rdm69supercobra 1 Report post Posted April 26, 2018 About 3 weeks ago I started on a journey to find out if my 69 428SCJ was in fact real. So I joined this forum, and got some good advice ( buck tag # placement for a Dearborn ) Son of a gun, it was right on the right hand side of the radiator support bracket, were a forum member told me it would be. Great, all BUCK tag info. checked out fine ( see my buck tag info. post )The following is the unfolding of a continued uncertainty. After a little research, I started with the BLOCK cast code # c7me-a ( 428 4v / police int. /cj 1967 thru 1970 and ?? 330 cid ) and DATE code behind the oil filter. Talk about difficult, the stamping method Ford used was as archaic as the model T. I tried wiping it down, I shinned the light in many different angles, trying to capture a letter or number but couldn't read the imprint. Finally, I resorted to making some pizza dough and casting a Moulage ( plaster cast ) and was able to extrapolate the bloc date ( Sherlock Holmes ) # 8H22. ( 8 = 1968 H = Aug. 22 = day ) Then Moved on to the STEERING box tag # My car is NON power steering so maybe that's why there was no top line # ?? bottom line on steer box tag # is 8k21b - 8 = 1968 k = Oct. 21 = day and b = 2nd shift. Next was COIL tag # NO - CARB. tag # NO. - REAR END tag # NO. It has some aftermarket parts, Offenhauser Duel Quad, with 2 Carter 750/730 carbs, and a Mallory Unilite. Then I started looking at FE exhaust manifolds and the 390 ( which a member told me my car probably was a 390, from the BLOCK.cast # ) has a 14 bolt pattern and the cj has a 16 bolt pattern, then I checked for OEM 428 cj manifolds, ( c8oe - 9430 -a right side and c8oe - 9431-a left side ) my car has both, and they are completely different than the high pro. 390 gt. You can bet I was relieved that my 69scj, is starting to look like the REAL thing . I'll get back to you when we drop the oil pan and check the CRANK numbers ( 428 has 4 different crank variations possible ) and find out if it's a scj or cj ??? One VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember is the MANUFACTURE YEAR is July to July NOT Jan. 1 to Jan. 1 This understanding will help you determine if these parts fit. My 1969 was built March 11 1969, nine months into the model year, and the DATE code # of Aug. 22, 1968 IS A 1969 MODEL ENGINE. Check out utube " 428cj cougar by the numbers ' westcoastclassiccougar it shows that STOCK part DATE codes are sometimes DATED AFTER build. Check out utube " Ford casting numbers explained " myvintageiron7512 this guy knows fe heads. Information from both of these sourses listed here THANKS hope u found it useful Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SM69Mach 68 Report post Posted April 26, 2018 Interesting info, thanks for sharing and good luck with the rest of your journey Sherlock!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Conway 247 Report post Posted April 26, 2018 A great source for info on your car is the CJ Registry. FWIW; my block was cast Aug. 17, 1968 and the car was , Marti report, built Sept. 19, 1968. Brian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdm69supercobra 1 Report post Posted April 26, 2018 Thanks Brian 4 your post, I will ck. the CJ reg. Some of the info was taken from Kevin Marti. Again Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
