Royce, I'm not arguing but casting numbers are a way of identifying parts.
Often that number will identify the intended application and purpose.
If there are at least three different C8FE blocks, then how does the poor guy in shipping identify them if they all have the same identification number?
I personally haven't had the privilege of having many Ford "racing program" parts. What I can say that my reaction to any prefix ending in an FE such as C8FE sets off a flashing light in my head telling me that it is not a regular production part.
My aluminum medium riser 427 heads with the C6FE-6049-A casting numbers were another example that I can think of.
I can't swear to it but they likely came off of a "lightweight 427" and that likely was not intended for Taxi Cab or Pickup truck application.
Your point however is somewhat made. I went through this somewhat also with my Pantera. I'm aware that there are at least two "Nascar" 351-c blocks. Both I am told are XE identified.
Then you have this thing with "the Australian block". That one usually is identified with the Gelong casting id.
Well here's MY story on my block. I bought a D2 4 bolt block from Carter Gette. It had come out of a wrecked Pantera race car. It did not have a Gelong logo.
I took it to a friend's friend who was starting his own machine shop not far from here to go 30 over with.
When I went to pick it up, the guy told me that I had swindled him and never to come back. He said it was a special block and he had to resharpen his cutters three times. But he told me $180 to bore it and he would stick to that, just never come back.
It had no other special markings and as far as I know, was a production CJ block. The engine shop claimed otherwise.
Of course it might have been his first Ford block and he might have been just used to the soft iron GM uses?
I'm not always uninformed. Questions by their nature are an attempt at being informed or searching for clarification. My questions have a point and if I can arrive at the information that I was looking for, then it doesn't matter what you think of me. However, thank you for your interest and kind specifically pointed replies. They often help.