Expert: Brad Sears - 2/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have just purchased a 1965 Mustang 2+2 Fastback and I am trying to decode some of the numbers I am finding on the car. There is no tag on the transmission but the numbers on the housing are C6DP-7006A. Can you decode this for me to let me know if it is correct for the car. My VIN is 5R09A169241. Any suggestions as to where to look for numbers on the engine block?

ANSWER: Try the following web sites:
http://mustangs.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=mustangs&cdn=autos&

http://www.vintage-mustang.com/topics/decode/decode.html

www.themustangshop.com/decoder.cfm

Brad


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Brad,
The site links you sent me are very helpful but do not specifically address my question about decoding the number I found on the transmission itself. I know it is a C4 which is supposed to be in the car, but what does the C6DP-7006A mean on the transmission. Thank you for any help you can share with me on this.

Answer
From my days as an old Ford service manager the C stands for the 1960's. The 6 stands for the model year that part was first used on. The next two letters are parts department coding. The number is just that an ID number and the last letter is again parts ID. So, as I understand it this transmission case was first used in 1966.
Brad