mystery engine id

[fe freak]

im new - i have a ford fe engine with id as follows-- c3ae 6015h--- this motor ran like a top -but upon further inspection needs a complete rebuild --- any help in identifying this block would be greatly appreciated

[85e150six4mtod]

Any other id on it? A tag on the coil mount on the intake? What carb, 2v or 4v? OEM 2v FE in '63 should be a 352. 390s were all 4bbl that year methinks. BUT, just because that casting number indicates '63 does not mean it was cast in '63. There should be a date code on the block near the pan rail where the starter bolts up. Note also the "H" at the end indicates a revision to the part. More info here:

http://www.mre-books.com/interchange/interchange11.html

The basic FE rule is you have to measure the bore and stroke. In your case, if you measure the stroke only via wire through the plug hole, you have a pretty good chance of ID'ing it as a 352 with a 3.50 stroke, or 390 with a 3.78 stroke. A 427 would have the 3.78 stroke, but it isn't a 427.

[FFR428]

The C3AE-6015-H is a 390 PI service block.

[FFR428]

Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod

There should be a date code on the block near the pan rail where the starter bolts up.

Actually 63 and earlier blocks have the date code on the side of the block. Not by the oil filter adapter pad like 64 and later blocks. Just to clear that.

[MeanGene427]

Should make for a sweet engine, great candidate for a 410 conversion- those early thick-wall blocks are strong. The C1AE heads are a decent starting point, too, big ports like a low-riser, but standard valve sizes. There's a slim chance it may have the nubs for cross-bolts inside- never know until you look. One thing to be aware of, is it should have the two-bolt side mounting flanges, instead of the later 4-bolt setup, so if it goes in a later pickup, you may have to tinker with the mounts a bit. When I put the '64 427 in my early '77 highrider, a small adapter plate of 1/4" steel did the trick
There's a bunch of different C3AE-6015-? blocks, lots of transitions/changes in '63. I got lucky on one, coded as late 406, with 427 bore cores and standard 427 bore, and has the cross-bolt nubs, but never drilled for cross-bolts- yet. As I have a 406 Galaxie, that one is tucked away in the store room- sure miss the days when you could pick up cross-bolt caps from grenaded 427's for $50

[85e150six4mtod]

Originally Posted by FFR428

Actually 63 and earlier blocks have the date code on the side of the block. Not by the oil filter adapter pad like 64 and later blocks. Just to clear that.

Thanks for the correction.

Since it is a PI block, would it be a solid lifter motor?

[FFR428]

Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod

Thanks for the correction.

Since it is a PI block, would it be a solid lifter motor?

The H block being a service replacement was a hyd block but could be used as a solid lifter app by blocking the lifter oil passages. Multiple applications. It replaced the C3AE-6015-E solid lifter PI block.