My motor may not be what I thought (assumptions, argh). Can you help me ID this?

[rockingm82]

I bought my Bronco almost ten years ago.

Long story short, I bought the Bronco from a guy who bought it as a toy and didn't know much about it, nor did he do anything to it. Basically drove it for 6 months and sold it. I imagine he got it for a song and then made some cash selling it to me. I don't really care, this is my dream car.

I assumed the engine was a 170 due to the VIN. I"m a novice, but willing to learn! After dealing with some carb issues and researching carbs I came across a thread that said the 170 had 3 freeze plugs and the 200 had 5. Well, my engine most definitely has 5. It is also stamped with the following.
11
D8BE
6015-GE

Is this enough info to positively identify the orphan under my hood?

 

[Phil76]

Based upon the D8 (1978) it should be a 200, since the 170's went out of production in 1972.

 

[half cab]

4th digit on your vin will at least tell what came in it(U15T---)would be I6 200cdi and I believe F would be I6 170.This may not help,but maybe you can tell what came in it?

Gene

 

[rockingm82]

Interesting. So, I have a 1968 with a donor 200 from some 78 vintage Ford. Hmm... the research one must perform on these old machines is interesting/mind boggling.

Head Casting EOBE6090-bb

@half cab It came with a 170

 

[joshd1971bronco]

In the Ford part number schemes, the first character (alpha) correlated with the decade:
C = 60's
D = 70's
E = 80's
F = 90's

The second character (numeral) correlated with the year in that decade. So, a part number beginning with "D8" would indicate 1978.

Same thing as Phil76 said with a little more information.