Topic: Factory Replacement Block

[ceswert]

I am trying to understand what a "factory" replacement block is. What is meant by factory? Are there a certain number of spare, bare blocks made at a certain engine plant? If this is accurate I guess this explains the no VIN feature. I would think there is no difference between these blocks and VIN blocks? And lastly, are these bare blocks sent to a Ford dealership to be finished as a short or long block?
Thanks

[J_Speegle]

"Factory replacement  just meant it was provided across the counter through Ford - nothing to do with the car assembly plants. Depends on the time period certain engines were available as short blocks  or long blocks strapped to pallets and of course individual pieces like blocks were available by theirselves. Would expect for the dealer to mark /stamp the block so that the engine could be identified as the warranty would continue. Warranties were fairly short especially on high performance engines.

There were also - "factory" rebuilt motors were used motors were rebuilt and resold. OF course in the world of investing, buying /selling or showing of these cars most of these would just bee seen as not the original engine for the specific car - even if replaced under warranty in the vast majority of people

[ceswert]

Thanks Jeff!

[cobrajetchris]

If I have a non matching VIN block in my mustang does it receive the same point deduction at a show if I install a big block Chevy engine?
 Most of the muscle mustangs that were purchased in the day had a pretty rough life. Drag raced on and off the track which gave them the racing heritage and the legends they are today. I guess in collectors eyes the VIN on the back of the block or in some cases the back of the head makes are breaks the car's value. We all heard the low mileage stories of cars in the hands of extremely wealthy collectors but they are less the 1% of the cars out there.  Most people who ask if a vehicle is numbers matching gets their education from BARRET/ JACKSON and think if it's a non matching numbers car it's a clone or some TIAWAN tin car. The one thing good about numbers matching cars is there is a lot more of them now than 20 years ago. Don't get me wrong I know a documented numbers matching car will and should bring more money than a non, however the perception out there is if it's non matching it's such a black eye it's not worth restoring. Just my thoughts on the subject.

[J_Speegle]

If I have a non matching VIN block in my mustang does it receive the same point deduction at a show if I install a big block Chevy engine?

Don't think we were discussing judging but since you brought up the subject (given your situation) no  In fact allot of classes the judges would have never looked for a VIN on the engine

Most of the muscle mustangs that were purchased in the day had a pretty rough life. Drag raced on and off the track which gave them the racing heritage and the legends they are today. I guess in collectors eyes the VIN on the back of the block or in some cases the back of the head makes are breaks the car's value. We all heard the low mileage stories of cars in the hands of extremely wealthy collectors but they are less the 1% of the cars out there.  Most people who ask if a vehicle is numbers matching gets their education from BARRET/ JACKSON and think if it's a non matching numbers car it's a clone or some TIAWAN tin car. The one thing good about numbers matching cars is there is a lot more of them now than 20 years ago. Don't get me wrong I know a documented numbers matching car will and should bring more money than a non, however the perception out there is if it's non matching it's such a black eye it's not worth restoring. Just my thoughts on the subject.

Yes there are those people (potential buyers) that feel that way and I don't think its our business to tell them that they are wrong seeing it is their money. At the same time there are a ton more buyers that don't even understand want any numbers on a car would mean and only purchase a car based on if they like the color or the options.  Big wide hobby with lots of differing opinions and motivations.

[ag_ghost]

FWIW, I can tell you my Dad's (now my) late 63 Galaxie 500 had a Ford service block replacement (390) installed in 1972.  It was definitely through Ford and the block was painted green (sort of a lime green).  It included heads with have a C8xx-xxxx code (I forget the specifics) and one of these days I need to crawl underneath and look for any dating information on the main block.  It's only run another 100,000 miles after the first one broke at 121K.  Rumor has it my dad's sons were blamed when he was encouraged to "jump on it, Dad" when some lifter snapped...