Date code question

Quote from Horsman

New member with my first Mustang with a build date of 3/2/1967. Curious about date codes for the K code engine components. Specifically the date codes on the distributor, cylinder heads, intake and exhaust manifolds.

How many months prior to my build date would be correct for these items?

If anyone has these items available for purchase I am interested.

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

I have seen a lot of variation in vehicle scheduled production dates and components. I have seen Kars with engine production dates almost six months prior to the Kar. These are original VIN stamped correct engines and more than one. Intake manifolds are not Hipo specific so these are generally pretty close to vehicle dates as they fit all 4V equipped cars. Exhaust manifolds are going to be really tough as they also fit 67 Shelbys and there are very few 67 dated exhaust manifolds out there. The 67 exhaust manifolds are different from earlier ones and unless you have a California thermactor emission Kar, the earlier ones will work but the casting numbers will be wrong. There are a couple of different distributor numbers for 1967 and being as I do not have Bob Mannels book where I am currently, I cannot look it up. There are also two different head casting for 1967 and I will need to check Bobs book on that as well.

-Fred-

Quote from C6ZZKGT

I have seen a lot of variation in vehicle scheduled production dates and components. I have seen Kars with engine production dates almost six months prior to the Kar. These are original VIN stamped correct engines and more than one. Intake manifolds are not Hipo specific so these are generally pretty close to vehicle dates as they fit all 4V equipped cars. Exhaust manifolds are going to be really tough as they also fit 67 Shelbys and there are very few 67 dated exhaust manifolds out there. The 67 exhaust manifolds are different from earlier ones and unless you have a California thermactor emission Kar, the earlier ones will work but the casting numbers will be wrong. There are a couple of different distributor numbers for 1967 and being as I do not have Bob Mannels book where I am currently, I cannot look it up. There are also two different head casting for 1967 and I will need to check Bobs book on that as well.

-Fred-

Being as this is your first foray into the Hipo 289 world, it is highly recommended that you purchase one of Bob Mannels book on small block Fords. It is very large and he spent 17 years putting it together and it is loaded with detailed pictures sand charts. I can look up his phone number in my book when I return home.

-Fred-

It sounds like you already have a short block although I may have a December 1966 Hipo short block if you need one.

-Fred-

Quote from HipoCV

You might try to locate someone who has a close build date to you car if they have a '67 Hipo car and if they have the original engine components, you might get some date codes from them. If you have a Dearborn built car, they used a lot of older dated parts on those Mustangs with the other 2 plants getting more updated castings as they were newer production plants and more of their parts came directly from the supplier source.

The engines, as far as I know, were assembled at Cleveland and not at the vehicle assembly plants. Am I wrong on this?

-Fred-

I do not know if you have resolved your head needs or not but I do have a matched pair of November 1966 heads.

-Fred-

Quote from Horsman

Fred,

Please send me a PM or email with info about these heads and pricing with shipping to 75093. Thanks Fred.

Regards,
Jeff

I was in error reading the casting numbers on these heads as they are November 1965 and NOT November 1966.

-Fred-