yeah likewise, I'd like to fully believe the jmm article and think mine is a tickford unit but there's conflicting evidence on this thread?

JMM is wrong.

Tickford heads (indeed all parts) have a T in the part number, and in the case of the head, there's a big Tickford 'T' embossed on it too. Hard to miss, and hard to fake.

If it doesn't have the big 'T' it's a stocker.

ok thanks, it was a StreetMachine Ford article so it looks like they didnt confirm their facts and just printed what Jmm said in their interview...

Just gonna bring this article up again.

We've just pulled an engine out of a late 1998 EL fairmont ghia and the head is a 94AB! (and no big T)
Now, from what I know the fairmont ghia's came out with tickford head. The rocker cover is also tickford red. The owners we bought it from had it from new?
From other other posts I have deduced this was apparently the best flowing head - but why would it come out on this model if it was supposed to be a tickford?

On a slightly different topic, I've been told the 'T' represented a Variable cam timing option which was also optional before the AU. But I've never heard or read that? The guy is fairly knowledgeable about falcons, so i'm not just rejecting it outright.

i could be wrong, but late EL should have the hybrid engine in it i think. check the engine number, i think it should be the same as the VIN, if not its had an engine change. if it is, id say it has cracked thehead at some point and replaced with a standard one.
And ive never heard of VCT for E series.

The T cast into the head was to differentiate a Tickford head, nothing more.
And no, there was never a VCT option from factory prior to the AU series. However I have heard of a few people building a DOHC head for an E series, and there may have also been someone bright enough to build a VCT option as well. But definately not factory.

Just gonna bring this article up again.

1) We've just pulled an engine out of a late 1998 EL fairmont ghia and the head is a 94AB! (and no big T). Now, from what I know the fairmont ghia's came out with tickford head. The rocker cover is also tickford red. The owners we bought it from had it from new?
A) They have had an exchange head put on at some timef. All EL Ghias were fitted with a Tickford head.

2) From other other posts I have deduced this was apparently the best flowing head - but why would it come out on this model if it was supposed to be a tickford?
A) 94AB is claimed to be the better flowing standard head other than the Tickfords. As said earlier, The head has been replaced at some time.

3) On a slightly different topic, I've been told the 'T' represented a Variable cam timing option which was also optional before the AU. But I've never heard or read that? The guy is fairly knowledgeable about falcons, so i'm not just rejecting it outright.
A) T = Variable Cam Timing, s**t. The T represents Tickford. VCT was never an option on Factory Released E Series cars for the public. My advice about your "fairly knowledgeable about falcons" guy is, Don't listen to him. If this is his level of knowlege about Falcons/Fords then he is an idiot.

couldn't agree more there paul too many dh's out there that know stuff all about falcons