16-09-2021

Ford Engine Block Codes Serial Numbers Specifications

221, 260, 289, 302

The 221, 260, 289 were originally designed for the Fairlane and produced only in the Cleveland engine plant from 1962-1965. The 1964 289 casting number for all 289s was C4OE-6015-C (later an F suffix). In 1965, this number was changed to C5AE-6015-E for the 289 2V, 4V and Hi-Po (note the change to full size Ford designation and 6 bolt bell housings).

In mid-year 1966 the Windsor plant also began producing 289s. The casting numbers for these were (C6AE-6015-C with a '289' and 'WF' in the lifter valley. In 1967 both Cleveland and Windsor produced 289s using earlier year casting numbers but with updated date codes. These two blocks were interchangeable, but there were probably some minor differences. Near the end of the 1967 production run, Cleveland ran out of 289 blocks and substituted their new 302 block, C8-OE-6015-A and marked with 302 in the lifter valleys. This block wasn't intended to see action until 1968.

Note these 302 casting numbers returned to the intermediate size Ford or Fairlane lineage. Hence, a late model 289 coming from the Cleveland plant might have a 302 block with 289 innards. The Windsor plant had an abundance of 289 blocks for 1967. In 1968 Cleveland only made 302s, while Windsor continued with the 289s. It appears Windsor also tooled up for 302s but the plug was pulled before they got to make any.

They did however, design and produce a 302 block that was used on 289s after the stock of 289 blocks was depleted. The number was C8AE-6015-B with 302 marking in the lifter valley. At the very end of the model year some additional 289 blocks must have been discovered as the older C6AE-6015-C blocks appeared again. In 1969 Cleveland continued with 302 production. Windsor dropped 289 production and took up the 351. In 1970 Cleveland came out with its newly designed 351.

In short:
C8AE-6015-B is a 302 block from the Windsor plant that was used in 1968 on a 289.

C8OE-6015-A is a 302 block from Cleveland from a 1967 289 or a 1968 or later 302 (check date code).

There is no code stamped on the block itself that can be used to identify the cubic inch displacement of the block. Casting numbers can be helpful, but some blocks used several different casting numbers, and in some cases, one casting is not interchangeable with the other. Engines are identified by a tag attached to the engine. This tag is used on all late 1964-1970 models and located under the coil attaching bolt. On the tag is the displacement, assembly plant, model year, change level, engine code (useful in identifying high performance engines) and date of production. This tag is easily lost or replaced with a fake tag, so don't rely solely on the tag for identification.

Cylinder Heads

Casting numbers for cylinder heads may change from year to year. For example, the code may be cast as C6ZZ-A in 1966 and C8ZZ-A in 1968 even though they are the same cylinder head. Special heads are required with emission controls from 1965-1966 for the emission system to operate properly.

Beginning in 1967, all heads have provisions for emission control systems. Casting numbers are usually the same or nearly the same as the part number. Cylinder heads cast with a '5' as the second digit were most likely installed in a 1966 model.

Pictures courtesy of Cruce Motor Rebuilding


302 V-8 Block

The casting number is located where the starter bolts up to the bell housing.

Removal of the starter is necessary to see the number

390FE V-8 Big Block

The casting number is located where the starter bolts up to the bell housing.

Numbers can be horizontal or vertical.

In some cases, they are not there at all!

1965 model 289 Head

Head casting number is under the cylinder head.
It must be removed to see it.

1965 model 289 Head

Date code location is under the valve cover.

Identify the basic part number and suffix portions of the Ford part number. The part number casting you will find on the engine block is the part number of the block itself, with the basic part number, '6015,' designating an engine block. The Boss engine is the basis for many of Ford’s racing-sealed engines, and it’s offered in stroked version up to 5.3 in short-block form. It produces 420 hp at 6,500 rpm and 390 ft-lbs of torque at 4,250 rpm. Until Ford offers the 5.2-liter GT350 engine in crate form, this is one of the best modular Ford crate engines you can buy.

Ever wonder what size motor you have? If so, your not the only one. To the inexperienced enthusiast all small sixes look identical, however there are minor differences which can be easily spotted if you know what to look for. In this article we’ll cover a majority of the differences, for engines produced in the USA, even though you only need to know three to identify the engine size

While Australian and/or Argentina built motors are similar to their US counterparts, they have their own unique set of differences. Some of these differences are the same as their US counterparts, while many are not. For example, all US-250ci engines had a low mount starter, while the Australian and Argentina 250’s had a high mount starter. Therefore exhaust headers produced for an Australian 250ci will not fit the US-250ci, or vice versa. Another example would be the oil pump, while the oil pump drive is the same size, the bolt patterns are different. Therefore the oil pumps are not interchangeable. The US-200/250ci distributors and cylinder heads will fit an Australian 200/221/250ci Pre-Crossflow, and vice versa. However the AU-250ci Crossflow distributors and cylinder heads are unique to the Crossflow and will not interchange with the US-200/250ci engines. One last example is the oil pan, also non-interchangeable, as the Australian and Argentina 250ci oil pans (and blocks) are one inch narrower in width. The list goes on…..

  • For starters all date codes are alphanumeric – containing both letters and numbers. A ‘casting date code’ provides the exact date when the component was produced at the foundry. A casting date code can be found, for example, at the rear of the engine block, usually above the starter, or between spark plugs on a FE cylinder head.
  • Highland Park would ship a block of engine-number records to an assembly plant and these engines might be made weeks or months afterwards. Consequently, engine numbers can only be used to date the 'engine' NOT the car. It might be interesting to note that Ford claims to have built fifteen million Model T cars; this figure based on the number of.

General Description: The Small Six (or Falcon Six), overhead valve, inline 6-cylinder engine was introduced in 1960 with a cast iron block and cylinder head. All US cylinder heads incorporated an integral one barrel intake manifold, more commonly known as a log intake. The crankshaft and flywheel are dynamically balanced, and the crankshafts are fitted with a harmonic damper, which is often called a balancer.

Block Codes: Block codes were an attempt at a cast-on block identification system & can be found on the road draft tube mounting boss. Block codes were in use up to 1964, or there about, then Ford switched to small metal tags that were bolted to the engine block.

Below is an example of the tags used on engines from 64 on. This is the tag from a 1969 250ci engine. They are quite similar to those found on carbs, rear ends and transmissions. They are usually quite accurate, and were normally installed on one of the coil bracket bolts. Unfortunately they are commonly lost or left off after a rebuild.

The engine code number & change level were intended to assist engine shops when they ordered parts. In actual practice very few paid any attention to these numbers, as they only served to complicate the ordering process. Therefore we will not discuss them in greater detail.

Main Bearings: All 144/170ci, and 200ci blocks prior to mid ’64, had four main bearings. While the 200ci from mid ’64 onwards, and all 250ci blocks, had seven mains bearings.

Ford Engine Block Codes Serial Numbers Specifications

Rods: All 144/170/200/250ci engines have forged H section connection rods, with the exception those built in 78-79, which used either cast iron, cast steel, or nodular iron.

Stroke: The 144ci engine has a 2.50 inch stroke, while the 170ci has a 2.94 inch stroke. The 200 has a 3.13 inch stroke, while the 250ci engine has a 3.91 inch stroke.

Ford Engine Block Numbers Lookup

Pistons: All 144/170ci engines have cast aluminum flat top pistons with a 3.50″ diameter, while the 200/250ci engines utilized a dished piston with a 3.68″ diameter. The dish size was normally 6.5 cc’s, however a 13 cc dish was used in California engines, which lowered the compression ratio and reduced emissions.

Cylinder Bore: All 144/170ci engines have a 3.50 inch cylinder bore, while the 200/250ci have 3.68 inch cylinder bore.

Cylinder Heads: Depending on the production year, the chamber size, valve size, intake size (manifold volume), and carburetion varied considerably. Carb bores were as follows: 144/170ci: 1.325″, early 200ci: 1.500″, later 200/250ci: 1.75″ (all were 1V carbs).

Lifters: ’60-’62 144/170ci engines had solid lifters, ’63-’65 144/170ci engines had both styles depending on the year and model, while ’66-UP 144/170ci engines had hydraulic lifters. All 200/250ci engines had hydraulic lifters. Example: The ’64 Falcon 170ci had hydraulic lifters, while the ’64 Ranchero 170ci had solid lifters.

Rockers: ’60-’62 144/170ci engines had adjustable rockers, ’63-’65 144/170ci engines had both adjustable and non-adjustable rockers, depending on the year and model, while the ’66-UP 144/170ci engines had non-adjustable rockers. All 200/250ci engines had non-adjustable rockers. Example: a ’64 Falcon 170ci with hydraulic lifters had non-adjustable, while the ’64 Ranchero 170ci with solid lifters had adjustable.

Distributors: All 144ci engines, and 1960-mid’64 170ci engines, had a 1/4″ hex drive-shaft. The mid’64-UP 170ci engines, as well as all 200/250ci engine,s had a 5/16″ hex drive-shaft. Note: This is only a rule of thumb, as it may vary depending on the year and model type.

Ford Engine Block Codes Serial Numbers Specifications Chart

Starters: Most 144/170/200ci engines had high mount starters, which were mounted above the oil pan rim, while the 250ci engines had low mount starters, which were mounted below the oil pan rim. However some 200ci engines, used in Econoline vans and trucks (1980-83), had custom bell housings (similar to a SBF bell) which utilized a low mount starter.

Ford Engine Block Identification Lookup

Freeze Plugs: The 144/170ci engines have 3 water jacket freeze plugs which are visible directly below the exhaust manifold, while the 200/250ci engine have 5 freeze plugs.
This is the easiest way to distinguish the 144/170ci from the 200/250ci engines.

Ford Engine Block Numbers Location

Water Pumps: All 144/170/200ci engines used a 3 bolt water pump, while the 250ci six utilized a 4 bolt water pump. This is the easiest way to distinguish a 250ci from the 144/170/200ci six.

Engine

Color Schemes: The 144ci has a blue valve cover and air cleaner, and black block. The 170/200ci engines had an orange valve cover and air cleaner, and a black block prior to 1965. From 1965 onwards the 170/200ci engines had a Ford blue valve cover, air cleaner, and block. Some early 170/200ci motors had an orange oil pan as well. The 250ci engine came with a Ford blue valve cover, air cleaner, and block. However, these color combos were not set in stone, as they did change on some models, and/or specials. Hence this is only a general guideline.

Summary: Here’s how to figure out what size the block is. Identification can be made with a quick glance at three items on the motor, the water pump, number of freeze plugs, and the block code (found on the road draft tube mounting boss). The only trick is determining the difference between a 170ci 4 main and a 200ci 4 main, if there is no block code, as both engines had a three bolt water pump and three freeze plugs. The only way I know of for sure, is to verify the bore size. If I learn of another method, I’ll let you know.

  • 250ci -7 main: 4 bolt water pump and 5 freeze plugs.
  • 200ci -7 main: 3 bolt water pump and 5 freeze plugs.
  • 200ci -4 main: 3 bolt water pump and 3 freeze plugs.
  • 170ci -4 main: 3 bolt water pump, 3 freeze plugs, and a “T” code (or no code).
  • 144ci -4 main: 3 bolt water pump, 3 freeze plugs, and an “N” code.

Ford Engine Block Codes Serial Numbers Specifications Today

(Note: Early 144/170’s had a 1/4″ distributor drive, later 170’s had a 5/16″ drive).

1973-1979 Ford Truck Engine ID Tag Codes - FORDification.net

Ford Engine Block Codes Serial Numbers Specifications

See Full List On Wikihow.com

Written by: AzCoupe