What year was it made?

Question

Can anyone tell me how to find out what year an engine was manufactured? I live in CA. and am at the mercy of the smog Gestapo, I'm planning a 302 swap into a Ranger but have to the same year or newer engine for the truck. I got a line on a great deal for "built" engine that was put into a '69 Mustang. The engine isn't original and I have no idea what year it was made. Any help would be appreciated. Don

Mark Olson · Accepted Answer

Give the engine casting number(s) to the folks at CARB, since they seem to be able to tell if it's the wrong engine if it's installed in your car, presumably they'd be able to tell you what year it is

*before* it's installed, just as well...

Boffer · Answer

Thanks, but last time I called CARB it was like calling the IRS for tax help. Bounced from one know nothing expert to another till I got some voice mail and 6 months later I'm still waiting for their call back. I was kind of hoping for a web site or reference guide of some sort. Don

Brian Orion · Answer

If it is a "built" engine as you say,it most likely would never passinspection  only will it have to have all original,(orapproved replacement)heads,manis, all original smog stuff,itwill have to pass the sniff test and if it's got high compression with aperformance cam etc.good luck.                            ********************

Doc · Answer

You need to look on the side of the engine block. There should be a datecode (C5AE or something like it). The first letter is the date code B= 1950C=1960 D=1970 E=1980 F=1990. The number is the year (C5AE C=1960 5=5th yearor 1965). There you have it.

What year was it made?

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