Engine Identification

[YellowRose]

Doug, here is where it gets confusing... There is a difference between codings for classes of engines and Data Plate codings for engines. According to the 1958-1968 Thunderbird Identification listing here is what it shows for 1958 Squarebird Engines

ENGINE
G ............... 8-Cylinder 332 Cubic Inch
(4-barrel (Export)
H ............... 8-Cylinder 352 Cubic Inch
(4-barrel)
J ................ 8-Cylinder 430 Cubic Inch
(4-barrel)

Note: Ford publications were listing the J Code 430MEL as being available for 1958 but it did not appear until 1959 on Squarebirds.

1959
ENGINE
H ............... 8-Cylinder 352 Cubic Inch
(4-barrel)
J ................ 8-Cylinder 430 Cubic Inch
(4-barrel)

For some reason, this publication does not list the G Code Export of 1958

1960
ENGINE
J ................ 8-Cylinder 430 Cubic Inch (4-barrel)
Y ............... 8-Cylinder 352 Cubic Inch (4-barrel
G ............... 8-Cylinder 352 Cubic Inch (4-barrel)
(Low Compression Export, 84 Octane)

For whatever reason Ford switched from H Code for the 352CI engine to Y Code and I see G Code Export is back on the list again. I hope this does not further confuse things. It may be because Ford in 1960 called the 352 a FE Engine (Ford Edsel).