Dating a block

[keane]

Hi again,Just need some guidance for a mate who has just finished his Dax cobra with a 429/tremec combo, over here in UK the car has to be put through a Ministry test called an SVA (single vehicle approval) which means the vehicle meeting all sorts of criteria. One of which is dating the engine for emmisions,I understand the casting numbers etc, but the examiner wants more info on my friends block, the build date code is 2d14r, which I understand to be 1972/APR/14th of month, however we need to be able to prove by documentation that the (2) relates to 72, what years were the blocks produced? 1968-? there is lots of info available but it needs to be crystal clear for this examiner to be convinced of the year. Any info appreciated, we have the Tom Munroe book on the 385 series which is quite good, but it is the decade question with the relevant proof which needs answering. Phew!! a bit long but hopefully that makes sense. Thanks Dave

[mr0077]

Hmmm, and I thought this was going to be a thread about dating practices and preferences...
Anyway, try this link, it may help
http://snipurl.com/casting_codes

[keane]

Thanks for that Ken, it is similar info to what I've got, it appears the 460 was produced until 96? There must be a register of engine numbers available to check/cross reference etc ? somebody help!!! Dave

[blubyu2]

Heres a few really good engine sights

http://www.upstatecobras.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=506

[misfit41]

never dated a block,,but I had an obsession for a pair of aluminum heads once,Tim

[mr0077]

Edelbrock gives good heads.

Dave, in the Pat Ganahl book, "Ford Performance", on page 13 he writes that the 1968 engine options included the 427, 428 and 429/460. The 427 "disappeared" in 1968, and the 428 was phased out in 1970, the 429 became the new Cobra Jet engine. In 1971 the Super Cobra Jet 429 was introduced. On page 14 he goes on to state that the 429 was dropped after 1973, and on page 109 he states that the 429 was introduced in 1968 and produced for 6 years (making it 1968-1974), and that the 460 has been in continuous production since 1968 (my book was copyrighted in 1979, making the 460 production at least 1968-1979).
Maybe getting a copy of this book would demonstrate to the examiner that is was in production during your year of 1972? And as a bonus, at the back of the book there is a brief summary on how to read ford part numbers that you can show the examiner to support the date code on your block.
Good luck!

[keane]

Thanks for the feedback as always, I too have had an extra marital fling with a pair of ally heads! I'll try all the options as suggested and will update once a solution is achieved. Dave

[slithering]

keane,

You might try emailing George Anderson at Gessford Machine,
www.gessford.com. George is very knowledgeable in block dating, rumor has it , he'll date anything!

slithering,
Chris

[Mr427]

HI:

I have been asking these questions directly of several of the major kit car manufacturers, regarding the single vehicle evaluation by inspection and certification people.

I have not received any satisfactory answers. It seems none of these cars are tested under federal vehicle safety standard for certification. With this cleared you would not have to undergo a grueling and expensive inspection of your Cobra - with the possibility of being turned down. What do you do then?

All the kit car manufacturers need to address this issue right now, because if they don´t, it will certainly be used as an excuse to shut them down by federal authorities.

With this issue blowing in the wind, export is much more difficult than it should be.

Now as to your question on the engine block. You say it is a 1972 block. Any Ford reprentative can vouch for the casting dates on corporate engines. They should. You should simply call Ford´s customer service division and ask. It may take some time and work to find the right department to speak to, but it can be done.

That aside, there is another way to determine the exact date of manufacture of your engine. On the left cylinder bank at the rear of the engine block, there is a glass-flat area that is machined after the block is taken from the cores. This area is then stamped with a metal die. The number that is stamped on this area indicates the build year and plant where the vehicle was built and the unit consecutive number. If the engine is already painted, you need to take a patch of 200 sandpaper and lightly sand the area and then go over it with a 600 grint water paper. Use a mirror to see the letters and a fluresescent light shing almost horizontally across the area. The letters are stamped shallow and very thin, almost as if drawn with a .05 lead pencil or scribe.

Here is an example from my own block: 0H521518

0 = year of manufacture, 1970
H = Plant, Lorain, Ohio
521518 = Vehicle consecutive running number.

There are ways to track this vehicle down, if you need to. Several services are available in that regard.

The 429 ceased production in passenger cars in 1974. It was first avaialble in the 1968 Ford Thunderbird.

God luck.

[keane]

Thanks Lima and everyone else, I think we may have sorted the casting number(DIVE) and the build code(2D14R) on my mates block enough to satisfy the examiner, however my own block taken from a 71 T/Bird, is "DIVE" but the build code is "0K13R" !!!! which seems contradictory? the number as described by LIMA reads "1Y100661, which again would appear to be 71? any feedback on that please? Dave

[Mr427]

Keane:

This is clearly a 1971 M.Y. engine block. The "Y" stands for an assembly plant which I don´t recognize. Probably the old Lincoln & T-Bird plant in Dearborn or that general area. Ford dealers have printed info on this. You can ask. They can decode this. It is also availalble from several printed sources and it is also included at the front of most qualified repair manuals.

The car it came from is consecutinve unit no. 100661, meaning it is the one hundred thousandth six hundred sixty-first vehicle slated for production at the particular plant.

Once you have this information in your hand, you can take it to people like Marti Auto works or others who specialize in vehicle searches and title work. This can be traced all the way back to its origin, where it was first registered, what individual car it was and where it spent its life.

Let us say that the vehicle was stolen at one time and that here you have found the engine. Then that will show up as well, if police authorities have done their work. Which brings me back to the issue of this number: That is why it is there, for police work and not old car buffs and muscle car freaks like us, but it works for us too.

All the best.

[Mr427]

Addendum:

Your build code 0K13 is October 13th 1970. That is entirely consistent with this being from a 1971 MY vehicle.

[keane]

Outstanding info Lima, thanks for your efforts. Dave