Determining Engine Year

[Venom S]

I'm in the process of locating a pre-1972 460 engine block. Apart from taking the seller's word for it, how can you verify the year the engine/block was made?

Thanks
Venom_S

[Jack21]

Ford castig numbers/letters are under where the starter bolts in.

The first two digits of virtually all Ford parts indicate the year of the vehicle it was on, or made for. The first digit is a letter, B, C, D, E, indicating the decade. C='60's, D='70's, E=80's, etc. The second digit is the year.

Look under the starter for a block casting number. If the first two digits are C9, it's a '69. If D2, it's a '72, etc.

[Venom S]

Thanks Jack

I know this will be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Most pre-1972 460 engines are probably long gone, but I will try.

Venom_S

[Bill Wells]

on my 94 (F4) coded 351 SVO Crate , the starter had to be removed in order to see the 'casting numbers'. on some of the 60's i believe the casting numbers are located on the back side of the block below the valve covers on drivers side, not underneath the starter (so I was told when I was searching for what cal yr my block was) . Bill.

[Jack21]

Not at all. You can still find vintage 429's out there. Same block, just put a 460 crank in it. Look in your local Want Advertizer, of find one here.

[rpred]

If possible always use "Build date codes" not casting numbers. On the 429/460's you can find it stamped on the machined surface at the upper right corner on the front of the engine block. The first digit is the calender year the next letter is the month A-M (I is not used A=January) the last two digits are the day of the month. (eg. 8B20C)= 1968 or 1978 February 20th.
Rick FF#3169 <460/tremec>