How to Identify a Ford V8 (Windsor, Cleveland, FE, 385) Engine
Casting numbers say which part a block or head is; the stamp and date code say when and where the engine was built. Start with the VIN for what the car left the factory with, then check the engine itself, since engines get swapped.
Where the numbers are and what they mean
Ford casting-number system — Format: PREFIX-BASIC-SUFFIX, e.g. C8OE-6015-A. 1: decade the part was designed/released: B=1950s, C=1960s, D=1970s, E=1980s, F=1990s (A=1940s, often omitted); 2: year within that decade (C8 = 1968, D1 = 1971, E7 = 1987, F3 = 1993); 3: car/vehicle line the part was first designed for, e.g. A = full-size Ford/Galaxie, O = Fairlane/Torino, Z = Mustang, T = truck, V = Lincoln, M = Mercury, S = Thunderbird, D = Falcon/Maverick/Granada; 4: engineering activity that released it: E = engine engineering (most block and head castings); Z = Ford service part, Y = Lincoln-Mercury service part, M = performance/SVO, X = emissions/muscle-car parts program; basic: what the part is: 6015 = block casting (6010 = finished block), 6090 = cylinder head casting (6049 = finished head), 6303 crankshaft; suffix: change level: A = first release, later letters (B, C ... AA, AB) = revisions. Example: C8OE-6015-A = designed 1968 (C8), for the Fairlane/Torino line (O), by engine engineering (E), block casting (6015), first release (A). C8OE-6015-A blocks were installed in 1968-69 302s, i.e. the prefix gives the design year, not the build year.. The prefix is the year the design was released; Ford kept using a casting for years, so a C8 block can be in a later car.; The car-line letter is where the part was first designed for, not the only car it went into (a C8OE block went into Mustangs, Cougars and full-size cars).; On castings Ford often omits the basic number, so a head may read only 'C9OE' or 'C9OE-B' (the 6090 is implied).; Casting numbers (6015/6090) are not the service part numbers (6010/6049, 'Z'/'Y' fourth letter) printed in parts books and on boxes.. First pass status: verified3. Ford Master Parts Catalog FPS 8472-A, 1980-1989 Light Truck text (March 1994): factory: https://archive.org/details/fordmpcmasterpartscatalogfps8472atext1980through1989lighttruckmarch1994ocr3490pages: Section 60 (6010 block and 6049 head notes, 255/302 and 300-six sections): 6010 BLOCK ASSY. (CYLINDER) ... NOTE: 6015 is a casting number and cannot be cross referenced to a service number. It will be used as a means of identification only when casting number is unique to only one 6010 assembly. ... 6049 HEAD (CYLINDER) ... 6090 is a casting number and generally cannot be cross referenced to a service number.. Factory note: Factory confirms the basic-number part: 6015 = block casting number, 6010 = finished block service assembly; 6090 = head casting number, 6049 = finished head service assembly; casting numbers are not service part numbers. Prefix-letter meanings stay verified3 from the first pass (this document does not restate them).
Casting date code — Format: YMDD, e.g. 9B7 or 8C12: year digit, month letter, day (1 or 2 digits). Year: single digit = last digit of the year; the decade comes from the casting prefix (a 9 on a C8OE block = 1969). Months: A Jan, B Feb, C Mar, D Apr, E May, F Jun, G Jul, H Aug, J Sep, K Oct, L Nov, M Dec (no I). Example: 9B7 on a C8OE-6015-A block = cast 7 February 1969; 6M08 = 8 December 1976. This is the casting (foundry) date, not the engine assembly or car build date.; Z=Dec, skipping O) used on some parts;
Engine stamp pad — What: Ford V8s of this era do not carry a stamped engine-ID pad like Chrysler; they carried a metal engine identification tag under a bolt (coil, dipstick tube, etc.) and the casting number + casting date on the block.. under the dipstick-tube bolt on 352s; under the heat indicator bulb on 330/361/391; under the carburetor stud on 401/477/534 truck V8s.. First pass status: one. Ford Motor Co. 1966 Car Shop Manual (Cougar/Falcon/Fairlane/Mustang), Group 8 Engine: factory: https://archive.org/details/1966-falcon-shop-manual: An engine identification tag is attached to the ignition coil bracket; refer to Part 8-1, Section 1. [289 V-8] ... An engine identification tag is attached to the engine. The symbol code identifies each engine for determining parts usage; i.e., engine cubic inch displacement and model year. The change level and engine code number determine if parts are peculiar to a specific engine.: Part 8-1 Fig. 1; 289 V-8 description; Ford Motor Co. 1973 Truck Shop Manual, Group 21 Engine: factory: https://archive.org/details/1973-ford-truck-shop-manual-ford-motor-company: Part 21-01 Fig. 1; 302 V-8 section: 302 V-8 ... An engine identification tag is located behind or under the ignition coil bracket. ... ENGINE IDENTIFICATION TAG: engine model year, year of engine production, month of engine production ... The engine plant code designates where and when the engine was built.; Ford Motor Co. 1987 Bronco/Econoline/F-Series Engine Shop Manual (Shop Manual B): factory: https://archive.org/details/ford1987broncoeconolinelighttrucke150e250e350f150f250f350engineshopmanualbocr574pages: 21-01-2, Fig. 1: For specific and exact engine identification, a decal label is located on the front of the valve rocker cover on 6 cylinder engines and on the front of the RH rocker cover on V-8 engines ... D = Dearborn engine plant, C1/C2 = Cleveland engine plant 1/2, W1/W2 = Windsor engine plant 1/2.. Factory summary: 1960s-70s small blocks: metal ID tag under/behind the ignition coil bracket (factory 1966 car, 1973 truck). Tag gives CID + model-year symbol, change level, engine code, plant and production year/month. 1987 truck manual: paper ID decal on the front of the RH (passenger) valve cover instead; plant codes D, C1, C2, W1, W2.
Engine stamp pad — What: Ford V8s of this era do not carry a stamped engine-ID pad like Chrysler; they carried a metal engine identification tag under a bolt (coil, dipstick tube, etc.) and the casting number + casting date on the block.. under the dipstick-tube bolt on 352s; under the heat indicator bulb on 330/361/391; under the carburetor stud on 401/477/534 truck V8s.. First pass status: one. Ford Motor Co. 1966 Car Shop Manual (Cougar/Falcon/Fairlane/Mustang), Group 8 Engine: factory: https://archive.org/details/1966-falcon-shop-manual: 390 V-8 ... The warranty plate identification symbol for the engine is Z. ... An engine identification tag is attached to the ignition coil bracket; refer to Part 8-1, Section 1.: 390 V-8 description, p.8-81. Factory summary: FE 390 (1966 car shop manual): ID tag attached to the ignition coil bracket.
Engine stamp pad — What: Ford V8s of this era do not carry a stamped engine-ID pad like Chrysler; they carried a metal engine identification tag under a bolt (coil, dipstick tube, etc.) and the casting number + casting date on the block.. under the dipstick-tube bolt on 352s; under the heat indicator bulb on 330/361/391; under the carburetor stud on 401/477/534 truck V8s.. First pass status: one. Ford Motor Co. 1987 Bronco/Econoline/F-Series Engine Shop Manual (Shop Manual B): factory: https://archive.org/details/ford1987broncoeconolinelighttrucke150e250e350f150f250f350engineshopmanualbocr574pages: 21-01-2, Fig. 1: a decal label is located ... on the front of the RH rocker cover on V-8 engines ... The Ford Master Parts Catalog contains a complete listing of the codes and their application.. Factory summary: Factory only for 1987-up trucks (460 included): ID decal on the front of the RH valve cover. Scope: 1987-up only
Cylinder head casting numbers
Casting
Years
Used on
Chamber (cc)
Valves (in)
Notes
E7TE
1987-1995
5.0L 302 HO (also trucks)
—
1.78/1.46
about 127 cc intake runner. Chamber not settled
F7TE-AA (GT40P)
mid-1997-2001
Explorer/Mountaineer 5.0
59
1.84/1.46
revised plug angle;
D0AE-G / -M / -N / -R
1970-71
351C 4V (M-code)
62.8
2.195/1.715
closed (quench) chamber, large 4V ports; 1970 4V heads carry a '4' cast on the upper corner, 1971 a '4' with a dot
351M/400 2V (e.g. D5AE-A2A)
1975-82
351M, 400
—
2.041/1.654 (Weiss)
same head on 351M and 400; open chamber with 2V-size ports, similar to the 351C 2V
How to tell a 302 from a 351W
Deck height: 221/260/289/302 = 8.206 in; 351W = 9.480 in (1969-70) and 9.503 in (1971-up). The 351W deck is about 1.3 in taller.
Both are 'Windsor' family: 6-bolt valve covers, thermostat housing on the front of the intake manifold (wet intake), external bolt-on timing cover, small-block 6-bolt bellhousing (after Aug 1964).
How to tell a 351W from a 351C
Thermostat: Windsor has it on the front of the intake manifold (water runs through the intake); 335-series (351C/351M/400) has it in the block's front extension (dry intake).
Timing cover: Windsor uses a bolt-on front cover; 335-series has the timing chain inside a cast extension of the block closed by a flat plate.
How to tell a 351M/400 from a 351C
Deck height: 351C 9.206 in; 351M/400 tall deck 10.297 in. The M-block intake is wider and its front face sits almost 1 in above the distributor hole; a 1 in rib runs beside the distributor on the M block.
Bellhousing: 351C uses the small-block (Windsor) pattern; 351M and almost all 400s use the big 429/460 (385-series) pattern. A few 1973 400 blocks carry both patterns.
How to tell a 351C 2V from a 4V heads
2V heads: smaller ports and 2.04/1.65 in valves, open chamber. 4V heads: large ports and 2.19/1.71 in valves; 1970-71 4V heads are closed (quench) chamber, 1972-74 4V/CJ heads are open chamber.