Topic: 69 Block Casting Decode

[troyword]

Hi,
 I am trying to determine(as best as possible) if the engine in my 69 428 Cobra Jet is the original engine. The only casting number I can easily find is the one near the oil pan on the block. It is pretty hard to read but it looks like 8J15 and it has a W on the line above. From the info I can find online this should translate to Sept 15 1968. Does the W indicate Windsor Foundry? The build date on my car is May 13,1969. Does that seem correct for this car? I have attached a photo of the casting. Thanks in advance for any help! Troy

[Coralsnake]

I believe the W is windsor foundry.

Typically the “8” does not have two dots under it, I would lean towards it being a 9 or 0

A May built car would not have a September block.

[J_Speegle]

I am trying to determine(as best as possible) if the engine in my 69 428 Cobra Jet is the original engine.......................

Did you look for the car's VIN?

Casting date will show if the engine could be original.
Vin would in most cases confirm it was.

Unfortunately as Pete wrote not much chance here but go through the steps 

[troyword]

Hi Jeff,
 Thanks for the reply! Know I read it somewhere at one point but can't find the info.  Where is the normal location for a vin stamp on the block? Thanks! Troy

[J_Speegle]

........ Know I read it somewhere at one point but can't find the info.  Where is the normal location for a vin stamp on the block?

This should help and make it easier to find for others


http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=17793.new#new

[Brian Conway]

This is the date casting 8H17 on my 69 Metuchen 428 motor.  My VIN stamping is on the head as depicted by the orange arrow in Jeff's graphic.  A closer look at your date casting may in order ?  Determining whether it is a correct CJ block and rotating assembly will require that you drop the pan for a look see.  Gathering some sheet metal dates and verifying your other vins will be useful.  A Marti Report will also help answering some of your questions.  Brian   

[Daven]

How many foundries were there and what plants went to which foundries in 1969?

Daven
9R02R107xxx

[troyword]

I looked on the engine at the plate on the drivers side. There is no discernible stamped numbers. It is possible they are obscured by the engine paint. I checked the original C8OE-6090-N heads which are not on the car. They had numbers stamped on one. The numbers are 513395. Is that 1/2 of a Vin number? If so, they are definitely not original to my car. I have attached a photo. Troy

[Coralsnake]

The numbers stamped on yourhead are the derivative VIN. The A incpdicates the heads are from a car built at the Atlanta plant ( not Mustang ).

Common reasons for people not finding the serial numbers are:

They dont know where to look
They have another agenda
The stampings are very light or incomplete
They are covered by rust or paint
They are a part of the engine that has been removed

[Brian Conway]

...and the stamped numbers are very small.  No more than 3/16" ?  Brian

[J_Speegle]

...and the stamped numbers are very small.  No more than 3/16" ?  Brian

Depends on plant

[troyword]

Yes, they are approximately 3/16th. The casting date number on the drivers side head is 9H2 so It is definitely not original for my car. The other head the casting number is illegible.

[J_Speegle]

I am trying to determine(as best as possible) if the engine in my 69 428 Cobra Jet is the original engine. The only casting number I can easily find is the one near the oil pan on the block. It is pretty hard to read but it looks like 8J15 and it has a W on the line above. From the info I can find online this should translate to Sept 15 1968. Does the W indicate Windsor Foundry? The build date on my car is May 13,1969. ............

Going back to your original picture and question before we went to the VIN stamping for a more conclusive indicator but a Sept block in a May built car is not likely based on other original examples from what examples I've collected. Often its around a two month spread or less

If the 8 is really a 9 with the double dots then it was cast after the car was built

H to J spread between a head and block is even a bit unusual but its typical to see CJ's assembled (when replacing original engines) to be made up of parts from different other engines due to heavy use and modifications many of these cars saw over time

[Mike_B_SVT]

I looked on the engine at the plate on the drivers side. There is no discernible stamped numbers. It is possible they are obscured by the engine paint. I checked the original C8OE-6090-N heads which are not on the car. They had numbers stamped on one. The numbers are 513395. Is that 1/2 of a Vin number? If so, they are definitely not original to my car. I have attached a photo. Troy

That "5" at the beginning indicates this came from a Mercury.