Can any body decode partial block VINs? I am rebuilding a '71 302 for my '60 Comet, and it has 2K164092 stamped into the block behind the intake manifold. I'd like to know more about this engine, like what kind of car it came from if possible. Can't find anything on the web, any ideas?
Not positive but the 2 is 1972 and the K would be Kansas city ***embly plant. The other numbers are just the consecutive ***embly numbers.
If the motor was complete and original when you got it, you'll get more info off the casting/part numbers on the various parts. Check the number on the distributor, that usually will narrow it down pretty good. Next choice would be the intake, then the heads. If you're lucky and it still has the aluminum tag attached to the coil mount or under an intake bolt, that will spell out what it was out of, but those tend to disappear over time.
Exhaust manifolds can help too. KC built a lot of Mavericks and Comets a**** other things in 72. Could be from one of them. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. Very helpful. This engine was in a '65 Mustang when purchased by a friend several years back. He wasn't happy with the power, so he had a local shop build and install a stroker small block for it. As I got it a few weeks ago, it had a rattle can overhaul with a new timing chain and oil pump, and someone had put an Edelbrock Torker 289 intake on it, the early one with the angle-mounted carb flange. Just slightly the wrong intake for a bone stock 302, and it had a Carter 625 and a set of really ugly '80's-riffic Edelbrock finned valve covers. No manifolds, it might have had headers in the Mustang. The long block had never been apart, with factory head gaskets and uninterrupted internals. It looked to have been well maintained for the first part of its life, with almost no sludging and nice clear oil galleys and water jackets. Naturally it's all standard, with all Ford stamped main and rod bearings. The combustion chambers were pretty well coked up with carbon, but I have a fresh set of '68 302 4V heads for it, as well as a nice little Crane cam and an early Weiand intake and 570 Holley, just a smooth running cruiser combo with fun power. There was almost no ridge and the cylinders were still square, so after a ball hone it's going back together all standard. It's almost done now. As for numbers: The distributor is heavily media blasted and has a newish looking single vacuum advance can on it, and the numbers are barely visible. The numbers on the stem are C7OF-12161-A (or 12151, pretty obliterated) so that's a '67 casting. It also has a C5ZF 12127 in the side of the body. To me this has all signs of a bin-sourced parts store reman, so likely no clues there. Block: Above starter, D1OE 6015 AA and just below that, 2B17. Heads: In the lifter valley, 2B21, 302 with a single dot above it, and a B with a screw head pattern to either side. Starting to look like this '71 numbered block was in a '72 car. -KK
"D1OE 6015 AA and just below that, 2B17... Starting to look like this '71 numbered block was in a '72 car." Yes. D1 = 1971, O = originally intended for Fairlane (Torino), E = Engine. 2B17 = cast on the 17th day of February, 1972.
Cant really go by the D1OE letters/ numbers as they use the same block for a few years. As far being intended for a Fairlane, that may be true but could have also come out of a Mustang, Cougar, Bronco, Maverick, Comet....... The 6015 designates engine and the two AA's are revision numbers, slight changes to the block during it's 3,4,5 year run.