and the block is stamped "0A******" where the VIN stamping should be, in the flat spot behind the intake. anyone else ever seen this? I know the engine has been apart before so i cant help but wonder if they didnt just rebuild this engine and put it in my car. did '71 have a D1 head stamping? any info is appreciated
Eddie is right,, Ford used parts from prior years that were left over on drivetrain components. I have seen and read of this happening for many years.Dan
Thx guys. I was kinda curious to why but I should have known that it would have been left over stuff...
I assume you are talking about 302 heads? 302 was available in December 1970 for 71 Mavericks ... so technically if the head was built in December it would be a 70 part. Also ... I think Comets had the 302 starting in September 1970 ... so lots of 302 heads for those cars ...
yeah, it's a 302. and i also couldnt help but wonder why the engine didnt have the VIN stamped into the block like the rest of the SBF's that ive delt with
The casting numbers should never be taken to litterally mean they should match the model year. A D0AE block could have been used for several years, until Ford decided to do an engineering change that would require a new casting(engineering) number. ONLY the date code will tell you the actual date the part was cast or manufactured. Take the well known E7TE heads, these were produced for at least ten years, until they were no longer needed, as the 302's & 351's use in production vehicles ended with the 97 model year. And as for D0OE heads, there were 2 versions, one for the 302's & the other, the larger port/valve 351W version.
Could very eisly be left over parts. My Dad bought a 69 mustang brand new and it had a 289 in it. All the books say 68 had the 289 and 69 started the 302 line.We had the vin checked and found that it was built in the early phase of the 69 model run. Casting numbers that are off by one year arnt a bad thing if they are off the right direction (ie a 70 cast code for an engine in a 71 body is not a problem however it cant be the other way around and be original)
The number on Ford parts only changes when the part is modified. It is not uncommon to see part numbers from several years prior to the model year of your vehicle.
