'66 engine swap
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'66 engine swap
I have a 66 F100 with the stock 352. I found a 66 FE 390 on craigslist recently that was running much better than my 352 so I picked it up. The 352 in there is bone stock, while the 390 has Holley carb and Edelbrock intake mani.
It looks like it is running an electronic distributor however and I am not quite sure which way to go.
I do know that there is nothing not cool about 4wd burnouts and that is the route I wish to peruse. Would it be more advantageous to go with the electronic ignition or revert back to a stock? Any suggestions in regards to general parts would be much appreciated.
It looks like it is running an electronic distributor however and I am not quite sure which way to go.
I do know that there is nothing not cool about 4wd burnouts and that is the route I wish to peruse. Would it be more advantageous to go with the electronic ignition or revert back to a stock? Any suggestions in regards to general parts would be much appreciated.
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4WD burnouts generally lead to broken parts, so install some driveline hoops at the very least to prevent the broken driveshaft from beating something to death or puncturing a fuel tank.
As for the 390, how do you know it's a '66?
Electronic ignition is a good thing and should be retained IMO.
The 390 could be just slightly more powerful than a good running 352 or it could be reasonably warm. To know, you must know if it really is a 390, what the compression and cam is, and any other details.
If it is a stock OEM '66, it is probably worn out, but would have had stock gross HP of 265 if a 2bbl, 315-20 or so if a 4bbl.
FE exhaust manifolds are terrible, and car manifolds generally do not work in trucks, so double check that.
What manifold model is it? And do you know the carb model? Vacuum secondaries? Are you planning on any other work to the motor?
As for the 390, how do you know it's a '66?
Electronic ignition is a good thing and should be retained IMO.
The 390 could be just slightly more powerful than a good running 352 or it could be reasonably warm. To know, you must know if it really is a 390, what the compression and cam is, and any other details.
If it is a stock OEM '66, it is probably worn out, but would have had stock gross HP of 265 if a 2bbl, 315-20 or so if a 4bbl.
FE exhaust manifolds are terrible, and car manifolds generally do not work in trucks, so double check that.
What manifold model is it? And do you know the carb model? Vacuum secondaries? Are you planning on any other work to the motor?
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If it is a 1966 390, it certainly did not come with DuraSpark electronic ignition, which was introduced in 1974.
And it would be a 1966 car 390 since F100/350's didn't come w/a 390 until 1968.
And it would be a 1966 car 390 since F100/350's didn't come w/a 390 until 1968.
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John
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From: peru kansas
i have seen some FE's and most FT's run a vertical oil filter but who knows i may be a little bit wrong
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If the 390 the OP bought has a vertical oil filter, it came out of a car. The vertical oil filter will hit the frame on a F100 and must be changed to a horizontal mount.
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Mater has a '66 390 out of a car and it runs just fine. I'd trade you my stock ignition for the electronic any day. I learned what my engine was after researching the casting numbers on the block, heads and intake. They all matched. Factory 4-bbl intake with Edelbrock 650 cfm carb. All it takes is changing out the oil filter adapter, if I recall correctly.
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From: peru kansas
i personally like a good oil filter relocation kit and put it where i want it but hey that just my style.... the 390 if its good is a great motor but you know those 352's aren't all that bad they had slightly higher compression and a shorter throw to the crankshaft so they rapped up faster than the 390...... and if at all possible go with the electronic they are nice and so much better than points,buttttttttt you wanna keep an extra box handy behind your seat because some day at random it can be running fine and just die and not fire again til you swap in a different box just my 2 lil cents
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Been busy at work. Some more info as I have not had the time to go outside and look at the engine.
Engine was pulled supposedly from a 70s Ford truck that ran strong but had oil leaks and needed new gaskets.
Researching the casting blocks on the engine pointed to the engine being a 390 out of a 66 merc. That is why I mentioned that is was a '66 block. Will hope to have more information soon.
Engine was pulled supposedly from a 70s Ford truck that ran strong but had oil leaks and needed new gaskets.
Researching the casting blocks on the engine pointed to the engine being a 390 out of a 66 merc. That is why I mentioned that is was a '66 block. Will hope to have more information soon.
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FE engine and oil leaks, imagine that. That has to be a rare set. 
Facing the front of the engine, look on the right side under the head for one of two foundry marks. The block will have either 352 or 105 in reverse. The latter is the newer of the two.
The way engines can get swapped around it's no telling what it is nor where it came from.
John
Facing the front of the engine, look on the right side under the head for one of two foundry marks. The block will have either 352 or 105 in reverse. The latter is the newer of the two.
The way engines can get swapped around it's no telling what it is nor where it came from.
John
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Been busy at work. Some more info as I have not had the time to go outside and look at the engine.
Engine was pulled supposedly from a 70s Ford truck that ran strong but had oil leaks and needed new gaskets.
Researching the casting blocks on the engine pointed to the engine being a 390 out of a 66 merc.
That is why I mentioned that is was a '66 block.
Engine was pulled supposedly from a 70s Ford truck that ran strong but had oil leaks and needed new gaskets.
Researching the casting blocks on the engine pointed to the engine being a 390 out of a 66 merc.
That is why I mentioned that is was a '66 block.All FE engines were cast as 352's, so the casting number only refers to them. 1966 C6ME casting number prefix was used for all FE engines, which could be...when finished: 352/390/410 or 428.
1966/67 full sized Merc's were available with 390's and 428's. Mercury Parklane's came with 410's, a 1966/67 only FE engine.
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