Help me identify this 390 PLEASE!!!

[fomocoguy]

Hey all! So today I went to the local junkyard and saw a 75ish Ford crew F350 with an FE in it and almost walked on by. Something made me go back and look at the engine, and what I found seems to be a 390 from the 1965 model year. It's a 4 barrel with no emissions stuff and all the trim of a 65 that looks as if it were transplanted right out of a car. It looks all original, including the worn gold paint. The valve covers do not say thunderbird or anything on them, just some funky lines stamped in them, but I just saw some 65 T-bird covers on ebay and they were gold with no lettering, so it could be a t-bird engine. I swiped the metal ID tag off the intake (which had casting numbers starting in C5) and it reads like this:

390____ 65____ 5
5_ E_________357_J

Anyone know anything about this motor by this info? I think it's a 300 horse car engine, but they had a 330 horse motor too. I may just buy it anyways to begin a build for my crew. They told me $150, but they have no idea it's not the 1975 emissions 390 . Either way it would be just the core for a rebuild, as it's been there awhile with no hood on it and nothing covering the intake.

[fomocoguy]

Sorry guys, I got to looking around and realized there was the engine ID tag deciphering page on the site and was able to get the info I want. It looks as if it is a standard 1965 car 4brl 390 with an auto originally behind it.

Next question is, do any of you know what cr these engines had?

[MotorDog]

Here's some interesting information....to me any way. There was two different 390's advertised in Ford passenger cars in the 1965 Model year. Both came with 10.10 to 1 compression ratio and both came with 4 barrel carbs. Here's where it gets interesting: One had 427 Ft. Lbs. of Torque @ 2800 rpm, while the other one was advertised as having 427 Ft. Lbs. of Torque @ 3200 rpm. This one was advertised as having 330 Brake HP at 5000 rpm, while the first one had 300 Brake HP at 4600 rpm. There is also two different engine codes for these two four barrel engines; a 4 barrel model code Z, and a Code P with a "Four Barrel Special." There is one other "Glaring" difference in these motors....the 300 HP engine has normal oil pressure of 35 to 55 lbs, while the 330 HP Engine operated at 45 to 70 lbs. Seems there might have been some different components used besides different carbs.....like maybe a high volume, high pressure oil pump, and who knows what else? Hope this helps!

[Hawkrod]

The P code 390 is a very special and pretty rare engine. It was the Police Interceptor engine and was a solid lifter engine. There are some 65's rolling around but the 61-64 is more common and desirable because they have the HiPo manifolds while the 65 does not. From the factory they were different animals from the normal Z code 390. The major difference is the blocks are not drilled for hydraulic lifters but other than the cam the engines are really pretty much the same as far as components such as the heads, intake etc.... If you stumble across a stock P code it will have an open element air cleaner and some various external goodies that have some value and of course the block is worth a good chunk. Even the alternator was special! Hawkrod

[MotorDog]

In 1961, Ford installed the 390 in Galaxies with a three on the tree, 3 deuces, formed exhaust manifolds, like Hawkrod mentioned above, and rated them at 401 horsepower. They were literally "Eating" the Chevvies in 1961 at the strip. Oh, those days!! , "Oh Those Engines!"

[Hawkrod]

In 1961, Ford installed the 390 in Galaxies with a three on the tree, 3 deuces, formed exhaust manifolds, like Hawkrod mentioned above, and rated them at 401 horsepower. They were literally "Eating" the Chevvies in 1961 at the strip. Oh, those days!! , "Oh Those Engines!"

Actually that is a different engine than the one I was describing. The P code was a different engine than the HiPo which was a very short lived "in the trunk" package (it was replaced by the M code tri-power 390 in 62). The P code is an almost unknown special engine but was the other 390 he asked about when he mentioned the Z code. The M code was only offered in 62 and 63 and the HiPo was a 61 only item but had the same engine code as the regular 390 4V. Hawkrod

[fomocoguy]

Thanks for the info! So now I just need to decide wether I want it or not. With a standard rebuild, some good headers, and a modern cam it may be one pretty stout old 390, especially compared to my 360. I may go ahead and get it and take it all apart and see what kind of machine work she'll need (probably everything). If I decide I don't want it I could probably put it on ebay and get my $150 back. To me the good news is that, although on the high side, I could probably get away with the 10.1:1 cr on premium (93 octane here) pump gas.