Block casting date question

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KMcoldcars
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Block casting date question

Post by KMcoldcars »

I recently bought a nicely restored 1962 Bird. I checked the casting numbers on the passenger side of the block and it appears to be B9AE6015. It would appear that this car has a 1959 352 in it. I found no date code near the oil filter adapter on the drivers side of the block. The only other number I have found is on the front of the drivers side head. That is 978.
Do I really have a 1959 352 in the car? What does the number stamped into the front of the drivers side head mean?
I have included a picture of the numbers on the side of the block. Does the 8AE:2 number have any significance? Thank you for any information.
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redstangbob
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by redstangbob »

I believe you do have a 1958 cast block. 8AE:2 should be 5th week of January, 1958. Check casting dates on intake manifold, the exhaust manifolds would have been re-used from the 62 engine. My guess, Bob C
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KMcoldcars
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by KMcoldcars »

Thank you for the reply. I am going to question you in an attempt to learn. From what I have read the casting number B9AE6015 is decoded this way: B is for the 1950s, 9 is for 1959, AE is Ford engine, and 6015 is engine block. If this is correct then it would be a 1959.
I can see how 8AE:2 would be the 5th day of January, 1958,with 8 indicating year, A January and E the 5th day, but they cannot both be right.
Either way it would be a 352 and not correct for a 1962 T Bird.
The car had a 2 barrel carb and manifold on it before the previous owner got it and restored it. He left the 2 barrel on it, so I cannot check intake manifold numbers.
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redstangbob
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by redstangbob »

Cast in January 58, for a 1959 model year car. I have a C5 block for my 65 my car, cast in August 64. hope that helps.
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jhenry
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by jhenry »

redstangbob wrote:Cast in January 58, for a 1959 model year car. I have a C5 block for my 65 my car, cast in August 64. hope that helps.
...and I have a "C1" part number on the block in my 1960 with a casting date of July 5, 1960. Just goes to show you cannot go by the part number exclusively when determining the application.
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KMcoldcars
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by KMcoldcars »

Thank you both for your very helpful information.
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Alan H. Tast
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by Alan H. Tast »

jhenry wrote:
redstangbob wrote:Cast in January 58, for a 1959 model year car. I have a C5 block for my 65 my car, cast in August 64. hope that helps.
...and I have a "C1" part number on the block in my 1960 with a casting date of July 5, 1960. Just goes to show you cannot go by the part number exclusively when determining the application.
What you have to remember is that in order to have assemblies available for the start of production for a model year, the supply chain requires items to be produced in advance of the start of final assembly. In the case of a C1- numbered block being cast in early July of 1960, engineering had to be completed prior to the release for production (probably spring 1960), then patterns, cores, etc. made before casting could begin. While final assembly for '60 'Birds ended in August-September of '60 and changeover for '61 'Birds started in roughly September 1960, there were instances (like this one) where the new-and-improved part (in this case a C1AE- 352 cylinder block, I assume) got into production to supersede the previous engineering design. We do have the C1AE- coded blocks listed in VTCI's 1958-1960 Original Factory Specifications (OFS) manual.
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Joe Johnston
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Re: Block casting date question

Post by Joe Johnston »

in order to have assemblies available for the start of production for a model year, the supply chain requires items to be produced in advance of the start of final assembly.
I retired as a Pattern Maker for a large GM foundry. We often started making the next model years castings about the time of the July 4th two week shut down. These castings are prototyped and and thoroughly tested a long time before then - often 2 years out to allow for all the testing, and changes prior to production. Difficult at times in July/August as the next model year was needed as well as current production parts for the assembly. Throw in running changes during the model year and the engineering number changes, its a wonder any thing can be documented 50 years later.
PLEASE invest a few bucks and buy all the shop manuals for your car. Definitely will save you much time and be an education.

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Re: Block casting date question

Post by tmjsong1aolcom »

There is an embossed flat sticking out from the block near the upper end of the dip stick. Usually painted over and full of crap. Clean the flat
surface off and you will have when the block was assembled.

Please post what you find.

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