Bellhousing has a weird casting number.

[Rory428]

The FE manual transmission bellhousing that I am currently using on my 59, is the early, long starter version, with only the narrow transmission pattern. What has me confused, is the casting number, as it does not have either the 3 letter "Exx" style prefix that was used in 58 and earlier, the "575" "boxcar" numbering that most of my original 59 engine parts had, or the later, and still in us "B9" C0" "D1" code. The casting number is CAK 6394 C, which doesn`t match any Ford casting system that I am familiar with, and a casting date of 0K4, which is October 4th 1960, for for a 1961 model year vehicle. Anybody familiar with that CAK designation? Thanks.

[thatdarncat]

I try to track FE casting numbers & date codes, but it’s a small sample of the vast production. With that said, FE bell housings have some “odd” casting numbers, especially the earlier ones, and no, I can’t tell you why. I’m sure I’ve seen someone mention the “CAK” casting in the past, but I can’t find notes on it now. I do however have a CRAK-6394-A bell housing noted, and that one was also for the early starter and had a “9 9 J” 1959 September casting date. The further odd thing about that one is it had the fork on the right side of the bell housing instead of the typical left side. Maybe we can hypothesize the “R” in that one denotes “Right”? Just a guess at this point. There was speculation that particular bell housing might have been intended for the Australian market?.

Along with those there are “MG-6394-A” FE bell housings, and “4848339” casting number FE bell housings. And for the Ford Y-Block family there are “AJ-6394-C” & “AG-6394-B” bell housings in that late ‘50’s - early ‘60’s time period.

[Dr Mabuse]

Best chance for any number tracing might be an O.S.I. book (not sure when Ford started issuing them).