I learned long ago with the California DMV if you don't like the questions you're getting at the DMV just pick up your paper work and go to a different DMV. Or come back later to the same one. Chances are the questions and requirements will be totally different from a different clerk. The stupidity of requiring engine numbers goes back to the days when some cars didn't have frame numbers and used engine numbers to register cars.

 The stamped #s on U.S. Y-Blocks in front of the valley cover are production date codes.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

Maybe Texas where a current New Hampshire title was not sufficient to register my 41 Ford. They wanted to "see" chassis numbers and matching engine numbers. Sort of hard since the engine was non Ford! I know we have all had similar experiences. God bless the DMV (they need the help). Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Chuck:

You must have been dreaming you were in Indiana DMV.  (YEAH, RIGHT!)

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I had a crazy dream last night! Went into the Department of Motor Vehicles and it was staffed by car guys! No stupid questions, no demands for non-existant numbers. In and out in 5min!! Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Thanks just the answer that I was looking for.

Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)

Rick and all are correct, for the exercise for rego, use the small numbers on top of front of valley area as gary describes, i,ve allways thought they are production or build date code. As for the engines legality, there would be no legal number in any records pertaining to money owing. It would be a legal issue between owner and buyer.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Those are the numbers on the flat area just in front of the valley cover on the left side.

-Gary Burnette-

on my 1954 256 cui mercury block i found a engine # on the tab on the font left hand side just below the head they were only small letters but thats what was used for rego and vic roads were happy with that . but they also said to me if there wasn,t one there to just use the car vin # and stamp it on my self

    RAY. Y,S ALWAYS

Rick55 is correct...........American Y-Blocks don't have an engine number.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

I don't think that the American Y Blocks have an engine number.

My 55 has no stamped number anywhere and for the purpose of licensing a number will need to be allocated, unless I stamp the chassis number on the block.

A 56 I recently saw  licensed here in WA didn't have an engine number either and had some numbers punched on the gasket surface of the valley cover which we used. These did not seem consistent with a Ford Number.

The Aus/Canadian engines are all stamped in two places. Just below the front of the left head and behind the starter motor.

No such luck with the American.

My suggestion is don't worry about it if there are no numbers visible. Either put your own number on the block or let the licensing authorities allocate a number.

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!