Need some help as I am new to this. I just purchased a 68 mustang to restore. After pulling the engine, I noticed that it does not match the vin. Here are the numbers. Vin is 8F01J100302. I understand that this is a 302 4v engine. After pulling the engine and removing the carb, I noticed that it was a 2 barrel. The only tag on the engine I could find was one that gave the following codes:

302 C 68 1
7-G 279J

I can see that it is a 302 from 1968 but have no idea on the other numbers. Can someone help me with this. Is this the original engine? Thanks.

 

If that tag is the one on the coil hold down bracket it is possible that it was swapped over during a previous engine swap. OR it is VERY possible that someone swapped out the intake on your car during the gas crunches of the late 60's or very early 70's. It was very common for people to attempt to obtain better milage by swapping intakes and carbs back then. I can tell you this by the VIN... yours is the 302'nd Mustang built in 1968. That makes it a very early car... probably the first week of production. Hope this helps, Dean

 

thanks Dean. This tag was actually on the front bolt where the oil dipstick is. Is it possible that this is the orginal engine? Is there a way to tell? I guess at least I know it is the 302 and not a 289. If I am looking at this right, then the original car came with the 4 barrel carb. May be worth replacing.

 

yeah that is also the bolt that holds the coil on. You can be possible, but it is also just as easy for someone to pull an engine out, and stick another one in it.

 

thanks for the info but upon checking further, this is not the same bolt. The coil bolts on top of the engine and this tag was on the front. Any other way to determine what type of engine this is? Any books that explain the code?

 

Don't go by the tag that can be easily put on a different motor. There are casting numbers on the block. They are underneth by where the pan bolts up to the block. Those numbers are what you need to use.

 

thanks. I went out and looked for the numbers you mentioned on the block. Here is what I have.

7G24 right above C80E-6015-A. What type of engine and year is the block?

 

What ya got there is a 68 302. Should be the stock motor I would guess. The C denotes the decade and the 8 denotes the year. If it were at 70's motor is would start with a D. Like D2OE would be a 72 motor.

 

Yeah, C = the 60's era. 8=the 68.

 

thank you 67t5ponycoupe and soaring for the responses. At least I know the right engine is in the car. someone must have switched the intake and carb at one time. Instead of the factory 4v carb, I have a 2v. thanks again.