How to ID the block in my car

poweredbyford · #1 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 08:47 AM

Recently purchased an Aurora slabside Cobra and want to find out if it's the original motor. It's been worked by the past owner who owned an engine building/racing garage and don't know if he pulled the original and worked it or dropped another motor in.He was killed in a freak bike wreck two years ago and his widow has started to let go of some of his things from the shop including his cars and doesn't know anything about the history of how the car was set up which is bad for me so...while changing a leaky intake I came across some #,letters stamped at the back/top of the block DZ 658 58. Under the intake in the center of the block is a raised #80 and #3 with a raised XXX behind one of the lifter bores.

In theory the stock 1980ish 302 motors were sent to Holman&Moody to be warmed over before installation at the Aurora factory into the Cobras they built and this motor in its current state is anything but stock and it would be real nice to know what it is!

Thanks,

Dale

blykins · #2 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 11:30 AM

Look down around the starter....there's a cast number on the side of the block....find it and report back.

poweredbyford · #3 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 02:51 PM

Got the car up on ramps and just couldn't see any markings,it's tight around there.I guess I'd have to remove the starter.

Dale

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 03:15 PM

Dale,

If you have a dental mirror you may be able to look behind the starter and see if there are any numbers there. The Date code should start with a letter and number. C5AE-XXX for example would be a 1965 as the C=1960, and the number is 5. The rest willl break down into what car or vehicle it came in originally and E usually stands for Ford engineering or Engine.

Ron

jerry w · #5 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 05:07 PM

Dale,

I have a 1968 302, the number was up under the starter. I had to take the starter off. My 2 cents.

Jer

poweredbyford · #6 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005, 06:53 PM

Thanks fellows,
I didn't have a dental mirror and now there is...all kinds of makeup on the garage floor.Seems you can't turn those things up side down.Couldn't see anything with the mirror so I'll pull the starter at some point .

Thanks,
Dale