Year of Motor.

[Cyberbeer]

Any surefire way to tell what year motor I just put into my truck. The junkyard people told me it was an 87, same as the one I pulled. However the wiring harness connectors were round, and the upper plenum has 1 additional vacuum port on the rear drivers side.

I am curious to know if I should purchase the WP heads if its an older motor and swapping them out while I have the patience to do so. If its an 89 motor then I can rest easy.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

im sure theres a way to tell from the casting number on the block...but i dont personally know how to decode one. i didnt learn the motor in my escort was an '86 (car is an '89) until i got all the way to the rod bearings and noticed "3-86" stamped on them.

someone correct me if im wrong...but arent all 2.9 heads the same?

 

[Tedybear]

Main difference with the heads?

Depending on the year, some after I think late 88 or 89??? Supposedly got upgraded to prevent the overheat-cracked head issue. (it didn't work LOL...I've got an 89 and both where cracked)

Depending on applications? Some have 8mm acces. bolt holes into the head (brackets and such) and others have 10mm. They are all pretty much interchangeable, just have to modify out any brackets and such if you change from the 8 to 10 or reverse.

What I've done in the past with engine swaps? Is pull the intake off the old engine (unless it's damaged or not usable) and install it onto the salvage yard engine. Many times model year changes or different option packages create minor problems with extra plugs....vacuum lines used on one engine, and not the other...etc...

S-