where on the cylinder can I find if a cylinder head is number matching with the car? What numbers do I compare those numbers to on the VIN number?
there are no such numbers.
well that bumbs me out. Are there numbers saying what year it is from?
http://www.mustangtek.com/FordDecode.html
Say what??? There are plenty of numbers, no there is nothing to relate back to VIN(there is on block), but the casting(engineering number) and date cast will be on virtually EVERY head, block, intake etc Ford has produced for the last 50-60 years... If date is after vehicle build or more than a couple months prior that is a red flag... If engineering number is for a non turbo head that would be another red flag...
Unfortunately I don't know where the numbers are for a 2.3, but probably on the rough surface under valve cover...
In addition to info from flylear45 date is a alphanumeric three or four digits... For a head cast Jan 10 of '88 would read 8A10... System is first digit year, second month( A thru M, skip I) last one or two is day...
The only thing on the head I see is L07
Well you may ask over on NATO or Turbo Ford, someone should know where the numbers are... A 302/5.0 head has casting number in a recess on deck surface, impossible to read unless removed...
Here's a March 31 1978 date on a older 302 head...
Note the system repeats every decade so knowing the casting number will place the correct decade...
(http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q765/xxAMxx/Comet/cometheadcast_zps7f0f27cd.jpg)
i love this kind of stuff,,, thanks tom!
so all the iron work on the car should all be within a couple or 3 months of the door sticker like you said,, including the rear end?
and in my diy link there is a "second year" grouping casting scheme as well.
Im not sure what the extra letter is for on each , first year production vs second year...
Reading Casting Dates
Casting dates:
Casting dates show the exact day, month and year a certain part was made or
cast. The typical casting date looks like "6M08".
Breaking down a casting date:
6 = The year of the decade. "6" for 1976.
M = The letter of the month. (December)
08 = The day of the month. (8th)
First year month codes:
ABCDEFGHIJKLM
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugN/ASepOctNovDec
[COLOR="#B22222"][/COLOR]Second year month codes:
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
JanN/AFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
So..let me get this straight...you have a car, modded a great deal (if it's the one you're referring to) and you're concerned with the head being numbers matching to the rest of of what little remains of an all original engine?
I'm not being smartassed, I just don't see the point in that example..? Unless you were wondering if the head was the original one, or whether it came from a N/A 2.3....
Now, if you were talking about a K code car....maybe these cars will be such hot shiznit some day many moons from now. Hope so!
Basically yes, though legit vehicles have been found with earlier parts... Steering box on my 428CJ Fairlane Cobra pre dated the car by about five months, most other parts 2-4 weeks...
Here's a post I made over on the Comet/Maverick board about finding numbers on a '72 302, for the most part this info is applicable for all 302/5.0 & 351/5.8 small blocks...
http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=94875
And here a video going over a original Cobra Jet 428 Cougar that's very in depth, watch it and you'll learn something... Was my inspiration for taking the pict of 302...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BxWh6R6OyUA
on your example 302, the engine assembly date you show it as
2F7 in the thread and the actual casting is 2F7Y
the Y is something i dont understand
logic would dicatate the stamp should have been 2F07
prob on another car he's researching
We didn't use "0" as place holder in the 70s, that's all modern computer ... If it had been built the 10th would read 2F10... AFAIK same system is in place today...
The Y is the assembly line it was built on... Assuming there was more than one assembly line, a problem on the Y line could be easily identified... Yeah something I should have mentioned...
Engine was missing tag so I dunno if it was built at Windsor or Cleveland...
ok,, let me get this striaght....
"somtimes" the assembly line "letter code" will be included in the date code and sometimes not?
i guess thats my question.
i see now looking at a few parts i have that i have 4 characters showing the date code.
in your case of the engine date code,, the assembly line letter appears in this instance.
AFAIK the date casting dates for major components from Ford foundries will always be in the numeric - alpha - numeric format... The build date is a stamp, not casting but basically follows same format... Other components & especially those with a tag will likely use a different system with additional info...
Components supplied by outside supplier like the Holley carb or wheel etc in the video will use the mfgr date code system... That's where the books mentioned at end of video can come in handy(though probably not much applies to Fox bodies)...
ah,, now it clicks,,
build date manual labor stamps vs the foundary molded casting dates......... two separate animals but help piecing clues together for authentic parts