| Basic engine used in Ford and Mercury passenger cars and trucks that can be interchanged: | ||||
| CDI | Casting # | PASSENGER CAR/TRUCK | ||
| 292 | EDB | 55 thru 62 Ford/Merc | ||
| 292 | ECK | 55 Police Interceptor | ||
| 312 | ECZ | 56/57/58/59 Ford/Merc | ||
| 272 | ECG | 55/56/57 Ford/Merc | ||
| The 272 is essentially the same engine as the 292 but has a 1/8" smaller bore (3.625). There is a lot of meat in the block and it can safetly be bored .125 oversize to a standard 292 bore (3.750) | ||||
| The 292 can be safely bored .060 oversize. Keep in mind that a 292 bored .050 over, gives you the standard 312 bore (3.800), but with a .14 shorter stroke (3.30 for 292, and 3.44 for the 312). | ||||
| The safe bore limit for a 312 is .040 over. A 312 bored .040 will give you a 319.5 CID engine. It is not recommended to bore past past .040 because of wall thickness. | ||||
| Ford, as usual, was not 100% consistant in the use of engine identificaiton markings, as you will notice in the chart below. However, in most cases these markings are adequate to identify which engine you may be looking at. If the engine is in the vehicle, you can pull the bell housing/flywheel inspection plate, and sue a flashlight to check the markings on the crankshaft flange ( refer to chart below) | ||||
| Engine | Year | Marking Location | I.D Marking Description | |
| 312 | 56/7/8/9 | L.H. side between oil filter & head (Usually) | Raised casting letters ECZ | |
| 312 | 56/7/8/9 | Crankshaft rear flange | A half moon on one side. A flat with 1 large dot on the other side. | |
| 292 | Mid 50'S | L.H. side between oil filter & head | Raised casting letters ECK | |
| 292 | Mid 50'S | L.H. side, lower front | Cover over vent hole | |
| 292 | Late 50's | L.H. side between oil filter & head. Also center rear next to distributor | Raised casting letters EDB | |
| 292 | Late 50's | L.H. side, lower front | Cast over vent hole | |
| 292 | Early 60's | L.H. side between oil filter & head | Raised casting letters C2AE | |
| 292 | Some | L.H. side between oil filter & head | Raised casting letters ECZ | |
| 292 | 55 to 62 | Crankshaft rear flange | A half moon on one side. Flat on other side. No dot. | |
| 292 | 55 to 62 | Crankshaft rear flange | 2 half moons. | |
| 292 | 55 to 62 | Crankshaft rear flange | A half moon on one side. Flat on other side. 2 or 3 small dots. | |
| 272 | 5/6/7 | L.H side, between oil filter & head | Raised casting letters ECG | |
| 272 | 5/6/7 | Crankshaft rear flange | A half moon on one side. Flat on other side. 2 or 3 small dots. | |
| 272 | 5/6/7 | Crankshaft rear flange | ||