I’m trying to mop up some of the lose ends and finish up the fine details on my XR7-G. I misplaced the engine ID tag and I’ve been searching for it on and off for the last year and haven’t found it. I’m sure when I do find it as I know the tag didn’t get tossed, it will be one of those DUH moments! In the mean time in case I don’t find it. I’m going to have Marti make one for the car. I don’t have a tag book, but can get all the info from my Marti report. Can someone tell me what the letters and number represent on the tag so I can get one made. I think I know some of the numbers, but want some conformation, so I don’t make the tag wrong.
Tag example:
428 = engine size?
70 = year?
7 = ?
9 = ?
M = Mercury?
420 = ?
A = ?
I didn’t know there were engine tags, where were they fastened?
I know all about the special things you don’t want lost, You put them in a safe place where they won’t get lost and then you don’t find them for years! Then the duh moment sets in.
428 = engine size? Correct.
70 = year? Yes, model year, not calendar year.
7 = ? Change level. (Indicating the number of part substitutions or engineering changes from the original design.)
9 = ? Last digit of calendar year.
M = Mercury? Code for production month. In this case, December.
420 = ? Engine Plant code for 428-4V CJ w/ Std. transmission.
A = ? Engine Plant code designating production cycle. I don’t have a brief explanation of how these were assigned.
Brian, some things I would like to add about the codes is since there is no prefix letter(s) in front of 420, the engine should be equipped with a thermactor smog system (68-71). Also, besides the 420 code being for a 428CJ with Std transmission like Jay lists, it’s the code for a Non-Drag Pack CJ. The suffix after 420 (the letter A in this instace) is based on a 3 year cycle. Leaving out the letter I & O to avoid confusion with the number 1 & 0 leaves 24 letters, which divided amongst the 3 years gives A-H for the 1st year of the cycle (64,67,70 & 73), J-R for the 2nd year(65,68 & 71) & S-Z for thr 3rd year(66,69 & 72). Now here is an example how the suffix code changed: On the 69 BOSS 429 engine, when it switched from the 1/2" to3/8" rod bolts, the tag changed from 820-S to 820-T. John
Thanks Jay, John now lets see if I can apply it to my car.
390 = engine size correct.
68 = model year correct
? = Change level. (Indicating the number of part substitutions or engineering changes from the original design.)
? = Last digit of calendar year.
? = Code for production month. In this case, December.
? = Engine Plant code. for 428-4V CJ w/ Std. transmission.
? = Engine Plant code designating production cycle. I don’t have a brief explanation of how these were assigned.
If you can provide information such as the build date of your car, the original type of transmission, whether 2V or 4V, and whether it came with smog equipment or not, several of the blanks can be filled in for you.
As for Al’s question, I don’t know when Ford started using these tags, but it was before 1967. All '67-'73 Cougars should originally have had one.
Brian, TM&CTB lists the code for a 390-4V with a C6 as 319 (not sure what the exact suffix will be but probably J). Since the engine is equipped with the smog system, there shouldn’t be a prefix letter in front of the engine code. Also, can you post what the date code is on the engine block. Thanks John
I went back to the Marti site and actually read down further. I see they can do it all if you send in a copy of the Marti report. Gezz, that’s easy. Here I am trying to do his job for him.
Brian you don’t have to post the date code on your block if you don’t want to. I was going through a folder and found an envelope and found some tags in them that I forgot I ordered from Marti’s awhile ago and one of them was the engine tag. John
