Ford kept track of the various parts and castings in its inventory by assigning each item its own unique alphanumeric identification number. These numbers provide a lot of information to those who are familiar with what the numbers mean. The unique identifier is a series of numbers and letters that are put in a specific sequence, and the location of the digit determines what that digit designates. Information commonly provided by part numbers includes the decade during which the part was designed or manufactured, the year of the decade the part was designed or manufactured, the car line the part was originally designed for, the engineering department originally responsible for the design, the basic part number, and the changes made to the original design.
Page 11 SPECIFICATIONS SECTION Model 351/4 302/2, 302/4 Bore 4.00” 4.00” Stroke 3.50” 3.00” Cubic Displacement 351 cubic inches 302 cubic inches Horsepower 240@4400 RPM 175@4400 302 2/V 220@4400 302 4/V Intermittent Service 4400 4400 Continuous Cruise 3600 3600 NOTE: Do not cruise at high limits of above range unless propped to turn at. The Ford part number on the box shown at left is on the top line: B8A-9431-A. Other information indicates it was an Engine Engineering Division design, weighs 9 pounds, provides information on the quality control inspection, and the date packed. A typical Ford part number looks like this: C5SZ-1005-A. Here's how this number is decoded. Ford guys, location of casting numbers on a 351W Discussion in ' The Hokey Ass Message Board ' started by Roothawg, Nov 6, 2011. Joined: Mar 14, 2001. Page 11 SPECIFICATIONS SECTION Model 351/4 302/2, 302/4 Bore 4.00” 4.00” Stroke 3.50” 3.00” Cubic Displacement 351 cubic inches 302 cubic inches Horsepower 240@4400 RPM 175@4400 302 2/V 220@4400 302 4/V Intermittent Service 4400 4400 Continuous Cruise 3600 3600 NOTE: Do not cruise at high limits of above range unless propped to turn at.
What can be confusing about these numbers is that a part designed for one year might actually be used for several years, or a part designed for one car line might be used on other lines as well. For instance, a part originally designed for a 1964 Ford could often be found on a 1964 or 1965 model Thunderbird, Mercury, or Lincoln as well. It is actually quite common to find parts originally designed for Thunderbirds on Lincolns, and Falcon parts on Mustangs. In order to spread out the costs of designing and manufacturing a part, Ford used parts on different models.
The Ford part number on the box shown at left is on the top line: B8A-9431-A. Other information indicates it was an Engine Engineering Division design, weighs 9 pounds, provides information on the quality control inspection, and the date packed.
Casting date and foundry is located on top of the block back by the bell housing.
Casting date:
- 1st number is the year
- 2nd letter is the month
- 3rd & 4th number is the day of the month.
Located on the passenger side of the block near the bell housing end of the block is the casting number. We are typically looking for D8TE-xxxx and D9TE-xxxx blocks.
Here is an example D7TE-XXXX block and the date pad. The casting number is hard to read here.
Another D7TE-XXXX block, different location on the same end of the block.
D7TE castings have had an issue that came out of the Michigan foundry.
Foundry casting is located with the date on the top of the block.
As long as teh casting number is a TE block, after March 2, 1977 we are safe. A TE block from the Cleveland foundry is fine with any date.
Foundry casting codes and date codes are significant for M-block engine blocks because some blocks that were cast before March 2, 1977 at the Michigan Casting Center are prone to water jacket cracking in the lifter valley area. Blocks cast at the Michigan Casting Center after that date do not have the cracking problem.
To avoid the water jacked cracking problem, watch out for engine blocks with the Michigan Casting Center foundry mark and a date code of 7C02 or earlier.
Cleveland Foundry – Casting code “CF”
Ford 351 Serial Number Location Lookup
Dearborn Iron Foundry – Casting code “DIF”
Michigan Casting Center – Casting code “MCC” Watch out for these castings!
Here are two examples of a Michigan casting:
Here is a Cleveland casting:
Ford Serial Number Meaning
Here are where Michigan castings are prone to crack: