Hi all, I found this really comprehensive parts number decoder posted on a Mustang board. I have looked at a few numbers here and it seems to be accurate. I knew about the first two characters being decade and year in that decade, but this covers a lot more. Enjoy ... Prefix The first character indicates the decade of design: A = 1940s (often omitted) B = 1950s C = 1960s D = 1970s E = 1980s F = 1990s The second character indicates the last digit of year of introduction or revision. The number remains the same until the part goes through a major revision. Example: All '87-'95 Mustang (exc. Cobra) cylinder heads have the same Service Part Number prefix (E7TE) aka Casting Number. Decipher the Date Code to indicate when the part was actually made. The third character of the prefix indicates the product the part was originally designed for: A = Ford (generic), Galaxie B = Bronco (1970-73), Maverick (1975-77), Fairmont (1978-83) C = Remanufactured parts (1966-75), Elite (1975), Capri (1979-up) D = Falcon (1960-69), Maverick (1970-74), Granada (1975-82), LTD (1983-up) E = Truck (Cab over Engine 1970-73), Pinto (1976-80), Escort (1981-up), Explorer F = Outside (Foreign) sales, Trans Am Racing G = Comet (1961-67), Montego (1968-76), EXP (1982-up) H = Holman/Moody Hi-Po Parts, Heavy-duty truck (1966-82), Medium-duty truck (1983-up) I = N/A J = Industrial K = Edsel (1958-60), Tilt-Cab Trucks (1970-73), Comet (1975-77), Zephyr (1978-83), Marquis (1983-up) L = Lincoln M = Mercury N = Tractor O = Fairlane, Torino (1969-76), LTD II (1977-79), LN7 (1982-83) P = Autolite/Motorcraft Q = N/A R = Rotunda Brand (Generic), Ford of Europe (1970-up) S = Thunderbird T = Light-duty and Medium-duty truck (1966-82), Bronco (1966-82, except 1970-73), Light-duty truck and Bronco I (1983-up) U = Econoline/Club Wagon Van V = Continental (1961-81) W = Cougar (1967-up, except 1981-82), XR7 (1981-82) X = Trucks (short highway 1970-73) Y = Meteor (Canada 1962-72), Bobcat (1975-80), Lynx (1981-up) Z = Mustang 1 = N/A 2 = Pinto (1972-75) 3 = Tempo (1984-up) 4 = Comet (1971-74), Monarch (1975-80), Cougar (1981-82), Marquis (1983-up) 5 = Recreational Vehicles, Continental (1982-up) 6 = Pantera (1971-75), Topaz (1984-up) 7 = Courier (1971-82), Ranger/Bronco II (1983-up), Explorer (1991-up) 8 = Ford Capri (US designed parts, 1972-75) 9 = Turbine engine parts (1970-75) The fourth character indicates the following Ford Design Engineering/Division Offices: A = Light Truck Engineering B = Body and Electrical C = Chassis D = Overseas Products E = Engine F = General Parts/Electrical and Electronics G = N/A H = Climate Control (1972-up) I = N/A J = Autolite/Ford Service Parts K = N/A L = Industrial Engine Service Parts M = Special Vehicle Operations, Ford Racing Performance Parts, Holman/Moody N = Tractor Parts, Diversified Products Operations O = N/A P = Automatic Transmissions Q = N/A R = Manual Transmissions S = Light and Heavy Truck Special Order Parts T = Heavy Truck Engineering U = Special Vehicles Operations V = Vehicle Special Ordering and Engineering Section W = Axle and Driveshaft X = Emissions, Economy and Special Vehicle Engineering (Muscle Car Parts) Y = Lincoln/Mercury Service Parts Z = Ford Service Parts Basic Part Numbers (general range) Regular (except interior or trim): 1000-1250 = Wheels, hubs, drums 1350-1499 = Spare wheel 2001-2285 = Brakes (service) 2307-2438 = Brakes (power) 2442-2482 = Brake controls 2505-2900 = Brakes (parking) 3000-3359 = Front suspension and steering linkage 3500-3764 = Steering gear 4000-4296 = Rear axle 4600-4859 = Drive shaft 5000-5176 = Frame 5200-5299 = Muffler and exhaust pipe 5300-5499 = Front spring and stabilizer 5550-5832 = Rear spring 6000-6898 = Engine 6905-6968 = Transmission overdrive and engine steady rest 7000-7997 = Transmission (Automatic or Manual) and Clutch 8000-8499 = Radiator and grille 8500-8689 = Water pump and fan 9002-9296 = Fuel tank 9301-9420 = Fuel pump 9421-9499 = Manifolds, clamps, etc. 9500-9599 = Carburetor 9600-9699 = Air cleaner 9700-9999 = Accelerator and choke control rods 10000-10449 = Generator and alternator 10500-10653 = Voltage regulator 10654-10756 = Battery 10838-10990 = Instruments 11000-11382 = Starter motor 11450-11688 = Lighting and ignition switch 12000-12390 = Ignition coil, distributor, condenser 12402-12425 = Spark plugs 13002-13248 = Lamps (head and parking) 13402-13796 = Lamps (rear) 13809-13853 = Lamps (license and pillar) and horn 14197-14689 = Wiring 15000-15858 = Miscellaneous accessories 16000-16550 = Front fender 16600-16999 = Hood 17005-17125 = Tools 17248-17383 = Speedometer and tachometer 17402-17666 = Windshield wiper and washer 17700-17730 = Mirror 17736-17999 = Bumper 18000-18125 = Shock absorber 18148-18249 = Comfort/convenience accessories 18250-18699 = Heater 18800 = Radio and antenna 18900 = Speakers and radio accessories 19000 = Gasoline 19100 = Fire extinguishers 19500-19585 = Custom accessories; appearance and maintenance materials 19600-19980 = Air conditioner Interior and trim basic part numbers use seven digits; the first two identify the basic bodystyle (i.e. 61), with the last five identifying the specific part within a general body area. Interior or trim: 01000 = Instrument Panel Area (Lower) 02000 = Windlace 03000 = Windshield 04000 = Instrument Panel (Upper) and Visor Area 06000 = Glove Compartment 10000-12000 = Floor (Exterior) 13000 = Floor (Interior) 20000-27600 = Doors 27700-30000 = Quarter Panel/Quarter Window 40000-49999 = Hood, Rear Window, Trunk and Rear Valence 50000-59999 = Top and Roof 60000-69999 = Seats Subassembly parts or accessory kits may add an additional letter (starting with A, then B, then C, etc.) following the Hundreds digit (interior and trim) or Thousands digit (non-interior or trim) in the basic part number. Example: E1ZB-660045C90-B ('81 Mustang Turbo instrument cluster overlay subassembly) Suffix Single letter indicates specific application. Increases alphabetically (A, B, C, etc.) for each minor revision (same prefix and basic part number) and then double letters (AA, AB, AC, etc.) when all single letters are used. Three-letter code usually indicates color. __________________
Awesome info! I have always had to look in multiple places to get all of that, never in just one spot. Mods, any chance this can be placed on here with a sticky? rk
This is all the info that I found. I know it will be good for IDing some of the stuff out in the garage that I grabbed out of the salvage yards years ago thinking "maybe this will work" ... only to gather dust. Time for a "garage sale" ... if it doesn't fit a car I own, it's gotta' go.
It may or may not help you with the stuff in the garage. Most of the numbers stamped into a Ford part is actually a "casting" number, not necessarily a part number. They look similar but are different. If there is a sticker or tag on the part, it's most likely a part number. You cannot order a part from Ford using the "casting" number unless the counter person is able to cross it over to a regular part number. Most good counterpeople can and will do it if the info is available to them. All the late model stuff is in their computer programs but it's getting hard to find a source with the old stuff unless it's maybe online somewhere. Most counterguys now don't even want to help you with anything in the 70's or older.
The numbers found cast, stamped or printed on a part are more accurately refered to as the "Engineering" numbers.
