Cracked Block - How bad is too bad?

[tom406]

Have you verified the numbers are there? The VIN derivative would be on the back of the block under the driver's side cylinder head. My experience (which is supported by a number of Ford guys I've talked to) is that VIN stamping was inconsistent in 68-70 era on FE engines. If there's no VIN derivative visible, I'd go with a similarly date coded, uncracked block. (Id also put in a stroker crank and make it a 410-445 and run 428CJ manifolds, but that's me). Sleeving FE blocks (427s especially) is common and doable, at a cost.