engine numbers

[lost in wyoming]

can any one tell me how to tell what year and what kind of a car my engine came from.I know it is a 5.0 it is in a 86 mercury now but not the original. if you can tell me were the block numbers are I can find the year we plan on putting it in a 51 stude

[cougar190]

Hey lost; Look on the block along the oilpan just above where the starter bolts up, you should find a set of numbers that look like this E6ME-****-?, this is what will tell you what it is, the **** will denote that is an engine, the ? will be the revision code,IE 1st,2nd,3rd revision of that block . Here is a Part number that I got from a Mustang site, hope it helps.
FORD PART NUMBERS TELL A STORY

Here's how to decipher Ford part numbers, such as D1ZZ-6675-C, for example:
The first two digits indicate year. The letter is the decade;A = '40sB = '50sC = '60sD = '70sE = '80sF = '90sG = '00sThe third digit designates body line;A = Ford full sizeD = FalconE = EscortF = Pinto, Maverick, FalconG = Early Comets, Montego, CycloneH = Medium/Heavy Duty TruckK = EdselL = Lincoln Mark VIIM = Mercury O = FairlaneR = CapriS = ThunderbirdT = Pick-up Truck or BroncoU = Econoline VanV = LincolnW = CougarZ = Mustang {there are actually many more}The fourth position signifies Engineering group;A = ChassisB = BodyE = EngineIf it's a Service Replacement part;Z = Ford DivisionY = Lincoln-MercuryX = Original Muscle Parts programM = Ford Motorsport, SVO, FFRPThe center number, four or more numbers or letters, is the part number.

The A at the end of the number indicates that the part is the first version. If it was revised once, it would be B. If it was revised again, it would be C, and so on. When they run out of letters, it becomes AA, AB, and so on.
So if we decode this number, D1ZZ-6675-C, we come up with the
following: D1 = 1971 model year.
Z = Mustang.
Z = Ford Division Service Replacement part.
6675 = the group number for oil pans.
C = The third version of this part.