351C Motor Identification

[Hemikiller]

A CA 4 bolt is a good pic. How did you confirm it has a 4 bolt? I Learned something ....I did not know the mercury vin serial numbers started with 5xxxxx.

... and Lincolns start at 7xxxxxx

 

[Peter Fessler]

I need some help!


Perhaps due to my less-than-perfect English skills, I haven’t been able to find the meaning of this code: “1L 17J.”


This code is stamped on the front face of the engine block, next to the timing chain cover, on the passenger side.


Thank you in advance for your responses!

 

[Hemikiller]

That's an assembly date stamp. There should be another that precedes this date on the pan rail by the oil pump, which is the block machining date.

1L17 follows the standard Ford date code format for castings: year-month-day

L is November, so 1971-November-17th

J is the inspector's ID.

 

[Peter Fessler]

That's an assembly date stamp. There should be another that precedes this date on the pan rail by the oil pump, which is the block machining date.

1L17 follows the standard Ford date code format for castings: year-month-day

L is November, so 1971-November-17th

J is the inspector's ID.

Thank you for the quick and detailed response! I’ll go ahead and look for the other stamp!