Reply to "Engine numbers"

The 2 casting marks, even if not readable, are so different they are easy to tell apart. The large-C with a small-F in the middle is round, the GF is two separate letters.

D2AE-CA blocks were cast in the US for 3 years, from 1972 through 1974. I have one in my garage right now, the CF is very readable. I have one in my Pantera too, the CF is readable on that one. The machine shops don't bitch when asked to bore a US made D2AE-CA block, I can only assume the metalurgy is different from that of the Australian block.

US 351C motors were exported to Australia from 1971 to 1974, not the other way around. Their foundry did not begin producing motors until 1972, and production was on the slow side at first. All 4V motors installed in Australian Fords were assembled in the US, with US blocks.

Julian the X's & Y's are NOT a sign of metallurgy, most definitely urban legend. If anything, it is a sign of age. The blocks made in 1970 have very few X's & Y's, the 1974 blocks seem to have a valley full of them. I've never read a reasonable explanation for them yet, probably never will.

All production US blocks had the same metalurgy, to my knowledge. There are those SK blocks floating around, anything goes where they are concerned.

There may be a good reason why the australian foundry used a tougher iron in their blocks, after all, the climates between the two continents is different. I doubt Ford spent the extra money for the more expensive iron for no reason at all.

cowboy from hell