Possible seized engine - 390

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67 bump
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Possible seized engine - 390

Post by 67 bump »

I picked up a 390 ranger, I got the heads rebuilt and used a small RV cam. I swapped in a new timing chain and a older 4 barrel 59 Edsel intake. I plugged the port in the back of the intake with a freeze plug and used a PCV valve. While driving the engine lost power and blew the oil cap off the intake tube. I drove it maybe 100 more yards into my driveway and it died. I tried to crank it over by hand in both directions and it was a no go. Any ideas what may have caused this.
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by fordman »

I'm not sure I can provide an answer. I would remove starter belts and distribution. See if you can turn engine with breaker bar and socket via the crankshaft damper bolt.
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by hazelnut »

I think the problem is you put a intake off a MEL engine on a FE. From what I've heard they may look to be the same but the two are different engines and nothing interchanges correct. I think something is not lining up right in the castings and have created a big problem.
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by 67 bump »

In guessing a ton of crankcase pressure built up and broke a ring. Only a guess at this point...
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1972hiboy
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by 1972hiboy »

well, sounds like something happened to it. if it wont turn with a breaker bar in either direction or with starter. you know what needs to happen. you can start with the valve covers and get the heads off first but pretty sure it would need to come back apart to be repaired.
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1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by tnlprt »

hazelnut wrote:I think the problem is you put a intake off a MEL engine on a FE. From what I've heard they may look to be the same but the two are different engines and nothing interchanges correct. I think something is not lining up right in the castings and have created a big problem.
If you attempt to put a MEL intake on the FE engine you might find that there are only the bottom bolts to attach the valve covers as the top hole will be absent

Sounds like you may have spun a bearing
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by Nitekruizer »

tnlprt wrote:
hazelnut wrote:I think the problem is you put a intake off a MEL engine on a FE. From what I've heard they may look to be the same but the two are different engines and nothing interchanges correct. I think something is not lining up right in the castings and have created a big problem.
If you attempt to put a MEL intake on the FE engine you might find that there are only the bottom bolts to attach the valve covers as the top hole will be absent

Sounds like you may have spun a bearing
The FE intake forms part of the heads, but the MEL intake is separate from the heads and does not form part of them.
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Re: Possible seized engine - 390

Post by 67 bump »

Mine bolted just fine and appeared the same as the 2 barrel I removed. I ran the numbers on the intake and it came back to a 59.
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