engine codes of late 289 cobras

[peterpjb]

as I learned, in late summer 1964 the Ford 289 engine codes changed from C4AE 6015 to C5AE 6015, which means from a five bolt to a six bolt block,

round about 100 cobras until csx 2589 were shipped to Shelby American in late summer 1964 until end of 1964 and many of them weren't invoiced before February 1965 or even later

were these late 289 cobras equipped with C4 or C5 engines ?

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by peterpjb

as I learned, in late summer 1964 the Ford 289 engine codes changed from C4AE 6015 to C5AE 6015, which means from a five bolt to a six bolt block,

round about 100 cobras until csx 2589 were shipped to Shelby American in late summer 1964 until end of 1964 and many of them weren't invoiced before February 1965 or even later

were these late 289 cobras equipped with C4 or C5 engines ?

Dan knows: New Street Cobra Engine Block Numbers 1962-1964

[CompClassics]

Most 5-bolt 289 Cobras utilized the C3AE-6015-N, C40E-6015-C or C40E-6015-F 5-bolt engine blocks, the casting numbers did not dictate wether the block was a "Hipo" or not. "Hipo" engine blocks were decided by stringent testing processes. As the engine block passed certain production line tests it was stamped with an inspection stamp, when the block was assembled by Ford into a complete engine it received a serial number stamping (only 5-bolt blocks received this stamp and it was in numerical sequence). From what I have researched only completed engine assemblies received the serial number stamp. C5AE engine blocks were 6-bolt engine blocks and subject to the same testing procedures as the 5-bolt "Hipo" engine blocks but were only utilized by the 289 Cobras equipped with automatics. C5AE blocks are also not neccarilly "Hipo" engine blocks, see above. Manual transmission 289 Cobras would utilize C3AE and C40E engine blocks, automatic 289 Cobras would utilize C5AE engine blocks.
If you really want to know more about the small block Ford you should invest in Bob Mannel's excellent book, Mustang & Ford Small Block V8 1962-1969.

[LMH]

Regular production 5 bolt blocks ran out during assembly of approximately the last 60 Cobras. As John stated, the 15 automatic transmission cars all received 6 bolt blocks with their C4 transmissions. The current research indicates that Ford assembled about forty-eight 5 bolt non-production engines for Cobras with four speed transmissions after regular production had ceased. Not all were used in Cobras.
Larry

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by LMH

Regular production 5 bolt blocks ran out during assembly of approximately the last 60 Cobras. As John stated, the 15 automatic transmission cars all received 6 bolt blocks with their C4 transmissions. The current research indicates that Ford assembled about forty-eight 5 bolt non-production engines for Cobras with four speed transmissions after regular production had ceased. Not all were used in Cobras.
Larry

Based on documents SAAC has 42 of the 48 were installed in new Cobras. A 43rd one was used as a warrantee replacement for a Cobra. That left just a few unaccounted for engines as the completion of Cobras came to an end. That batch of engines don’t fall into the categories and design levels detailed in Bob’s book because they mix 1964 model year and 1965 model year parts. They are not just like the known or documented five bolt block service engines either. My red car received one of the 48 odd engines. In researching it and other engines from that batch I came to appreciate how much different it was from five bolt bell housing HP289s built immediately before and six bolt bell housing HP289s built immediately after.

Ford kept making small batches of five bolt block HP289 engines for quite some time after six bolt bell housing engines became production models. Several service HP289 engines have been well documented, which did not get any Ford applied sequential identification number, with engine blocks cast a year after five bolt engines were no longer used in production.