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Block Identification

jmcalj

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Mar 25, 2023
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7
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Oregon
I have a 1971 Ford Bronco that I inherited. The engine to my understanding isn't original. I'm trying to figure out what it currently has in it. I'm hoping someone can help me based on the image
 

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bmc69

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Jun 11, 2004
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First/early production 302 block, cast 10 November 1967. The late 67 production date could mean its a 289 and not 302.
 
OP
OP
J

jmcalj

New Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
7
Loc.
Oregon
Does any of the casting number say what this engine might have come out of. I was told it might have been a Ford Fairlane. Thank you so much for your help on this.
 

jamesroney

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No. No one can tell you what this is from the Block casting numbers.

It's a C8OE-6015-A block. Cast on November 10, 1967 in the Cleveland Ohio Foundry for a 1968 year model Ford / Mercury. It's either a 2-7/8 stroke 289, or a 3 inch stroke 302. Nobody knows definitively what displacement that BLOCK is configured for. If it received a 289 crank, its a 289. If it received a 302 crank, its a 302.

Yes, it was cast in Cleveland, and no is is not a "Cleveland." It is an 8.2 inch deck, 4 inch bore, "small block Ford" and is currently referred to as a "Windsor." (Even though it had nothing to do with Windsor, has never been to Windsor, and is not a Windsor Block.)

Any website that tells you it is a 302 block does not contemplate the hundreds of thousands of C-code 2V-289's built in 68. They also used the C8OE-6015-A blocks. Or were they C8OE-B blocks? I can't remember.

It most certainly could have come in a 1968 Fairlane. But if it did...it's probably a 289. The 302 didn't show up in the Fairlane until later in the model year. It could have also come in a Mustang, Comet, Falcon, Galaxie, Montego, or Bronco.
 
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bmc69

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No. No one can tell you what this is from the Block casting numbers.

It's a C8OE-6015-A block. Cast on November 10, 1967 in the Cleveland Ohio Foundry for a 1968 year model Ford / Mercury. It's either a 2-7/8 stroke 289, or a 3 inch stroke 302. Nobody knows definitively what displacement that BLOCK is configured for. If it received a 289 crank, its a 289. If it received a 302 crank, its a 302.

Yes, it was cast in Cleveland, and no is is not a "Cleveland." It is an 8.2 inch deck, 4 inch bore, "small block Ford" and is currently referred to as a "Windsor." (Even though it had nothing to do with Windor, has never been to Windsor, and is not a Windsor Block.)

Any website that tells you it is a 302 block does not contemplate the hundreds of thousands of C-code 2V-289's built in 68. They also used the C8OE-6015-A blocks. Or were they C8OE-B blocks? I'm not 100% sure.
First/early production 302 block, cast 10 November 1967. The late 67 production date could mean its a 289 and not 302.
 

jamesroney

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@bmc69 I'm pretty sure that you could get a C code 2V-289 Mustang all the way up to the end of production in July of 1968. You could also get a J-code 4V-302 Mustang at the same time. They both used the C8OE blocks...

The "early" vs "late" thing is a Fairlane thing. They introduced the 302 in the Fairlane mid-year. But I've seen C-code Fairlanes with "4D" date codes. I don't know if they did a 289 and 302 at the same time in the Fairlane. But they did it for the full year in the Mustang.
 

Broncobowsher

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Jun 4, 2002
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37,066
Does any of the casting number say what this engine might have come out of. I was told it might have been a Ford Fairlane. Thank you so much for your help on this.
No.

Ford did not make special castings for different vehicles. A C-code 289 mustang engine is the same as a C-code Bronco, Fairlane, Torino, etc. The oil pan, pulleys and accessories, and other outside stuff may be different to fit a specific chassis and accessory package. But the base engine is the same.

Often the engineering number can indicate what platform a revision was done for. But that doesn't make it specific to that platform. The change would carry into the full production of that engine.

What I am reading is what others stated. 1967 cast block with updates for the 1968 model year. Probably has "302" cast in the lifter valley. But could still be filled with 289 crank and rods. That window it was made in was a slow transition from 289 to 302 that had a lot of overlap. 302 marked block filled with 289 parts is well known and common for that year.
 

bmc69

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They both used the C8OE blocks...
I'm aware..I've owned several '66 Mustang among others. And every year of EB except for '77. Still saving this '67 289 for..well I dunno..just because I save things. Still has the vacuum over fuel pump on it...
 

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Quick & Dirty

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Feb 15, 2004
Messages
857
If the engine is unmolested there should be an aluminum tag bolted to the intake manifold, usually under the coil mount, that will give a better idea of it's origin.
Lacking a tag, to find displacement drop the pan and find the ID on the front crank counterweight. 1M is 289, 2M or 2MA is 302, 2MAE is 5.0
 
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