VIN Stamping 1960s Engines

[DBcsx4872]

In Mass I have to get my new Cobra a VIN before I can register it. The process involves getting the car inspected by the State Police. I went out there to talk with the police officer who does all the inspections. He told me he wants to see a title of the car that the engine came out of, he say there will be a VIN stamped on the engine. The engine is a 1966 428 PI that supposedly came out of a state police cruiser in SC. If that it true a state police car, as a state vehicle, would never have been titled or registered. If is was stolen it would have had to been stolen from the state police. However, despite it origins as a police car, it is my understanding that in 1966 Ford did not stamp VIN# on engine blocks. In Ford lingo "matching numbers" refers to date codes and part numbers stamped on the block coinciding with the VIN on the Chassis. Along with a few Ford books, I will be printing this forum page to show the state police officer, so if you have lots of experience working with Ford FE engine, please do not hesitate to brag about your experience and credentials. This cite has been very helpful in guiding me through the Titling and Registration process for my Cobra, Thankyou for your continued support.

Derek B

[Ron61]

Not sure if this will help you but I have an original 1969 Cobra like Ford made for NASCAR and no where on the engine does it have any Vin stamp that tells it came in that Cobra. It has the normal Date/year codes and a one letter stamp on the rear of the block that says it is a 428SJC if you can believe the Ford parts book. It could have came in any 1969 car that they put the 428 Cobra engines in.

Ron

[DBcsx4872]

The ford FE book that I have says they started doing partial vin stamping on Ford engine blocks after 1968. I think Cobras and even Shelby Mustangs were exempt from this as a general rule. However, my engine came out of a police cruiser that was a Galaxie 500. I beleive that a Galaxie made after 1968 may have a VIN# on the engine block, but not before 1968. It is also my understanding that 11 or 17 digit VIN# were made internationally standard in 1968 and that is when they started showing up on engine blocks to prevent thefts.