I have a car that is exactly what you are looking for except my build date is late December. Tag is as follows:
289 C 67 14
6-M E 235-A
My car is an A code with Thermactor, DSO 71, PS, PB, built at San Jose.
Hope this helps,
John
Thanks John. Can you tell us if your engine heads have internal ports or use external "logs" for air injection?Mine was built Dec 20, but a C code, also DSO 71 with thermactor.
289 E 67 FoMoCo
M E-236-B 15
Observations:
1. The A code came from Cleveland, whereas the C code came from Windsor
2. Both the A "235" and C "236" match the Mannel book Appendex A page 6 table.
3. The C was at level 15, but the A was at level 14. In agreement as well in Mannel's book, with the switch from 14 to 15 occurring in November in Windsor, but in February in Cleveland.
4. Notes 13 and 14 in appendix A page 9 indicates that the engine code suffix A corresponds to level 14, and B corresponds to level 15.
Level 14 to 15 changes:
1. Heavier duty springs
2. Recalibrated carb/dist/timing and higher lift cam (C code/auto only) for improved emissions reduction
3. Accessory pulley sizes
4. Heads with machined internal air passages for thermactor air injection
What is most interesting is that I do not see anything in the book that discusses how the engine tag distinguished between a thermactor and non thermactor engine.
Before looking at Mannel's Appendix A "Engine tag numbers", I would have assumed that the core number (235/236/etc) would have been unique for thermactor engines. But that did not occur until 68 (283 = J code with thermactor, 284 = J code with Imco)
Since there was nothing to distinguish the two in the tagging, I can think of two options:
1. They relied on the obvious visual cues. Not likely - there is enough human error with a numbering system. Relying on visual cues is even worse.
2. The thermactor system was installed at the factory along with other accessories. But that does not make sense because the carb/dist/timing was different for thermactor.
So I'm missing something. Hopefully not obvious.
It is also strange that according to Mannel's book, and based on the two engine tags discussed here, that Ford used the department of redundancy department plan for levels. To use the "A" suffix, and denote "14" on the tag, and to use "B" that corresponds with "15" is a waste. And Ford was usually not wasteful. I was really hoping that the "A" suffix was for non thermactor, while the "B" was for thermactor, but that did not work out.
I suppose we need more examples.
To 67gtasanjose - if you really want to get the engine correct, I suggest you pick up the aforementioned book. There are a lot of differences between the Cleveland and Windsor engines, and differences as mentioned between level 14 and 15.
