Cracking the code

So I've been trying to piece together the story of the car. I have some of the history in a great album full of photos, including a restoration performed in the late 1980's. There are however some inconsistencies that made me wonder if the narrative was accurate.

 

Where'd the driver's door come from? 

This sticker matches the VIN on the driver's door, but...

The first thing I wanted to research relates to the window sticker that came with the car. Sure enough, the details of the VIN and options in the window sticker match the VIN and trim codes on the door (5F07Dxxxxxx). It indicates a 1964-1/2 289 4V (4 barrel carb) coupe**. The trim codes matched the tuxedo interior, and 3-speed transmission, but the paint code is hinky - This is a Rangoon Red car, the trim code specifies "Wimbledon White".  Additionally, the VIN found on the inner fender (5F07Cxxxx) indicates a 1965 289 2V coupe (which this is) Conclusion: The driver's door must be a replacement, sourced from a (probably junkyard) 1964-1/2 GT coupe. Even though I have insurance papers from the former owner that show the car as a GT-optioned vehicle, the details in the Mustang Restoration Guide refute that as well. The only we have that one would find on a real GT is the rear valence and exhaust horns. The car is missing just about every other detail that would be standard on a GT, such as rallye gauges, rocker panel trim delete, and GT trim pieces.

This is from a really cool 64-1/2 GT, but not ours

Where'd this engine come from?

C8OE 6015 A - 1968 Fairlane block

Once I pulled the engine and flipped it over, I noticed some casting numbers:

0-C8OE-6015-A

Decoded, we find out that this block came from either a 1968 Ford Fairlane or a 1968 Torino.  

  C8 = 1968
  O  = Fairlane or Torino

C6OE - 1966 Fairlane heads

  E  = Engine

I went back for fun and checked the heads, which are stamped:

289/66 C6OE

which is a 1966 Fairlane or Torino.

C5AR 705D - 1965 Mustang manual trans

Transmission, intake manifold, timing cover, and water pump?
C5AR, C8AE, C5OE, and C8AE, respectively. So, looks like the trans might be original as well as the timing cover. The rest is a mixed bag of 1965, 1966, and 1968 Mustang and Fairlane parts.


Looks like I don't need to worry about the engine staying with the car, or even about the heads staying with the engine since it looks like it was all mix-and-matched sometime in the past.

Thanks to MustangTek for decoding aids! 

C8AE 8425 - 1968 Mustang intake

** Note interestingly enough that even though the window sticker VIN shows a 289 4V engine ("D" code), the option detail then contradicts the VIN (!) by specifying a 289 2V engine. I can't reconcile that- it makes me wonder if this window sticker is a reproduction or something.

C5OE - 5059 - 1965 Fairlane timing cover

C8AE - 1968 Mustang water pump