casting changes from circa July of 1961 thru the third week of February 1967.
The 221 and 260 engines were introduced in the 1962 model year. Production began in July or August of the previous year.
The 289 was introduced for the 1963 model year, same production info applies.
One change I do know about: 1965 (and earlier) 289 engine blocks cast prior to 8/23/64 have 5 flywheel bolt location holes, after 8/22/64, they have 6.
The timing covers used on these earlier engines (and the 221/260's) are aluminum, the later covers are cast iron. The waterpumps are also different.
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From: willamette valley ore
Thanks for setting me straight on the number of changes. It makes more sense that there were 11 changes over a period of years. So the casting date code and the build date code differ in what the third digit means. The casting date includes the day the part was molded but the build date only refers to the week. Very interesting stuff. According to an interchange book that I just picked up, the build date was stamped in the block (which I found ) and it was also on the aluminum tag on the intake. I have the tag but it does not have a build date that I can recognize. At least it is not the same as the stamped date. The manifold is out in my shop but tomorrow I will post the info from the tag and see if we can figure out what those numbers indicate. Thanks again, Steve
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1965/72 Ford Passenger Car Parts Catalog sample engine ID tag decoded:
Top line of Engine ID tag:
Engine Size (390) / Code Letter for Engine Plant (C) / Number refering to Change Level (1).
Bottom line of Engine ID tag:
Single number which refers to the year (5) / - / Single letter which refers to the month (A) / Engine Code Number (310) / Letter for Ford in house use only (J).
Top line of Engine ID tag:
Engine Size (390) / Code Letter for Engine Plant (C) / Number refering to Change Level (1).
Bottom line of Engine ID tag:
Single number which refers to the year (5) / - / Single letter which refers to the month (A) / Engine Code Number (310) / Letter for Ford in house use only (J).
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