I CAn only find a number stamped on the back of the block
2B169318
does that sound right and where can i go to indentify it
you can contact me at scutrorobert@aol.com  

Count the valve cover bolts:

2 bolts: 239/256/272/292/312  (produced from 1954 to 1964)
5 bolts: 332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428 (FE engine)
6 bolts: 221/260/289/302/351W
7 bolts: 429/460
8 bolts: 351C/351M/400

After narrowing it down measure the bore and stroke to figure out the exact displacement.  

That number is the partial VIN for the original vehicle installation which decodes this way.
2= the year of the decade, such as 62, 72, 82, etc. It doesn't tell the decade.
B= Oakville, Ontario, CA assembly plant
169318 is the VIN sequence-
1 being Ford (5 would be Mercury)
69318 means the 69318 vehicle scheduled for production from that assembly plant.

To determine the decade, there is a casting number in the block usually by the starter. It will look something like this..... D2AE-6015-AA which translates this way.
All blocks are 6015
D would be the decade, B=50s, C=60s, D=70s, E=80s, F= 90s.
2 would be the year of that decade.
A would indicate the passenger car line, A being Fairlanes, but used in other bodies, etc.
E = engine
AA or any other suffix is just a running production variation of the item.
Using your number, if you know the decade, then the original vehicle that the engine was installed in can easily be determiined from the production number.