[Keithc8]

Well just remember the original blocks were cast in 65 and 66 and this makes them even harder the find. Most have been exploded or repaired with sleeves and welded. So if you must have original then that must be a early date coded 427 side oiler block and that wil cost you if you find a ggod one and it will cost you a lot of misery if you do not find an original one. The block we speak of here is not an original but a part sold over the counter in about 70 to 73 more than likely to fix the broke stuff.
If the car is not real you are wasting money trying to find a 65 to 66 block and engine parts to make it seem that way. Just way to many better parts available these days with the right part numbers on them. The Pond replacement block even has a C5AE-H casting number on it with a 65 date code, does that make it more correct than the over the counter block with the 72 date code. When looking at it in the car only an expert that knows and has worked on the blocks will know the difference but anyone that knows how to check a date code will know that you have a Ford service block.
I am just happy that we have these choices because I all but quite working on the FE engines 10 years ago other than high end race stuff because there was nothing but junk out there. It was just a pain in the ass to bild them with this left over junk and have problems. I can remember building about 5 FE engines a year in the late 90s and now we build about 70 a year along with a lot of short blocks and heads.
Like I said I just purchased a NOS 427 block and will build a real nice engine out of it for someone I am sure and will buy more if they come along at a similiar price.

Good luck to all, Keith Craft