Topic: 289 / 302 block casting

[cobraboy]

Hi Guys
Some questions regarding 289 and 302 blocks.

Am I right in assuming that all 289 blocks had a well or depression on the top surface behind the intake ?

I know that during the changeover from 289 to 302 some 302 blocks were built up as 289's but did these blocks have a flat area behind the intake ?

In other words is it safe to say that all blocks with a well are 289 and all blocks with a flat area are 302 blocks ( even if some were actually built as 289 engines )

Did any 289 engine across any application have an engine number in the area above ?

Thank you.

Mark

[krelboyne]

I thought that the blocks with the flat area behind the intakes were 1968 blocks, and have C8... casting numbers. Flat area for accepting the VIN stamp.

[cobraboy]

Thanks
So C8 would make all the flat area blocks 302 then ?

[cobraboy]

Can anyone nail this down ?

[ruppstang]

I had all ways thought the ones that had the flat area for the VIN were 302's but I think there was a thread here that some posted a picture of a block with the flat boss that was a 289. Since the then I found one too. I think the vast majority of them are 302's.

[CharlesTurner]

That's the easiest way to ID a 302... the flat spot behind the intake.

[cobraboy]

OK guys thank you.
I accept that the majority or the flat area blocks would be 302, apart from the late 289's that used the 302 block, but built as 289 internally.

[ruppstang]

OK guys thank you.
I accept that the majority or the flat area blocks would be 302, apart from the late 289's that used the 302 block, but built as 289 internally.

What I was saying is that there were some 289 blocks with the flat boss cast in them but the majority were 302.

[cobraboy]

Ah, ok thank you for the clarification.

[NEFaurora]

Anyone have a pic of this flat area in question???

)

Tony K.

[67gtasanjose]

Anyone have a pic of this flat area in question???

)

Tony K.

Below are some pictures of a July 67 final assembly date 289 engine. No VIN stamp in the flat area. "302" cast in the valley lifter area and C8 cast block with 289 pistons etc. otherwise for internals.

C8 cast blocks or blocks with the flat area behind the intake DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY make them a 302 engine (internally). I imagine that a C8 block with a VIN stamp in the flat area would at least be a 68 model year engine since 67's did not stamp the VIN there (but the flat spot IS INDEED there for those built for 67 model year use)  I cannot vouch for when the FIRST or LAST 289 was built using the C8 block but I do know it was late in 67 production and went well into the 1968 model year production (like several month into production) so there ought to be both earlier & later final dates than the one I picture here. Bob Mannel's book on Small Block Fords discusses this but I imagine there is more that can be learned through discussions such as this.

[Andrew@MagMustangs]

Just pulled the 289 out of a late built 68 C-Code Mustang and has C8 block with flat area behind intake and 302 cast in the valley. Block Dated [8E6] and has -B suffix in casting number. Definitely built by Ford as a 289.