Trying to identify trans by VIN

[brightgoldboss]

     I have a toploader  No tag, but it is stamped  522920 up on the top. I am guessing from experience it is 1968 / 69  Did all of the Cougars [ BOSS or NOT ] use the 5 as
            the first digit in the VIN ?         Thanks,   Jimmy

[mike_b_svt]

     I have a toploader  No tag, but it is stamped  522920 up on the top. I am guessing from experience it is 1968 / 69  Did all of the Cougars [ BOSS or NOT ] use the 5 as
            the first digit in the VIN ?         Thanks,   Jimmy

5 is for all Mercury's, not just Cougars.  There was a 1969 Cougar "522920", but it had an FMX transmission.

Jimmy, what are the casting dates and part numbers on the case and tail?

[brightgoldboss]

    It was taken apart decades ago, so I am not able to get the tail, at least, not right now.  The case is a C8  with a drain plug and K28 date code.

[brightgoldboss]

    So, if there was a Cougar with that vin, & it had a FMX,  my trans. could not be from a Cougar ?

[mike_b_svt]

    So, if there was a Cougar with that vin, & it had a FMX,  my trans. could not be from a Cougar ?

Not from a '69 Cougar anyhow.  C8 cases were used at least through '70 though - that's what mine has.  Tail piece changed for '70 though, I believe (mine is a D0).

I imagine your "K28" is October 2nd, 1968, which would be '69 model year.  However, my trans casting date is "F3 - 9", so maybe yours is Oct 28th?  If so, there should be a year digit there somewhere.

[brightgoldboss]

     Everything I have seen in a 1970 year has  No drain plug on bottom.  How about yours ?  These date codes [ main & tail ] are so Erratic. Sometimes it looks like they are just showing the mo., & day....other times the full date, and there sloppy as hell.
                                                                                                    Thanks so much for your help & knowledge !

[mike_b_svt]

     Everything I have seen in a 1970 year has  No drain plug on bottom.  How about yours ?  These date codes [ main & tail ] are so Erratic. Sometimes it looks like they are just showing the mo., & day....other times the full date, and there sloppy as hell.
                                                                                                    Thanks so much for your help & knowledge !

Good catch on the drain plug ~ mine has none.

Hmm...  Sounds like your trans could be from another '69 Mercury line, or as you said, a '68 Cougar (or other Mercury).
I'll ping the Cougar Database Registrar and see if he has a '68 Cougar listed with that VIN.  You never know! 

*Was just thinking.  In 1969 Cougars were built in Dearborn and also in San Jose.  The VIN I mentioned previously with the FMX was a Dearborn car.  So technically it could have been from a '69 San Jose Cougar.  Like I said, I'll bring it up with the Cougar Registrar and see if he has any insights on it.

[70_Conv_4sp]

My two cents worth, what is the length of the tail shaft, location for the shifter assembly, it can lend to small block app or big block app,
length can determine (approx 14" mustang - cougar)(approx 17" larger models, galaxy, torino, montego) application. My cougar is a 70 year model and has a C4ZR-7A040-A designation, no drain plug, go to this website   http://www.4speedtoploaders.com/ (if you haven't already) this is David Kee Toploaders website lots info if you want to explore further

70_Conv_4sp     

[brightgoldboss]

    I do not have any tail, so no tail info.  But it is a S.B. trans.
                                                                         Thanks !

[70_Conv_4sp]

My bad, I thought you said you couldn't get to it yet (find it), if you start looking for one I have a 390 engine application for mustang/cougar.

70_Conv_4sp (Keith)

[brightgoldboss]

     I will make a note of it !  Thanks  Keith

[pcunder]

When Ford stamped the Trans case on 'special' cars, did the only put the serial # or was it a partial VIN with engine code included.

Could it be that the first '5' is really an 'S'....?

So, not a Merc at all but maybe just missing a digit on the other end.

[CaBossFan]

There is information on The BOSS 302 Registry about the VIN numbers that were stamped on the Toploader transmissions:

http://www.boss302.com/topload.htm

On my 1970 BOSS 302, "0F" appears before the VIN number.

[mike_b_svt]

On my SCJ, I have no "0F".  Just the six digits.

[70_Conv_4sp]

My 70 Convertible, same-same, 514883, number same location as yours, mine is a 0F build 10-20-69, if you are a 0F also
ours were built pretty close together, if I may ask what was your build date. I have bought and sold a few top loaders that
came with the 0F and the 100,000 designation serial numbers goes to show you Ford and LM may have done things different.
I sure enjoy everything this Forum has to offer 

70_Conv_4sp (Keith)