How to Read FoMoCo Date Codes
Original Ford glass, sheet metal and other parts were usually date coded in one of several formats. To perform the most accurate restoration on your classic Ford, you should use parts manufactured reasonably near and prior to the build date of your car.
Here’s a brief guide to Ford date codes, as they would appear on a series of hypothetical parts manufactured at Dearborn during the 3rd Work Shift on 14 February 1966:
| Code | Meaning | Used On |
| 14 Feb 66 | Plain Date Stamp | Heater Motor (Ink Stamp) |
| Feb 14 1966 | Plain Date Stamp | Alternator (Ink Stamp) |
| 14B | «14» = Date «B» = Month: A or N = Jan B or P = Feb C or Q = Mar D or R = Apr E or S = May F or T = Jun G or U = Jul H or V = Aug J or W = Sep K or X = Oct L or Y = Nov M or Z = Dec | Data Plate |
| B14 | Reversed from above (Letters A-M only) | Sometimes seen on Build Tag (aka «Body Buck Tag») |
| 6F14B | «6» = 1966 «F» = Mustang «14B»-See Above | Horn (Ink Stamp) |
| 6B14 | «6» = 1966 «B» = Feb «14» = Date | Heater Core |
| 6B14C | «6» = 1966 «B» = Feb «14» = Date «C» = Work Shift (A-C = 1st-3rd Shift) | Power Steering Pump Tag Steering Gear Tag Transmission Tag |
| 6B14Q | «6» = 1966 «B» = Feb «14» = Date «Q» = Inspector’s Code Letter (A-Z) | Engine Block |
| 6B | «6» = 1966 «B» = Feb | Glass (Lower LH of «Carlite») Engine Tag |
| 6BC | Same, plus: «C» = 3rd Week of Month (A-E = 1st-5th Week) | Carburetor Distributor Rear Axle Radiator (Some) |
| F6BC | Same, preceded by: «F» = Mustang(?) May also be a Manufacturing Plant Code. (Some other codes seen: «Y» or » «(Blank)) | Heater Box (Ink stamp) Heater Plenum (Ink stamp) |
| 6MB | «6» = 1966 «M»(Large) = Supplier («M» – Motor Wheel Corp, Michigan) «B» = Feb | Wheels (stock steel rims) |
| 2 14 D 3 2 14 3 | «2» = Feb (1-12 = Jan-Dec) «14» = Date «D» = Location (opt): A = Chicago B = Buffalo C = Cleveland (Walton Hills) D = Dearborn M = Monroe, MI W = Woodhaven, OH «3» = 3rd Shift | Sheet Metal Hinges |
| 2-66 2 66 | «2» = Feb (See Above) «66» = 1966 | Latches Radiator |
| 8-66 | «8» = 8th Week «66» = 1966 | Seat Belts |
| 2/66 | «2» = 2nd Quarter «66» = 1966 | Clamps Belts |
| 026x | «02» = February (01-12 = Jan-Dec) «6» = 1966 x = Unknown (Poss A-Z may appear here, or blank(?)) | York A/C Compressor |