Topic: Timing Chain Cover Q

[MustangAndFairlane1867]

I couldn't find this in the library:  What date ranges would be correct for a timing chain cover for my '65 K code Mustang San Jose Car?  It had a scheduled assembly date of February 16, 1965, and the K motor has an assembly stamp that reads 5 F 8 D, which I decode to mean February 8, 1965, D shift.  The timing chain cover now on the car has a date code of 1966, but I want to find a cover that would be date-correct for concourse events, etc.  Thanks for any suggestions!  Ron...

[sgl66]

I believe 5F8D would be June 8 1965 assembled engine. Not likely Ford missed projected build date by 4+ months.

[ChrisV289]

Probably a timing cover with a date code within the same month of the scheduled build date of the car but before it obviously. Jeff and I talked about the assembly date of the motor and we think or guess it might be the assembly date of the short block and not the full engine itself. I believe he is still gathering data for this.

[J_Speegle]

I couldn't find this in the library:  What date ranges would be correct for a timing chain cover for my '65 K code Mustang San Jose Car?  It had a scheduled assembly date of February 16, 1965, and the K motor has an assembly stamp that reads 5 F 8 D, which I decode to mean February 8, 1965, D shift. 

The engine assemble date you listed decodes, as shown in the decoding article in the Library shows, 5F8D  Feb 8thm 1965 assemblers initial of D Could be first or last name.

Article focuses on how to decode not what ranges have been found for all pants all years and plants

I believe 5F8D would be June 8 1965 assembled engine. Not likely Ford missed projected build date by 4+ months.

Its documented that they did and by about double that period of time,  but that was an unusual situation (certification reasons are thought to have held up the order from being built) but I share your concerns of the originally of the engine to the car of  the OP.


MustangAndFairlane1867 - To focus on finding an acceptable date range for the engine you don't happen to have the date from the engine ID tag do you?

[MustangAndFairlane1867]

My apologies everyone.  I typed an F when I should have typed a B.  To clarify: the assembly date that is stamped on the pan rail above the starter motor on my block is 5 B 8 D.  What I'm trying to determine is how far back can the date stamp go on a timing chain cover and still be correct for my car?  In other words, could a timing chain cover with a late 1964 date stamp be correct for my February 1965 car?  If not, what is the range of dates that I should be looking for when shopping for a correct timing chain cover?  Many thanks, and again sorry for the earlier typo.  Ron

[J_Speegle]

My apologies everyone.  I typed an F when I should have typed a B.  To clarify: the assembly date that is stamped on the pan rail above the starter motor on my block is 5 B 8 D. 

The stamping you found in that location is not the engine assembly or short block assembly date but instead the date the block was machined as we discussed in some other threads. Still a date but often the same date or day after the casting date.  Not much of a spread often in assembly line engines

What I'm trying to determine is how far back can the date stamp go on a timing chain cover and still be correct for my car?

So looking at other parts and examples I would look towards something cast the first of Feb and possibly as far back as middle of November if it were me

Lets see what others may have on their unrestored and not rebuilt examples