Now that my motor is torn down and will be rebuilt my hot rodder neighbor keeps pushing me to buy a used 390 and build that instead. I'm still liking the idea of keeping my original 352 though.... I suppose I could see if I could find a crank and rods and check if or not I could use my original pistons without having to bore the cylinders but I am not sold on the idea. Seems to me the 352 could be balanced and have a good CR (think it's around 9.3:1 in stock form) and hotter cam as well as a 4bbl upgrade with headers and make good power. I mean, I'm not hitting quarter miles any time in my future....

He has also mentioned getting heads off a 390.... I have looked at a spec sheet. Looks to me as if cylinder head volume is similar and exhaust valves are the same (no listiing for 390 intakes I can find) so what could be the difference in the heads off a 390 vs the ones on my 352? I have appropriate valve springs for my chosen cam and will upgrade to hardened exhaust seats on anything I use. Rocker arms ought to be the same and I see a slight difference for the 352 (unless it's a typing error which I think I see a few of on that sheet) but all that can be swapped btwn different heads, right?

Would there be an advantage?

 

Probably the same heads. See the link here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-question.html

Keep in mind the link is car engines. The PU truck engine probably had lower compression. Early 352 car engines may have had some dome, but regular fuel were probably dished and later premium fuel were probably flat with valve reliefs.

As for the difference in pistons in your other post, obviously the 352 is a 4" piston and the 360/390 slugs are 4.05. Compression height differs also.
A variety of dished and flat pistons are used. Car 390 pistons are used in 360 motors, resulting in sunken pistons and low compression. Car 410 pistons are used in PU truck 390s, again resulting in sunken pistons and low compression.

If you are going to rebuild it, just find some decent slugs with a CR you like and go from there.

As for the heads, post the casting numbers off them.

 

Definitely flat top pistons with valve reliefs machined into them but they are slight. The deck I record with all the CRAP on top of these pistons and block deck is about 0.050, but again this motor is far from clean.

I'll look for casting numbers in the am and post them.

 

If you are near Georgia, I've got a crank and rods I'd be willing to part with.
I don't see any reason a 352 can't be bored to stand 390 size. Be easier than buying an unknown engine.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the offer Mr. Roots! I used to be in Tallahassee, but now in Phoenix. Will PM you.

JIM

 

Numbers on heads are C7AE.

I think...

 

C7AE heads are '67 castings and work on any 390. Valve size may be smaller (don't know) but they could be modified to larger 390 sizes easily if there was a difference. I don't think there was.

 

I did find a chart, maybe on Fordification, that listed valve sizes. As I recall they were the same on most (if not all) the 352-390 heads. I was just wondering if there were differences in the casting that would make heads from a 390 equiped motor more desireable than those I currently have. Sounds like what I have will work just fine.

 

c7ae valves are same ,port sizes are smaller