What is the lastest FE casting you have seen?

[Fordman]

I was just doing a tear down on the latest 391FT I picked up and noticed that the casting date was 7-A-12( jan 12,1977). This is the latest I have seen and I have had about 200 FE's. I know industrial engines lasted a little longer than domestic applications.  Thanks....John

[wsu0702]

Ford was producing 330XD FT engines for the U-Haul F350s thru mid 1979.  One of our members has a late '79 model year F350 U-haul with a 330XD engine.  The latest DIF FE block that I have seen was mid May 1974.  Right around the time that the DIF closed.

[thatdarncat]

Here’s the “8C22” 1978 March 22nd date code on a standard bore 391 I have. It’s a Michigan Casting Center (MCC) block, so it can’t be a ‘68 date since the MCC plant didn’t exist back then.

[Rory428]

Interesting, every FE block I ever had from the 70s had the 2 little "dots" under the year on the casting date. I have also seen the 2 dots on some later 69 pieces, including the 9" N case that I have in my 59.

[thatdarncat]

Interesting, every FE block I ever had from the 70s had the 2 little "dots" under the year on the casting date. I have also seen the 2 dots on some later 69 pieces, including the 9" N case that I have in my 59.

Yes, from what I’ve seen also the two dots under the leading year digit of the date code appears to have started sometime in 1969. Not just on FE’s, other Ford engine families as well.

[TomP]

If it was a D4 casting number it wouldn't need the two dots since it couldn't be from the 60's.