You need a number off the trans tag.  It will have a year of manufacture in the part number (E5XXXX, E9XXXXX, etc.)  There will also be a month/day code like K25 for November 25th. 

I imagine the basic valvebody is the same, but the valving may be different based on application. 

I believe the year of manufacture is cast in the cast located on the left side just above and to the rear of the gear selector. I found what I believe is called a manufacture number with E3 on mine, making it a 1983. At least that's the info I found during a search. Sounds reasonable to me.

On the valve body year, I believe Gaba wrote about how to ID it.

Last edited by Bearing Bob (6/09/2020 10:09 PM)

Not necessarily.  Those numbers are casting numbers.  What they are telling you is that the oldest it could be is '83.  However, that number did not change until there was a revision to the casting.  So if they didn't make a change until say '89 the transmission could be any year from '83-'88.  The RF stands for Rouge Foundry where they were cast.  A Ford part number wouldn't have a prefix like that. 

Dkralc wrote:

The 2 circles below RF-E3SP-700E are the date the casting was made. I believe the casting was made on April 29, 1985.

Yes Dkralc, those are the numbers. Thanks.