have seen some casting dates on the side of the block,may have been later years though.

 

Whats the casting #?

 

casting # is 3969854 and I looked EVERYWHERE on the block. It is NOT there.

 

Did you check the side of the block near the starter?

 

Yep. went over the entire block. nothing.

 

Is it something I even need to worry about since its #'s matching??

 

they can be made up too.

 

Not to add insult to injury, post some pics. I'm sure the gurus here would be happy to tell you exactly what you have. Maybe someone here even knows the car.

 

if that story is holds true and I believe you and the car never left your family and the engine has never been out of the car then there is a casting date on that block. you just have not found it yet.

 

My brother had the car for about 3yrs before I got it, he claims he put the same eng back in it after he took a bearing for a spin, but I'm telling you, the #'s arent there. Anyway.....my new year just took a dive...thanks for the HAPPY INFO!!! kidding, I'll sort it out somehow.

 

If it's not there someone ground it off to hide something. Post a picture of the passenger side of the bellhousing flange from the top. Someone here should be able to tell if the block was altered.

 

Isnt the casting date on the passenger side of the block infront of the starter.

 

Casting dates can be hard to spot, especially with the motor in the car. This pic shows the date on a '68 block, I shaded it with a black Magic Marker to make it easier to see. Installed, it's on the passenger side, in front of the starter, under the exhaust manifold, and not visible from the top without a mirror or X-ray eyes.
BillL

 

The 854 396 block was dated on the back flange between the back of the block and the transmission. If you're looking on the side of the block by the motor mount, you're never gonna find it.

The date should be back with the casting number, on the opposite side....
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=183601&page=3

 

THE CASTING DATE ON AN 854 BLOCK IS NOT ON THE SIDE OF THE WATER JACKET. THEY ARE ON THE REAR BELLHOUSING FLANGE..... :sad:

 

I don't think anybody is listening Dave.

 

Have you looked on the side of the block,in front of the starter?

 

Should be right here my friend... (Behind the Passenger side head/valley)

 

Must be a Ford block.

But seriously, casting #'s and dates can be knocked off and/or changed. A few years ago I was looking at an early 1965 962 4-bolt block. The pics were all good, the price was right, and the seller had good ebay feedback. But I bought the block outside of eBay (mistake #1).

When it got here it was not the same block in the pics. Worse yet, the casting # had been changed from 961 to 962, the year in the date code had been changed from 6 to 5, the oil line holes were drilled and tapped, it had mismatched 4-bolt caps on it, and the reinforcement webs (that only came on early 65 blocks) had been WELDED onto the block -- in the wrong places!!!

After about 6 months and legal action I got almost all my money back and ended up with the block too. So now I have a nice orange boat anchor sitting in the corner of my shop!

Anybody interested in a rare early 962 block ? It may be one-of-one!! :thumbsup:
(Moderators -- I AM KIDDING, I wouldn't sell this thing to my worst enemy!)

 

is it standard bore. I can grind the webs off:beers: