Delay between casting and assembly dates codes

Hi Rohan,

My block was casted 5D23, April 23, 1965

and assembled on 5E3, i.e. May 3, 1965.

That's exactly 10 days between the two.

/Bo

"Assembly date code is definatley 5J3. So the block sat around for a couple of months before being assembled - is that unusual?"

Not really for a 289... with all the volume they were experiancing. Remember that they did not take the blocks from one point (casting, machining, assembly) in any particular order.

Quote from J_Speegle

"Assembly date code is definatley 5J3. So the block sat around for a couple of months before being assembled - is that unusual?"

Not really for a 289...

It's worth considering that 289 HiPo production probably did not follow the typical timelines of standard 289's very closely. We know that the HiPo engines accounted for an extremely low number compared to all other 289's made. (It's likely that it's less than 2 percent of all 289's built.) The production priority clearly wouldn't be to cast and build HiPo specific parts with the same frequency (date codes) as the standard parts. For example, there were probably only certain days out of a month that HiPo heads were cast. Likewise, the machining might have been done in batches, and at specific times, vs nearly continuous, non stop production of the standard small block heads.

These manufacturing logistics could account for brief periods of shortages regarding all the necessary HiPo-specific parts needed to assemble these engines. Remember, dealer orders for Mustangs were constantly arriving at Dearborn via Telex. No one knew at any point in time how many K code Mustangs (or Fairlanes) would be ordered in advance. I'm sure this made it somewhat of a challenge for the planners to have HiPo production as efficient as it was for the standard 289.

Keep in mind that fresh cast Ford blocks were 'tossed' out into the open to weather for a month or two before machining. This aging feature is a normal practice for cast iron products.

Jim

Quote from SixT5HiPo

It's worth considering that 289 HiPo production probably did not follow the typical timelines of standard 289's very closely. ...

Just to continue the conversation Why would the time line for block casting be any different since they are the same block?

Quote from jwc66k

Keep in mind that fresh cast Ford blocks were 'tossed' out into the open to weather for a month or two before machining. This aging feature is a normal practice for cast iron products.

Not sure how "normal" this is ... from collections of casting and assembly dates it appears that this was not always "normal"

Quote from jwc66k

Keep in mind that fresh cast Ford blocks were 'tossed' out into the open to weather for a month or two before machining. This aging feature is a normal practice for cast iron products.

Jim

My 64 HIPO Fairlane engine has a casting date of 3M9 and an assembly date of 3M19. Not much of an "aging" process for this one.

Now my 66 HIPO Mustang, well that is another story. Engine cast date of 5K30 and an assembly date of 6B17.

Gary

Quote from J_Speegle

quote:It's worth considering that 289 HiPo production probably did not follow the typical timelines of standard 289's very closely. ...

Just to continue the conversation Why would the time line for block casting be any different since they are the same block?

To further clarify the point, this refers to all the specific castings needed to build the 289 High Performance engines such as heads, rods, exhaust manifolds, camshafts, distributors, etc., and NOT the blocks in particular. It's safe to assume there was a good supply of 289 blocks available at any given time, although by 1966, there was so much demand that Cleveland production could not keep up with requirements for small block engines, and the Windsor Plant was pressed into service to increase capacity.

For reference, my `66 VIN matched block has casting # - C5AE-6015E, casting date 5H13, assembly date 5H20Z

What kind of difference do you see between the engine build date and the build date of your kar?

Quote from Engineer

What kind of difference do you see between the engine build date and the build date of your kar?

64 Fairlane

Engine assembly date: 3M19 (December 19, 1963)

Vehicle Scheduled Build Date: O3A (January 3, 1964)

66 Mustang

Engine Assembly Date: 6B17C (February 17, 1966

Vehicle Scheduled Build Date: O2C (March 2, 1966)

Gary

Quote from Engineer

What kind of difference do you see between the engine build date and the build date of your kar?

1965 K Code Mustang

Engine assembly date: 5B15

Vehicle scheduled build date: 15B

Dealer invoice to customer date: March 31, 1965

Quote from Engineer

What kind of difference do you see between the engine build date and the build date of your kar?

The challenge here will be that we know that that date can be off as much as three weeks. Unfortunately this makes that date almost IMHO no value. Wish we have access (like the later guys) to the real dates

Quote from garymcgowan

quote:

What kind of difference do you see between the engine build date and the build date of your kar?

The challenge here will be that we know that that date can be off as much as three weeks. Unfortunately this makes that date almost IMHO no value. Wish we have access (like the later guys) to the real dates

I agree Jeff. Wish we had those records. On my 66 Mustang there is 20 days from the scheduled build date and when the original owner took delivery. I don't know what that tells me but at least I have it documented.

Gary