Bought a 72 ford shortbed 4x4 with a 460 in it.This is my first ford.Is there some way of detirmining the year.Some of the numbers i found on the intake are as follows,at the back of the intake were the numbers 7 B 10 at the front of the intake above the firing order were D6VE-9425.Some of the numbers i found on the head are as follows,outside of the head below the valve cover are D3VE-A2A and on the inside of the head under the valve cover are 7 A 18.Did not see no numbers on the block.It has a factory 4-barrel intake and carb.The truck also has an electronic ignition in it.The carb spacer has the place for an EGR valve,but has a plate on it instead.It uses the 5/8 spark plugs.That is all i can think of at the moment.

 

Well the #'s for the heads indicate they are the '73 version. There should be a # on the side of the block near the starter to indicate what year the block is.(someone correct me if I'm wrong on this one) It should be a # similar to the the ones on the heads.

 

The intake is a 76 casting and the heads are a 73 casting. The numbers on the block are right by where the starter is.
D1- would be a 71 casting
D3- is a 73 casting
Thats an easy way to read the numbers for yourself.
The motor is probably a 76.

Hope this helps
Chase

 

Just a quick refresher.

When a part has a basic cast IDent number it does NOT make it that year of cast.The Actual cast date in in a 3 digit casting near the part ident number.

In other words you can have a part like an intake manifold with a D3AE-9425-AA number but it has a *5C28 *cast date.
These characters here ( D3AE ) only mean the part was designed in that year for a certain engine/vehicle.
In this case a 1973 Large Ford Car possibly an LTD,but used on other vehicles.
The Date is in this other number.
See example below.

 

So does that hold true to all the casting #'s on all the parts. I didn't see a # under the D2VE-A2A on my heads. It must be stamped into the casting then and easy to cover over with paint or grease, right?

 

Yes, This (D2VE-A2A) is the basic design number with the
change-up code (A2A) of the part.

The actual casting date code is cast into the oil galley part of the head itself take the valve cover off to see it.


If it was (D2VE-A),this would mean it was the very first design of this part.
A simple little thing like a hole being cast for something more, the part would be cast as (D2VE-B) and so on.the more things on that particular part that change the suffix letter goes further along the alphabet to a certain letter then they add a letter or number ie : A or 2 .

Also remember,this is NOT the part number in Ford's Part Numbering system,it is a cast ID number.

 

Thanx! I've learned so much about 385's from you guys over the last few months, I finally think I know what I'm talking about. Wonderful motor and easy to work on. Thanx again!

 

Thanks for all the info.I feel much better knowing what is under the hood of my ford.I didn't know squat about ford motors a few days ago, but with you guys helping out i will be a pro in no time.