1968 engine numbers, 289 or 302?
 

Hi, My name is Andy. Just joined this list tonight, hope you all can help me out with a technical question.

I have a 1968 Mustang ,new to me, with a small block. (not original) Don't know what size the engine is. I've been in a few sites but not having much luck with the engine numbers.
They are as follows: C8OE 6015A on block. D8OE , 8L1 on heads.
273AP , .60 , KB on pistons.

As far as I can tell it's a '68 Fairlane engine. (3rd digit O code)
I think 6015 means the base engine. 289 or 302?
Couldn't find anything on the heads.
The pistons are "Keith Black" after market .60 over. Again can't tell if its 289 or 302.

So,I hope there are some small block engine guys on here that can decifer these numbers or at least point me in the right direction. There may be other marks etc that I have missed to help determine what engine. Let me know where to look. The door tag is no help because the engine is not original.

Red, I hope you can help me on this one. How do you tell a 289 from a 302?

Andy

302
 

I may be a little rusty here, but I thought the 289 was not produced anymore after 66. In 67, I thought ford went to the 302. Any help with this guys?
Ryan

Thanks for the reply Ryan.
I'm pretty sure there was a 289 available in '68.
Using the C8OE engine number I found out that the engine was from a '68 Fairlane. Don't know how or when the engine found it's way into my '68 Mustang.
I went to fordfairlane.com and found there was a 2V 289, (2) 2V 302's and a 4V 302 available in '68 and of course 351's and big blocks.
The 6015A number is the key, don't know what that equals.
There are probably some other marks or #'s I'm missing.

Anbody know how to tell a 289 from a 302? The engine is disassembled, I can look at any internal parts to find #'s or measurements if needed.

Thanks, Andy

From what I've read, the 289 stopped in '67 67 mustangs had both 289 and 302, but all 302's in the day started as 289. When ford rebuild the 289, it came out as a 302. Ford then found that they liked the 302 better, and stayed with it. Think of this, the 289 used to be a 260...

Info on the engines offered in '68 clickhere .

Looks like 289 and 302 offered that year.

Sorry, can't help with the part #. A few guys here have the master parts catalog and should be able to help.

-Jon

Re: 1968 engine numbers, 289 or 302?
 

The block is a '68 or '69 302. You would have to check the date code by the starer to know for sure which of the two years it is, but it is a 302 block. It should have "302" stamped in the lifter valley.

The heads I'm afraid are probably the last ones you'd want to have. They are late 70's smog heads with tiny valves and large combustion chambers.

Take care,
~Chris