Hello, I'm considering buying a 1966 custom cab F-100 and it has a 390 in it the owner says. I'm pretty sure ford only offered a 352 V8 in 66. Was the 390 a "under the counter" deal or was it a owner swap only. Also is there anyhting else I should ask when I call him? Thanks, -4speed

 

Hey 4speed,
I'm pretty sure that the 352 was the largest engine offered in 1966. The 390 was the same block as the 352, because I blew the 352 in my "66" and replaced it with a 1969 390. Bolted right in no problem.
Brian

 

They didn't offer the 390 in trucks til after 66... I think 67 (not sure exactly)
But the biggest you could get in 66 was a 352.
My 66 has a 390 in it... as its a common swap in.
But its not stock in any way at all :P

 

My 66 came with a 390 in it as well, I think it was a pretty popular swap.

 

I have written on this before, a few times.

FoMoCo did produce, have, and deliver a limited amount of FEs W/ 335hp X 390 CID to "certain" individuals. It was about as common as the Ranger Pkg with buckets carpets, cab back panel etc etc.

I prepped, serviced & delivered one to a big wig from FoMoCos Mawah NJ Assembly Plant in the fall of 1965. It arrived at our dealership via Nu Car Carriers, the contracted carrier of FoMoCo.

We had the "CO' which was in the delivery packet w/ the F100 when it showed up. So I would tell you it was under the counter, or as we used to call stuff like that, "OBD" [ for Out Back Door] of FoMoCo. Besides that there were TASCA FORD, LARSEN FORD, & who knows how many Dealers building "one offs" at that time also. FBp

 

Measure the stroke!

 

A friend of my Dad (they both worked at Ford at the time) bought a new '66 F250 CS with a 390 so I know it was possible but where did you sign for that?

Barry

 

Thanks guys, I'd have to check with him somemore to confirm this. -4speed

 

Fordboy sounds like he knows he stuff, so I would revert.

What the books say is that 352 was the V8 offered in trucks in 65/66. Ford Truck 390's were produced from 68 to 76. Having said that though, 390's were common in cars such as Galaxies and LTD's. I have a 66 LTD with numbers matching 390 4v. So it is possible that it was special ordered that way, but like I said before, Fordboy would probably know since he worked in the factory.

(climbs down from soapbox)

Tim

 

I had a friend that had a 1965 F 250 with a factory 390 under the hood, Camper Special. He was the origanal owner and ordered it that way.

Water Dog

 

What about the vin off this truck? There were many things done from the factory back then "unofficially". Post the vin and it will get deciphered. Then you will know what it was supposed to have new. There's alot of BS stories out there. I worked in a few Ford Parts dept's in the 70's to the 90's as manager and I've seen it all. Tasca Ford had a "in" with the factory as they built all those drag cars and could get anything they wanted for thier customers. Saw a few run back then also. Hot cars!!

Barry

 

4 Speed,
William & Barry both have the solutions. As William suggests, measure the stroke & do the math to determine the actual CID,
of the engine in the truck now.

As Barry suggests, post the Door Data Plate info for us, if you're squemish about posting your serial number on line, make last 6 numbers/ digits of serial number asterisks/ X's or something. The rest is application ID characters.

FWIW & As a point of order; Prior to Federal Mandate of 1968, when P-Cars got marker lamps, locking steering, and those little tags on L/H corner of dash that can be seen thru w/shield from outside, all vehicles had Serial #s, Post or after 88 they're VINs.

Also almost every FE Block I ever saw had 352 emboss cast on it. That includes 1958 - 332s through 428 SCJs.

Scamardo,

THANX for your kind words man! I appreciate them.

FWIW I worked closely WITH Factory but paychecks came from dealer I was employed by. They sponsored a Drag Car back then I wrenched on it. Dealer would not match Fords funds. We ran a burgandy 427 SOHC T-Bolt. in 63 & 64

We never dominated because we lacked funding. Dealer thought,
"Henry" should foot the bill, SVO wanted help with it. Could have been a big deal but wound up a big waste instead. During Days I was mostly a line tech at that dealership. We raced on our own time & our own dime, for free all our team members did that. But Dealer did pay travel & provide equipment too.

We did a lot of stuff because factory felt competition between big 3 Manufacturers. There was a point there where FoMoCo ran at INDY, LeMans, NASCAR, the old TRANS AM Series, NHRA, & AHRA as well as many independent venues, all at the same time. They would do just about anything if you got ahold of the right person in Dearborn or Livonia & had legitimate references etc.

In fact it wouldn't suprise me that's what started what became SVO & SVT divisions and the old Ford Motorsport banner. Among the personalities were Jack Roush, Carrol Shelby, Connie Kalitta, and others. Forgive me guys, I'm "Pine - ing" here as I recollect!

FBp.

 

Check the VIN number on the door. You should be able to break down the vin and figure it out. I think the the 4th/5th didget over is the code for the engine. There are quite a few links in FTE to decipher the VIN numbers. Get the complete VIN and enter it.

 

It may not nessecerily be a swapped motor either. It could be a rebuild with a 390 crank, rods and pistons. So the code on the block could be for a 352. I agree with the others and measure the actual stroke (And the pistons if the heads are comin off)

FORDBOYpete- Quick question. Did SVO stand for Special Vehicle Operations? And did that division of Ford become SVT?

 

Hey Jim. . . . A Yup! That's how I understand it went.

It became SVT and Ford Motorsport became Ford Racing. I don't know why. Here's what they were originally though, SVO=Special Vehicle Operations & SVT = Special Vehicle Technologies. . . . .

FBp