Windsor With an Extension Cord

I pulled a running Windsor out of a old ford truck today, and I was wondering if you guys could help me.
1. What is this extension cord type thing that is attached to the side of the motor?
2. How do I identify the year of the motor?

 

Need to post a picture of it. The year is stamped on the engine block. If it starts with C like C7= 67, C8=68, D7=77. Is it a 351W?

 

If the cord goes into one of the core plugs it is a block heater.

 

Yes it is a Windsor, it has the water neck on the intake. What part of the block do I look at for the year?

 

It is on the block where the starter is located.

 

If i remember correctly I've seen a lot of emission stickers starting with E6, I wont know for sure until I go to work tomorrow and look at the motor.

 

Ditto, engine block heater.

 

Its starts with "E4AE", would this make it a 1984 Hydraulic Flat Tappet motor?

 

Yea, E4 would mean the first model year it was produced, likely it was the same casting used until the roller block came out in late 93. The date code will tell you the exact date it was cast.

 

I thought the first 351W engines were late 60s - that would be C8xx for the first model year... Unless you meant that 84 was the first year THAT block was made in.
Sometimes it is hard to read what people are writing without the facial expressions and tone of voice inflections.

 

sounds like you have one of the rare Hybrid Ford motors I believe they were mostly produced just out side the emerald city in the land of oz

 

I thought it was pretty plain what I meant.