All Ford components have a casting/part number , something along the lines of “C5AE-6015-A” which can be used to Identify the date of casting & it’s original application.

The first figure , “C” in our example above , indicates the decade of manufacture :-

B = 1950 – 59

C = 1960 – 69

D = 1970 – 79

E = 1980 – 89

F = 1990 – 99

 The second figure, “5” in our example, indicates the year within that decade. “C5” being 1965.

 The third figure, “A” in our example , indicates the car line :–

A = Ford

D = Falcon

G = Comet, Montego, Cyclone

J = Marine & industrial

M = Mercury

O = Fairlane & Torino

S = Thunderbird

T = Ford truck

V = Lincoln

W = Cougar

Z = Mustang

The fourth position, “E” in this case, indicates the engineering group :-

A = Chassis

B = Body

E = Engine

If the Item is a service part then the fourth figure indicates the division :-

Z = Ford division

Y = Lincoln – Mercury

X = original Ford muscle parts program

M = Ford motorsport SVO or Ford – Mexico.

The 4 figure number between the dashes is the basic part number , in this case 6015 is an engine block.

The final figure is the revision number , “A” is the original design , “B” would be the first amendment to the original design etc.

Thanks to Paul Garton for this info.