ok, i know this has been discussed over and over. i have done a search and nothing. i NEED to know the absolute differences to find out what i have according to VIN# its a windsor but according to a freind of mine that bought my old valve covers,replaced when i did the Bullitt intake swap. he said he needed Windsor covers and i told him i had some he bought them and they were not right.now my question is who is right me or him?????? ok, i know someone out there knows the answers im looking for please help me out,lol. cause with all this confusion im like :dots: :dots: :dots:

 

easy, count the # of bolts. windsors have 13/14 and romeos have 11 most people mis-count the bolts because they count the holes on the cyl head and for get about the 2 or 3 holes in the front chain cover

 

still doesnt clearafy the fact that my VIN# reads windsor, lol need more way to distinguish the two apart,if any

 

it doesn't, there is NOTHING in the vin that tells you what engine plant your engine came from. 1996 to 1998's are Romeos, 1999 & 2000 are Windsors and 2001 to 2004 ar Romeos.

 

Actually, if the 8th digit of your VIN is an X, then you have a Windsor. If it's a W, then you have a Romeo.

 

thats what i was told and have been referenced to many of times! i do in fact have an "X". and if im not mistaken when i did my intake swap, i have pressed on cam gears?? but i think i have 11 bolt valve covers?? i called the local dealer here in Iowa and he said that the mustangs made in late01-04 are windsors, but my freind has a 99 with an "X" in his VIN# 8th digit. my clutch was installed as part of purchase agreement when i bought it,dealer did it, so i cant say if i have 6 or 8 bolt crank?? i know that will clarify things for me,loo. there is sooo many discrepincies between the two i cant tell fact from fiction,lol. its very frustrating. thanx for all the help so far. maybe this thread will lead to a CONCLUSIVE way to determine Windsor or Romeo.

 

that IS NOT TRUE!! an X or W just meens its a 4.6 nothing more.


again, NOTHING in the vin tells you where the engine is made. period.

my 1996 has an X and its a Romeo.

 

This website breaks it down for you List of Ford VIN Codes and you will notice that the 8th digit is the engine code. It shows an X being for the 4.6L SOHC. Mine is a 96 with the 8th digit X and it is a Romeo just as Randy stated. The only tried and true method to tell is to count the bolts on the valve cover. No one can really make it much more simpler. As far as the covers not fitting as expected, obviously someone was wrong in assuming which block they had. It isn't that complicated to figure out.

 

Romeo, o Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?

 

thank you

and AGAIN, Windsors have 13/14 bolts on the valve cover & Romeos have 11
but when MOST people look at the heads they dont see that, because they forget that the Front Timing Chain Cover takes a few of the bolts that come outta' the cam covers