In my 1959 F100 I'm trying to identify the mod engine. This is what I know so far.
The previous owner told me it had a FE 390 in it.
It has an Iron big block with cast number 352 behind the water pump.
The manifold has been changed to an Edelbrock with Edelbrock 4 barrel carburetor.
The ignition system has also been upgraded to an Ignitor from Pentronix.
He tossed in the original valve covers that had Thunderbird stamped in them and a gold painted air cleaner. After some of my research I believe I have a 1959 FE 390 motor from a thunderbird with a 3 speed Cruise-o-matic transmission. I have been looking for any numbers I can find however the plate that should be down by the dipstick doesn't appear as if it was ever there. The oil dipstick go's directly into the block. He told me he rebuilt it 10,000 miles ago and the freeze plugs do look fairly new along with a new paint job on the block. Is there any other identifiers that anyone could help me out with?

Thanks everyone

 

i believe the first year of the FE family was in 1958 332 ci. the displacement grew through the years. my dad had a 1962 mercury colony park wagon which had a FE 352

 

sorry i cut that short. but what i am trying to say is i don't believe the 390 came out until 63 or 64.

 

WAG but I do not think a '59 'bird had a 390, maybe a 430. I think the 390 came on the scene in '61.

Anyway, if it's a '58 truck, I would put the conversion a bit later than '59, and gold colored valve covers and air cleaner would have run up to '65 iirc.

All FE blocks of that era have "352" cast into the front.

Casting and date codes are on the block and heads. For the heads, in the middle between the 2nd and 3rd plug. Block casting and date code location and info:

Ford 352, 390, 406, 427 and 428 Engine Blocks

 

I will take a look at the heads now. It could have been a 352 and he rebuilt it up to a 390. That is highly possible and your right that the 390 FE motor didn't come until 1961 in the thunderbird. It sounds kinda mean with the duel exhaust and glass packs he put on it turned out just in front of the rear wheels. I'm just trying to figure it out without dropping the pan and looking at the crankshaft. I was just going by the past owners word so far on the 390 until I can confirm it. I was hoping the air cleaner and valve covers might help me narrow the choices. It originally came with a 292 2bbl motor according to the placard in the glove box.

 

Ok found this between the 2nd and 3rd plugs on the passenger side C1AE 6090

 

The 390 came out in 1961 in the big fords. As someone else said, all the blocks were stamped with "352", even some of the 427's. As far as I know, the only real way to know if it's a 390 is to measure the stroke.

C1AE equates to a 1961. So, it could be a 390.