I was given a 302 block, looks to be factory blue, numbers cast on it are, CA8E-6015-B with a date code of 7L 27. what year was this block made, and thanks.
Is that the number down by the starter area? Can you double check and make sure you don't have a typo Looks to me like it should be a C8AE Which would be a 68, darn good block
Hey, I wrote the #s down wrong, it is C8AE-6015-B, thanks for catching that, its std, bore, and very little ring groove.
C8 is the year the casting was begun. The next two letters define the line it was used on and the catagory of part (ZZ would be hipo Mustang) the next 4 numbers define the part. (6015 is always an engine block) and minor changes are defined by the last letter(s).
Heres a decent short read on the subject, I remember loosing 10.00 dollars to my father in law over this same exact thing. LOL "They did however, design and produce a 302 block that was used on 289s after the stock of 289 blocks was depleted. The number was C8AE-6015-B with 302 marking in the lifter valley" "In short: C8AE-6015-B is a 302 block from the Windsor plant that was used in 1968 on a 289. C8OE-6015-A is a 302 block from Cleveland from a 1967 289 or a 1968 or later 302 (check date code)." http://www.classicmustang.com/casting_numbers.htm
All 302's were produced in Cleveland. The 302 block appeared for the first time late in the summer of 1967 with casting numbers begining C8AE and C8OE.
The MODEL year started in Sept 1967. Block casting numbers also changed at that time to reflect the model year change.
In 1965, this number was changed to C5AE-6015-E for the 289 2V, 4V and Hi-Po (note the change to full size Ford designation and 6 bolt bell housings). In mid-year 1966 the Windsor plant also began producing 289s. The casting numbers for these were (C6AE-6015-C with a "289" and "WF" in the lifter valley. In 1967 both Cleveland and Windsor produced 289s using earlier year casting numbers but with updated date codes. These two blocks were interchangeable, but there were probably some minor differences. Near the end of the 1967 production run, Cleveland ran out of 289 blocks and substituted their new 302 block, C8-OE-6015-A and marked with 302 in the lifter valleys. This block wasn't intended to see action until 1968. Note these 302 casting numbers returned to the intermediate size Ford or Fairlane lineage. Hence, a late model 289 coming from the Cleveland plant might have a 302 block with 289 innards. The Windsor plant had an abundance of 289 blocks for 1967. In 1968 Cleveland only made 302s, while Windsor continued with the 289s. It appears Windsor also tooled up for 302s but the plug was pulled before they got to make any. They did however, design and produce a 302 block that was used on 289s after the stock of 289 blocks was depleted. The number was C8AE-6015-B with 302 marking in the lifter valley. At the very end of the model year some additional 289 blocks must have been discovered as the older C6AE-6015-C blocks appeared again.
In addition to those two castings, you could also end up with either a Mex block or a 289 Hi-po block in 68. I was given one such block 20 years ago when I first got back into playing with these things. It was the original block out of a 68 Galaxie with a 302. The guy who gave it too me wasn;t big on uisng antifreeze and allowed it to freeze (yea, it do get that cold down here sometimes) any how, when we took it apart to salvage the crank, it had those thick 289 Hi-po main caps, so it was either a Mex block or a Hi-po, built into a 302 -2 v motor at the factory.
Yep Ford did some pretty wild stuff around that time. No consistency at all in that time period. It does make for some good unsespected finds though
Don't I know it. Bought a Merc 410 once that ended up being a 428. And pulled a 390 from my 70 F100 that ended up being a 410. Never know what you can find in those old Fords and Mercs.
