Numbers matching
 

I keep reading in these threads about people saying the value of these trucks are greater if it is numbers matching. I thought only chevy has matching numbers. I am only aware of the serial number being on the cab and frame, am I missing something.
If I pulled a c-6 out of my truck and put another c-6 in it, is there a way to tell? Please educate me.

I have read those "numbers matching" threads as well but decided to keep quiet. The only #'s that match are the frame VIN # with the door jamb stickers. For example and AFAIK there is no way to determine if a 78 400 motor was the 400 motor that came in your 78 truck.

Yes there is. Starting in 1968 Ford started stamping the last 6 of the VIN on the engine block.

On trucks, particularly the 73-79 era?

I haven't heard for the trucks in those years specically but I know they started it in 1968, I would figure it would be for all models but I'll start googling. I've personally seen it on late 60's Mustangs, 80's Mustangs and 80's trucks so it seemed pretty standard to me but I guess there could be a loop hole.

I was aware of the Mustangs but have never heard of the trucks getting VIN stamped.

Hmm. I guess maybe I spoke too soon. I just remember hearing they started it in 1968 and I've looked for it & seen it on 60s & 80s Mustangs and 80s trucks like I said but I have not looked on 70s trucks. I wish I could remember from when I pulled the 351m out of my truck. I gave the 351m to my uncle so I could check it out and report back but I'm sure someone else will know for sure before I get the chance.

Where on the engine block? I have a 1983 F-150 with the original 302. I do know that the heads have a letter stamped on them that are supposed to identify that it is 60's 70' 80's or 90's but that is it. I even hear Barrett Jackson Auctions claiming that some of the fords are numbers matching.

I know where it is on that truck. It's right behind the intake manifold on top of the block. There is a small flat area of the block visible between the transmission and intake manifold, its right there. Takes some cleaning to read it.

I know this doesn't prove anything but here's an interesting pic. This is not from a Mustang.

http://mmb.maverick.to/gallery/files...I.N.stamps.jpg

240 or 300 6, any idea what it's from?

What do the last 6 digits represent? The serial number of a specific vehicle.

The automakers were required by the NHTSA to stamp VIN's on all sorts of mechanical and body parts beginning in the late 1980's.

Prior years, you usually won't find VIN's stamped on Ford parts except on frames, and on uni-bodied passenger cars, on the top of the left fender inner apron.

Carroll Shelby stamped VIN's on misc mechanical parts on GT350's. GT500's and Cobra's from 1963 thru 1969.

I've seen some of these so-called VIN's stamped on blocks...they are not VIN's...at all. They are production number codes related to the particular assembly plant the vehicle was built at.

One fellow here on FTE posted a pic of one of these so-called "VIN's" on a 1969 Mustang. He said some ppl consider it the "Holy Grail." Uh huh...these ppl don't know squat.

I looked at the pic...the only digits that were VIN related were the first two.

It began 9R: 9 = 1969, R = San Jose. ALL 1969 passenger cars assembled at San Jose will have these two digits.

The rest of the numbers made no sense, were not related to any Mustang.

The 3rd & 4th digits were 26. On a passenger car, these two digits are the series code (particular body style). The series codes for 1965/72 Mustangs are: 01 thru 07 and 09.

There is no 26 series code for any 1965/72 car...regardless of what it is.

The 5th digit is the engine size. What was shown in the pic sorta resembled an I. There is no I engine code for any Ford.

The rest of the digits were too blurred to make out, but...since the 3rd thru the 5th digits made no sense...who cares what the rest of them were?

If someone claims their pre 1987 car/truck has a VIN stamped on mechanical parts...I want to see a picture of it...a picture says a 1000 words.

1961/80: Trucks, Econolines and Bronco's have an 11 digit VIN. 1981 thru today, the VIN is 17 digits.

1961/79 Passenger Cars (including 1961/79 Ranchero's) have 11 digit VIN's. 1980 thru today, the VIN is 17 digits.

So basically if you have a 73 truck that came with a 302 in it and put another 302 in it from a 78, no one could tell that that motor did not come from a later model. Am I correct?

They have date codes/casting numbers.

Numberdummy, after seeing your posts I'm sure not going to argue with you but you were saying parts of the block stamping on a 1969 made no sense as a VIN. But it's the last 6 of the VIN that is on the block, the sequence numbers. Example 123456 or A12345. The order they came off the line.
I just checked my 85 Mustang GT and the last 6 of the VIN is on the block. I was going to post a pic of my title and the block but I cant get the pic of the block to come out. The VIN ends 241553 and thats exactly what is stamped on the block.
Also, back in 1997 I bought my first Mustang, a 1986 GT. The car had 186,000 miles. The seller told me that he had replaced the engine with one from a 1991 which would be beneficial since the 86 had crap heads and flat top pistons plus it was supposed to be lower miles. Well I double checked the stamp on the block and it indeed matched the VIN, the engine was never changed. Upon pulling the engine it was E6 heads. It took different spark plugs which was my first hing this had an 86 engine and thats when I checked the VIN on the block.
I'm gonna check the 351m that came out of my truck. Hopefully I can find the stamping. Its out of the truck so I will be able to get clear pics. I don't know for sure but I honestly think the VIN from my truck will be on that 351m block.

Here is an exerpt from Mustang Monthy. They say starting in 1968 all VINs were stamped on blocks. This is what I thought to be true and I know this is not the end all be all source but it does support what I beleived to be true.


From '68 and up, all engines are stamped with the VIN at the back of the block (on top, behind the intake manifold). If the seller claims it's the original engine, check the VIN. Casting date codes and numbers are also a good way to confirm originality.

Ford Mustang Laws & Codes - Engines - Mustang Monthly Magazine

This (so called) VIN pic the FTE member posted was lifted from a Mustang website run by someone who considers it the "Holy Grail."

Please explain to me what 9R26I represents inre to any Mustang, or any other 1969 passenger car.

Casting numbers are next to worthless for ID'ing blocks for two reasons.

1) Casting numbers cannot be cross-referenced to Ford part numbers.

2) Since most Ford engines are cast as one particular size...then when the blocks are finished, can be another size, like FE engines, 429/460's, 289/302's, 351M/400's, 240/300's, and etc...what does the particular casting number tell you? Not much.

Date codes on blocks were cast at the foundry. How long from that particular date will the complete engine be installed in a vehicle?

It could be three months, it could be a year, or somewhere in between, or?

From the foundry, the bare blocks are taken outside and "seasoned." This could take weeks, or? Then the bare blocks are shipped to an engine plant to be assembled.

When the engine has been assembled, it is then shipped to one of the various assembly plants where it is "banked" until needed.

So...what does the particular date code on a block prove? Is it original to the vehicle? Who knows?

Then there's this to consider: Ford used the same block casting code for several years, so...how can that code be related to a specific year? It cannot.

1977/79 351M/400 blocks installed in F100/350's and 1978/79 Bronco's have a D7TE casting number prefix.

1971/73 429's, 1971/78 and some 1979 460's have a D1VE casting number prefix. These blocks were installed in 1971/78 cars, 1973/78 F100/350/Econolines, some 1979 F100/350/Econolines.

What sizes are the engines from these two casting number prefixes? I dunno...do you?