Can you give me the specs on the C3AE-E 390 crankshft? While trying to convert my 70s 360 to a 390 using this crankshaft, there is so much confusion on its application and corresponding parts (timing chain, damper, etc).

 

DOAZ-6268-A (replaced B8A-6268-A) .. Timing Chain-48 links.

Applications: 1958/76 all FE engines.
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C3AZ-6312-E .. Harmonic Balancer.

Applications: 1963/67 352/390/410/428 Passenger Cars / 1965/67 F100/350 352.
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D5TZ-6316-D (replaced C8AZ-6316-B, D2TZ-6316-A) .. Harmonic Balancer.

Applications: 1968/70 428 Passenger Cars (except 1969/70 428 S/CJ) / 1968/71 390 Passenger Cars / 1968/76 F100/350 360/390.
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Crankshaft marked: C3AE-6303-E = original Ford part numbers C3AZ-6303-D & E

Both were replaced by C4AZ-6303-F and then by: C4AZ-6303-G

Applications:

1963/65 Galaxie/Thunderbird/Mercury Monterey/Montclair/Marauder/S-22 (1963 from 11/1/1962) 390 4V / 1964/65 Galaxie 390 4V Police Cruiser.

1963 Thunderbird (from 11/1/1962) HiPo 390 6V (3x2).

 

Thanks ND! That's a huge help.

According to Steve Christ's FE book, this Crank should utilized a 1/4 woodruff key, but it doesn't. It clearly uses a 3/16 key. Any thoughts on that?

 

358985-S .. Keyway-Sprocket to Crankshaft-1 3/4" x 3/16"

Applications: All 1958/72 FE engines (except 1968/70 428).
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378704-S .. Keyway-Sprocket to Crankshaft-1 13/32" x 3/16"

Applications: 1968/70 428 / 1973/76 F100/350 360/390.

I don't trust any of these so-called FE related books, because the scribes had no parts catalogs, so the info wasn't verified. A typical example is this key, and...

Some of the part/casting/ID numbers were taken from Hot Rod Magazine's FE book first published in 1970.

In 1969, a staff writer from Hot Rod Magazine went to Beverly Hills Ford, asked the parts manager if he would give him all the FE specs listed in the parts catalogs (1960/68) that were not listed in the Motorsport catalog which had just come out.

Well, 'ol Jack Boardman was the wrong person to ask, because he couldn't care less, but said his two partsmen might undertake it. So he asked Ron & Bill (guess who!) if they would do it...on their off hours only, since cheapskate Hot Rod wasn't paying a cent.

The only stipulation we made was...we wanted to proof read the copy before it was published. The writer agreed, but...of course, we never heard from Hot Rod again.

The book came out...it was a FIASCO! The idiot writer had mixed up ID numbers with part numbers, part numbers with casting numbers, some info was eliminated, some was added (from gawd only knows where!?).

Peeps have been copying that *&*!^%^% Hot Rod Mag info ever since.

 

That's where i got the info as well.

 

Finally, is it correct that the Woodruff key on the crankshaft does not occupy the entire groove on the crankshaft (390)?

Mine only goes half way or a little more.

 

That has been my experience and good information for others to know. Never rely on one source for all your information and make sure you can corroborate what you have.

 

Great words. That has been my experience and good information for others to know. Never rely on one source for all your information and make sure you can corroborate what you have.

 

Unless that source is Bill, or God himself. Sometimes God defers to Bill.