1957 Engine block ID | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

1957 Engine block ID

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Oregon John

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Thunderbird Year
1957
Recently acquired 1957 with some odd issues - engine block on right side does not have the usual ID type, but says OE6 and 08 if viewed upside down, or 930 and 80 right side up. Is this a year-correct 312?
TB-blocknumber.JPG

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YBlock Id Tags - When an engine was built, Ford attached a round tag on it identifying what it was. Measured about 4 inches in diameter with (usually) three numbers.
 
From Google:
Y-Block Engine Identification Tags
The Y-Block engine used by Ford from 1954 to 1964 is identified using specific casting numbers and block identification codes. These tags are crucial for determining the engine's displacement, year, and source.

Casting Numbers: All Y-Blocks have "6015" in the casting number, a Ford identifier for engine blocks.
Block ID Codes:
EBU: 239 cu. in. V8 (1954 cars only).
ECG: 272 cu. in. V8 (1955–1957 cars and trucks).
ECZ: 292–312 cu. in. V8 (1956–1957). The ECZ main cap identifies a 312, while EBU main caps indicate a 292.
ECZ-C: Specifically denotes a 312 cu. in. V8.
Foundry Markings:
DIF near the distributor indicates Dearborn Industrial Foundry.
An F in a semicircle indicates Cleveland Foundry (used for 292 and 312 blocks).
External Identification:
The 312 crankshaft has an aspirin-sized dot on the flywheel flange.
ECZ main caps are cast with “ECZ” and confirm a 312 block when disassembled.
These tags help distinguish between various Y-Block variants, especially since 292 and 312 blocks were machined from the same casting.
 
Oregon John said:
Recently acquired 1957 with some odd issues - engine block on right side does not have the usual ID type, but says OE6 and 08 if viewed upside down, or 930 and 80 right side up. Is this a year-correct 312?
View attachment 35465
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What you are looking at is the casting date. The casting date for the engine block is on the passenger side of the block. There is a cast tear drop below the date pointing to an upside down 1, which is believed to indicate that the block was cast on the 1st shift. Thunderbird engines were cast at the Cleveland Foundry.

Ford was not 100% consistent in their use of engine identification markings. There is not a quick external check. The block casting number, over the oil filter and below the block headline is a semi decent method.

If the casting number starts with ECK, it's a 292 and not a 312.

If the casting number starts with EDB, it is probably a 292 with a very small chance of it being a 312.

If there are not three capital letters before the casting number, it is not a 312 and is probably a later 292.

If the casting number starts with ECZ, there is an 80% chance that it is a 312.

The only way to tell for sure is to take the heads off and measure the bore and stroke, or take the flywheel cover off and try to get a look at the back of the crankshaft.

When looking at the crankshaft, look for a semi-circle cutout in the crankshaft flange at the flywheel. Then, turn the engine over 180 degrees. If it is a 312, there is a recessed area on the flange with a raised dot in the center. A 292 engine can have no dot, 2 dots or 3 dots on the recessed area.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
Semi Circle Cutout.jpg

292 Engine.jpg
Another 292 Engine.jpg
 
Thanks - I found it, as you suggested, near the oil filter, left side, and the block is 292/312. Can't tell which as the engine is still in the car. I had believed the 1957 Ford manual which stated absolutely that the number was on the right side! And thanks to the member who wrote about the tag, but none was on either side. The auto tranny has a leaky front seal, so I will soon be able to confirm the exact cu.inch when it comes out.
 
Oregon John said:
Recently acquired 1957 with some odd issues - engine block on right side does not have the usual ID type, but says OE6 and 08 if viewed upside down, or 930 and 80 right side up. Is this a year-correct 312?
View attachment 35465
Click to expand...
That sure looks like a date code. 0E6 would be 0=1960 (or 1950 or 70), E = May, 6 = 6th day Would that make it a Ford truck or industrial engine from 1960? I don't know that Y blocks were in Ford or Mercury cars by 1960.
At some point the data code was using a letter for the day of the month so they would stay 3 character, A-Z (skipping I and O, then for the last few days of the month (25 - 31 they used an upside down letter A - G I think?
 
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