How to tell if engine block is correct?

[Foxbodywant]

I'm a new member hoping to get a nice early GT. I found one nearby and I'm going to look at it tomorrow. I'll post the VIN and tags here. It has a 351W in it, but the guy said he has the original engine. Does anyone know what numbers I should expect to see on the engine? Am I just looking for a casting date that is a bit before the production date of the car, or is there a record of the exact number engine block that went into that car?

[erratic50]

Numbers are stamped into the block back by the bellhousing lip near the back of the intake. I don't remember which numbers match up with the vin for sure. Sequence numbers I think.

[83GTJIM]

Here is an example from a 83 GT. The top of the picture is the bell housing and the bottom is the rear of the intake manifold. The stamping should match up to the last of the VIN if it's the original block to that car. Incidentally the trans was also stamped.


Personally if you are looking for a nice early GT and you care about originality, I'd probably wait & keep looking. It's likely with a 351 swap that a lot of the "original" is gone. There are nice clean early GT's available but you might have to wait. It all depends on what you want exactly. Good luck & welcome to the site!

[Foxbodywant]

Thanks guys!

[Foxbodywant]

So I went to look at it today. It was a nice looking car. It was repainted 10 years ago with a new roof installed to eliminate the sunroof, and the paint/body still looked great. It sounded good and ran perfect, but had evidence of floor patches and when I stepped on the brake pedal in the driveway it blew a steel line. It's too bad, but I think I'll keep looking for something in a bit better shape.

[Foxbodywant]

Here are some pics of the VIN and other codes. Out of curiosity, is there anything rare and unusual here?

[FoxChassis]

VIN
1FA = Ford vehicle manufactured in USA by Ford Motor Company
B = active belts, no airbags
P = passenger car
28 = Mustang 3-dr hatchback
M = H.O. 5.0L V8 engine
X = VIN check digit
F = 1985 model year
F = Dearborn Assembly
108189 = 8,189th 1985 Ford scheduled for production at Dearborn Assembly

Owner Card
B8 = Great Lakes Ford of Canada district sales office
2R = Bright Red exterior paint color
PYC = cloth Articulated Sport seating (P), Sand Beige/Buckskin interior trim color (Y), trim deviation C
25J = September 25th scheduled build
M2 7C = 2.73:1 rear axle ratio w/ Traction-Lok differential (M), Borg Warner T-5 5-speed manual overdrive transmission (2), AM/FM stereo radio w/ cassette (7), sunroof (C)

Seat Tag
SEP 24 1984 = seat build date
E4ZB-6160004-070TC-L205A = engineering number

• E4ZB = originally engineered for 1984 (E4) Mustang (Z) by Body and Electrical Product Division (B)
• 61 = Mustang 3-door hatchback
• 60004 = complete front seat assembly
• 070TC-L205A = color code

LSI = (seat manufacturer) Lear Seigler, Inc.
M(97066)
PASS. = passenger side seat
BEIGE = Sand Beige seat color
MUST. = Mustang model line
LEA. = Lear Seigler seat

[Foxbodywant]

Much appreciated sir!

[bwguardian]

Nice color combo and good year to boot!