The Ford Barn

Kube · 01-16-2026, 09:02 PM

Guys, I have a bunch of parts I am attempting to identify.
Can't seem to locate the prefix ID.

Any help much appreciated.

AE
8M
8CM
1M
FEW
COAF
C5TZ

Thank you.

mcgarrett · 01-16-2026, 09:55 PM

8CM generally indicates a Mercury engine part from '49-'53

C5TZ is a later chassis/drivetrain number from the mid sixties.

Sorry, not too sure about the others.

nelsb01 · 01-17-2026, 12:04 AM

8M is 1949-50 Mercury and also 1949-50 Ford Station Wagon (although mostly drivetrain and chassis parts)

1M is 1951 Mercury

Kube · 01-17-2026, 08:28 AM

Thanks guys. Already a huge help!!!

glennpm · 01-17-2026, 08:43 AM

Not exactly answering your query, but the attached "Early Ford Serial Numbers - The Flat-Spot" from Nate Cooper I find helpful.

Glenn

fordyford · 01-17-2026, 08:44 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

COAF is 1960 full size car C5TZ is 1965 truck 8M is 1949 Mercury 1M is 1951 Mercury
FEW may be late "50s" Merc?

Kube · 01-17-2026, 08:50 AM

Wow! Thanks again!

1942deluxe · 01-17-2026, 09:47 AM

FEW is 1958 Mercury.

Kube · 01-17-2026, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

FEW is 1958 Mercury.

Thanks so much!

Karl Wescott · 01-17-2026, 12:57 PM

By the 1960's Ford had settled down to a consistent prefix system. LETTER+NUMERAL+LETTER+LETTER.

The first letter denoted the decade, C=1960-1969, D=1970-1979, E=1980-1989 etc.
The numeral denotes the last digit of the year, C0xx=1960, D1xx=1971, E9=1989 etc.

The next two indicate model and chassis. I have no clue what the mean and less inclination to learn.

Note they have kept the chassis parts body numbers mostly intact, so a C0AF-8100 could hypothetically be the radiator cap for the 1960 car.

Karl

1942deluxe · 01-17-2026, 01:57 PM

I spent over 30 years in Ford dealerships. I did everything from being the wash boy to being the dealer. As Karl mentioned there was a P/N prefix, base number, and suffix. The 60's,70's,80's numbers were fairly easy to recognize just by looking at the number on the box. The third digit(letter) of the prefix told you what model. A was full size, D was Falcon, Maverick and later became Taurus, O was Fairlane (Torino), S T-Bird, T truck, U Econoline. As Karl said many of the base numbers never changed. 11654 as an example is a light switch. The suffix does matter. At one of the first dealerships I worked at they told the new parts guy to order 6 sets of pickup fenders. We ended up with 6 sets of the original size Bronco fenders. I'm sure they'd bring a fortune today as NOS. Sometime in the 90's they went to "Global" prefix's which I never really grasped.

1942deluxe · 01-19-2026, 08:04 PM

Mike,
The B8A-18512-E (C) neutral safety switch you have listed is for a 58 Ford with Cruise o Matic if anybody asks. Number changed to B8AZ-7A247-B later on. I have the chassis parts books 1928-64 if you need any other part numbers researched. Actually, still enjoy doing that!

Kube · 01-19-2026, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

Mike,
The B8A-18512-E (C) neutral safety switch you have listed is for a 58 Ford with Cruise o Matic if anybody asks. Number changed to B8AZ-7A247-B later on. I have the chassis parts books 1928-64 if you need any other part numbers researched. Actually, still enjoy doing that!

Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!

1942deluxe · 01-19-2026, 09:22 PM

Also, your FEW-15843-B (58 Mercury) is a transmission control inhibitor switch. " On rear of keyboard selector, 383 (mod.) 383-430 engines".

01-16-2026, 09:02 PM	#1
Kube Super Moderator Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 10,539	Prefix id help please Guys, I have a bunch of parts I am attempting to identify. Can't seem to locate the prefix ID. Any help much appreciated. AE 8M 8CM 1M FEW COAF C5TZ Thank you. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

01-16-2026, 09:55 PM	#2
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Corsicana, Texas Posts: 1,551	Re: Prefix id help please 8CM generally indicates a Mercury engine part from '49-'53 C5TZ is a later chassis/drivetrain number from the mid sixties. Sorry, not too sure about the others.

01-17-2026, 12:04 AM	#3
nelsb01 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Up North Posts: 870	Re: Prefix id help please 8M is 1949-50 Mercury and also 1949-50 Ford Station Wagon (although mostly drivetrain and chassis parts) 1M is 1951 Mercury

01-17-2026, 08:28 AM	#4
Kube Super Moderator Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 10,539	Re: Prefix id help please Thanks guys. Already a huge help!!! __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

01-17-2026, 08:44 AM	#6
fordyford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 282	Re: Prefix id help please Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) COAF is 1960 full size car C5TZ is 1965 truck 8M is 1949 Mercury 1M is 1951 Mercury FEW may be late "50s" Merc?

01-17-2026, 08:50 AM	#7
Kube Super Moderator Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 10,539	Re: Prefix id help please Wow! Thanks again! __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

01-17-2026, 09:47 AM	#8
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: Prefix id help please FEW is 1958 Mercury.

01-17-2026, 12:57 PM	#10
Karl Wescott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,662	Re: Prefix id help please By the 1960's Ford had settled down to a consistent prefix system. LETTER+NUMERAL+LETTER+LETTER. The first letter denoted the decade, C=1960-1969, D=1970-1979, E=1980-1989 etc. The numeral denotes the last digit of the year, C0xx=1960, D1xx=1971, E9=1989 etc. The next two indicate model and chassis. I have no clue what the mean and less inclination to learn. Note they have kept the chassis parts body numbers mostly intact, so a C0AF-8100 could hypothetically be the radiator cap for the 1960 car. Karl

01-17-2026, 01:57 PM	#11
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: Prefix id help please I spent over 30 years in Ford dealerships. I did everything from being the wash boy to being the dealer. As Karl mentioned there was a P/N prefix, base number, and suffix. The 60's,70's,80's numbers were fairly easy to recognize just by looking at the number on the box. The third digit(letter) of the prefix told you what model. A was full size, D was Falcon, Maverick and later became Taurus, O was Fairlane (Torino), S T-Bird, T truck, U Econoline. As Karl said many of the base numbers never changed. 11654 as an example is a light switch. The suffix does matter. At one of the first dealerships I worked at they told the new parts guy to order 6 sets of pickup fenders. We ended up with 6 sets of the original size Bronco fenders. I'm sure they'd bring a fortune today as NOS. Sometime in the 90's they went to "Global" prefix's which I never really grasped.

01-19-2026, 08:04 PM	#12
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: Prefix id help please Mike, The B8A-18512-E (C) neutral safety switch you have listed is for a 58 Ford with Cruise o Matic if anybody asks. Number changed to B8AZ-7A247-B later on. I have the chassis parts books 1928-64 if you need any other part numbers researched. Actually, still enjoy doing that!

01-19-2026, 09:22 PM	#14
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: Prefix id help please Also, your FEW-15843-B (58 Mercury) is a transmission control inhibitor switch. " On rear of keyboard selector, 383 (mod.) 383-430 engines".