ConcoursMustang Forums

Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Drivetrain => Topic started by: MK1_Oz on June 22, 2017, 08:32:21 PM

Title: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: MK1_Oz on June 22, 2017, 08:32:21 PM
Good Morning,

Been reading this forum for a while but never joined (sorry).  I have a question that my fellow Mustang lovers on the Australian Mustang forum (mustang.org.au) cannot answer and I am hoping somebody over there can.

I have a 289 block that has a casting number of Z5AE-6015-A.  What is this from and when was it made?  It doesn't follow the usual Ford numbering system.

It has 289 cast into the valley but does NOT say anything about Mexico in there.  It has 2T441 stamped into the bellhousing mouting flange.  Although I did not measure them, the mains caps look quite narrow so I doubt they are the wider HiPo style ones.

I have spent hours researching via the interweb but have only found TWO other references to this casting number!!
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: J_Speegle on June 23, 2017, 12:44:15 AM
How did you determine it was a 289?

Another item is that the date code format is backwards from 60's style built block.

Might it from a 80's or 90's Ford vehicle will look some more and others will offer their experiences
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: MK1_Oz on June 23, 2017, 12:50:24 AM
289 cast into the lifter valley.  could well be a later engine.  No idea what it came out of or when.
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: C6ZZGT on June 23, 2017, 12:31:37 PM
How about the eng assm date stamp on the lh front ?
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: 67gtasanjose on June 23, 2017, 12:48:03 PM
Perhaps the block was cast in the country of Mexico?
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: J_Speegle on June 23, 2017, 03:11:13 PM
Perhaps the block was cast in the country of Mexico?

All the ones I've seen so far have had HECHO- EN MEXICO in the lifter valley. Guess that he looked for that given his original post. Though later engines (if they even cast them in Mexico) might have different castings
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: MK1_Oz on June 24, 2017, 04:54:46 AM
Tis a true mystery.  The whole internet and only 3 blocks with this number...
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: Ted67 on August 05, 2019, 06:49:17 PM
I also have a block with this casting
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: J_Speegle on August 05, 2019, 07:28:52 PM
I also have a block with this casting

Does it also have the lifer valley castings mentioned above?

At one point some were selling these as Hipo blocks due to the main caps - unsuspecting individuals that likely didn't even look at anything else.

BTW welcome to the site - hope you find the information and support helpful in your restoration projects
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: preaction on August 06, 2019, 05:20:47 PM
Z was the model line designation for mustang maybe a sleeply Monday morning at foundry  ::)
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: Scode67FB on August 07, 2019, 04:58:00 AM
It sounds like the block is an Australian casting. The Aussie system is nothing like the US system. The casting date on it is in a different format from US production. Like most of the world outside the US, the casting date is shown in Month/Day/Year. It probably is different from anything here. It probably has the hole for the clutch linkage on the RIGHT side of the block. Who knows what else could be different.
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: Bossbill on August 07, 2019, 02:01:08 PM
Various post on the Interweb and here:
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=6058.15
suggest it's a Mexican 289. I have a Mexican 302, so I know what those look like and this shares only a few of those traits. However, the Mexican 302 has a totally different casting number.
Title: Re: 289 Z Casting Number
Post by: J_Speegle on August 07, 2019, 02:52:45 PM
It sounds like the block is an Australian casting..........

Do you have a picture/example?  Guess you've seen a fair number of them

BTW Welcome to the site. Hope you find it helpful in your restoration projects and needs.