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ENGINE ID TAG
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ENGINE ID TAG
By Steve Liebenow
Source: https://pantera.infopop.cc/topic/engine-identification-tag-once-and-for-all-what-is-this-thing
I grew tired of trying to find some examples of a Pantera 351C “Engine Tag” on this website, as referenced by section 6007 of the L-M Pantera Master Parts Catalog. Numerous discussions of anything BUT an engine ID tag!!! Surely this book was edited by Italians… as most of it seems to be a suggestion.
First, if your ENGINE was built AFTER 2/1/73 you will likely NOT have one of these but rather a big sticker on the front or top of your LH Valve cover (driver’s side!).
(The front of your block, like you can get to that easily, may have an “assembly date” stamped into the flat machined surface near the timing chain cover. Otherwise all you can use is the block casting date and guestimate how long it took from foundry to assembly shop…)
236 IS THE NUMBER YOU WANT TO LOOK UP IN THE FORD MASTER PARTS BOOK TO GET THE INFO IF YOU ARE SO LUCKY TO GET ONE OF THESE ON YOUR INTAKE MANIFOLD (MOST LIKELY) OR BOLTED TO A CARB STUD OR EVEN THE FRONT OF A CYLINDER HEAD. It will likely have one of the numbers in the low 600 range.
When I look up tag code 236, FRONT PAGES OF SECTION 60, I find it is an 8 CYL, 289 CID, F-2 (Ford 2 barrel carb), and C is the warranty code for looking up stuff.
The Lincoln Mercury PANTERA Master Parts Catalog only lists 7 of these codes as follows. I have added details from the 1975 (Last Rev) of the 65-72 MPC. So no 73 stuff found there. I also looked in my 73-79 books and found not a thing.
The prefix (K or KK) and suffix (1 or 2 alpha characters are misc details related t plant and shift or so… nothing special denoted! May be only found on decals.
Tag Code $=Clev Carb Warranty Code #Pantera Book Description
K-613-J $351 F-4 M 71/72 N-351C-4B
K-625-S $351 SPEC F-4 (none) 71/72 N-351C-4B Boss
K-621-SG $351-CJ F-4 Q 71/72 N-351C-CJ exc. California
KK-621-AG $351-CJ F-4 Q 71/72 N-351C-CJ California
KK-623-AG *** 73 N-351C-4B
KK-623-BG *** r/b D46Y-6007-A (2/74) 73 N-351C-4B
4G-583-LO *** 74 N-351C-4B exc. California
*** Means I could find no info in the 1965-72 or 1973 up MPC’s that I have.
r/b Replaced By
F-4 indicates a Ford Autolite or Motorcraft Carb. The Boss carb would have been listed as H-4 for a Holley.
There are basically only 4 different 4-barrel 351C’s.
- M-code which came out in 70 thru 71 in Pony cars.
- Q-code or Cobra Jet in 72-74, which includes the HO version with adjustable lifters and 4-bolt mains, but open chamber heads. I believe these low compression versions were tagged with that HO title, in the Mustang world.
- The Boss 351 which was only 1971 with solid lifters, adjustable rockers etc. When 4-bolt mains came into the picture is likely 71 with the CJ/HO/Boss versions. HOWEVER, not all 4V’s are CJ’s… I’ve pulled a few oil pans on 4 barrel 71-73 passenger cars and found only two bolt mains! (gotta watch the VIN #’s!) Not sure if any of the earliest Panteras ever got “just the M-code” which had closed chamber heads with flat top pistons. No frills.
What I am not finding in the books is HO engines, which may be late 72… and not listed in the books that I have… early or late. Hmmm.
Anyway, use this as a guide for ENGINE IDENTIFICATION TAGS… and nothing else please.
PS: All of this applies to any DeTomaso with Ford supplied engines! Just remember no tags after 2/1/73… you get decals.
The tag pictured above was retained/re-positioned when a Holley/Edelbrock install was accomplished on a “72-1/2” L #4744. The carb replaced was the standard Autolite/Motorcraft “F4” unit, so what carb or variant does “F20” describe?
Answer: OK, here is where the book doesn’t match reality or vice versa…Your top line 351C, 72-5 is likely 1972 May, for production date.
The F 20 isn’t so clear no matter which way I try and interpret it….. Perhaps a plant code… and????? There is no carb data on the tag directly. That comes when you look up the following bits…
K621 is direct out of book as “351-CJ, F-4 carb”, final characters on tag are some sort of revision level code, not defined.
Nice TAG!!!! Not all hammered or bent up!
AND just because Ford is Ford and some production intentions never are… I was looking at a tag that showed up on my desk from “I know not where”… which has an OCT 1973 build date! This is SO contrary to the statement in my first post about Ford NOT using the small tags after Feb 1 of 1973.
Perhaps their sticker printer ran out of ink…
Anyway, this is a real late 73 engine tag, likely for a 2V 351C in model year 1974 here in the US.
Tag reads: 351C 73-6 in top row, K31 (Oct 31) KK604AG which when looked up reports it as a F-2 (Ford 2V carb) 351C.
Just goes to show you… just because is says so in the MPC, doesn’t mean it happened that way! I’ll add a pic to this later!
