FE engine help

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toddsF100
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FE engine help

Post by toddsF100 »

i have a 1972 F100 2wd that originally came with a 360 2bbl,has an automatic (c6) and a 9 inch with 4.00 gears. when i bought it i was told it had a 390 in it.it has a 4bbl cast intake in which the numbers appeared to be from a 66 galaxie if i remember right.the heads are not the originals off the engine.i have yet to pull a v/c to look inside.my question is this,i have the starter off because it failed and nowhere on this engine is there a casting number.the block is clean from oil and dirt as it was rebuilt just before i bought it.i did find 352 stamped on the left front of the engine block.i would really like to know what this engine is,i am gonna try to find out what the heads came off of as well.hopefully i didn't get ripped and it really is a 390........thx for the help.
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re: FE engine help

Post by crazy larry »

the only ways to know for sure what you have is to check the crank casting numbers or to measure your bore and stroke. It amazes me how many ford trucks there are with "390's" in them only to pull them apart and find a 360. :x
all fe blocks have a 352 cast on them. not to worry there. you never know, you could have more than a 390..... good luck.
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re: FE engine help

Post by FORDification »

The 360 and 390 blocks are identical externally. The only way of differentiating between the two, since there are no external markings to tell you what you've got, is to measure the stroke. Simply rotate the crankshaft around until the #1 cylinder is at TDC (top dead center) as indicated at the timing mark. Remove the spark plug and insert a wooden dowel into the cylinder until you hit the top of the piston and make a mark on the dowel. (Use the valve cover lip as a constant reference source.) Then remove the spark plug from the #4 cylinder (when #1 is TDC, #4 is BDC) and make another mark on the dowel. Then measure the difference. A 360 has a 3.50" stroke and a 390 has a 3.78" stroke.

A 360 can easily be converted to a 390 by swapping in the 390 reciprocating assembly (crank, rods & pistons).

352 (4.00" bore / 3.50" stroke)
360 (4.05" bore / 3.50" stroke) - a 352 crank in a 332-390 block.
390 (4.05" bore / 3.78" stroke)
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cobraF100
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re: FE engine help

Post by cobraF100 »

What are the casting #'s on the heads?

Is there anything on the Back of the Block?

You only be able to find out by checking the Stroke.
Measure the Stroke by takeing out a Spark Plug and using something like a welding rod to put down through the Spark Plug Hole,Mark the welding rod when the Engine is at TDC (top dead center) then rotate the crank by hand to the bottom of the Stroke and mark it....then measure distance between the lines.

Fe Strokes:
360 = 3.500
390 = 3.780
428 = 3.980
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re: FE engine help

Post by cobraF100 »

O....Well,keith beat me to the post.....

I guess we were responding at the same time
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re: FE engine help

Post by crazy larry »

:dk:
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re: FE engine help

Post by toddsF100 »

thx guys...i thought according to some info i had found that there would be a casting number on the block.but i guess not...as for the heads i have yet to check them,i am not even sure where the casting numbers for them are.i know the FE family is a real pain to figure out.i am driving my parts guy crazy with this truck.i will meaure the stroke when i get it into my shop next time.thx for the help. i am a rookie with fords lol.
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re: FE engine help

Post by DuckRyder »

The block casting number is useless, or very nearly so.

The head casting number is in between the two middle exhaust ports usually partially on each side of the head bolt.
Robert
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toddsF100
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re: FE engine help

Post by toddsF100 »

here are the head numbers see if these make any sense...on one side of the exaust port is 02TEAA and then 203 on the other side of the exaust port.something with this engine don't feel right.....
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re: FE engine help

Post by cobraF100 »

The D2 head was cast at the MCC (Michigan Casting Center).

The D2TE-AA head (same as the C8AE-H) is a good performance Head for Smaller FEs looking to hit about 400 HP. They were used in 1968 and later FEs, including 428 engines.

The Heads cc some where around 68-72cc's.
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ak-1970-360
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re: FE engine help

Post by ak-1970-360 »

is their any way to tell what heads i have on my 360 without taking them of the block?
thanks
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Re: re: FE engine help

Post by DuckRyder »

ak-1970-360 wrote:is their any way to tell what heads i have on my 360 without taking them of the block?
Sure, the casting number is on the top. See my post above.

You'll probably have to clean the area.
Robert
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