361 FE Question
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2023
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361 FE Question
I am currently rebuilding a 66 F100 Custom Cab. The door code shows 351 engine but we know from the previous owner that the motor was replace in the 1980's. We pulled the engine and took it to a shop with FE rebuilding experience. The same shop rebuild the 390 FE in my 1964 Galaxie. The engine builder said that the current engine appears to be a 361 Police Interceptor. I have done google searches on that engine and the only thing that comes up is a 361 police interceptor that was produced by Ford in the late 1950's. Does anyone know if that engine was produced in later years? The motor would not have come in the trucks but in a car. Any help or information is welcome. Thanks.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
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From: Tri Cities, TN
The only reference I have to a 361-car engine is in 1959 Edsel's. 303 HP, 9.6-1 compression. But I know nothing about them if that is what you actually have. You are probably going to have to get some casting numbers and date codes off of the block and heads to narrow it down.
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,066
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From: Seattle
Pictures are always helpful. The door tag can't decode to a 351 since a 351 was not produced until 1968 - the 351 wasn't an FE but was either a Cleveland or a Windsor. Your truck probably had a 352 FE originally. Post a picture of your door tag if you're not sure, but the 4th digit of your VIN should be an A (240), B (300) or Y (352). There weren't any other RPO engines available for 1966 trucks.
Take a picture of the current engine and post it if you can.
There was a 361 that was produced in these years, but it was not an FE. Instead, Ford called the 361 as well as the 330 and 391 - "FT" - and those engines were only installed in larger trucks not in cars.
There was also the early 361 which was considered an Edsel FE.
Edsel 361 engines were assembled in Cleveland Ohio, and Dearborn Michigan. They were standard equipment in the 1958 Edsel Ranger, Pacer, Villager, Roundup and Bermuda.[22] The Edsel 361 was the very first FE block engine to be offered for sale in any market, having been introduced to the public in the U.S. on September 4, 1957, almost two months before any 1958 Fords were sold.[25] The 361 cid 4V FE engine was also sold on 1959 Edsels in the U.S. and Canada, and 1958 and 1959 Ford and Meteor brand automobiles in Canada in place of the 352 cid, which was not available with any Ford Motor Company of Canada brand until the 1960 model year. Edsel 361 engines were available to U.S. law enforcement agencies and state and municipal emergency services purchasing fleet Fords as the 1958 Ford "Police Power Pack."[26][27][28]
Take a picture of the current engine and post it if you can.
There was a 361 that was produced in these years, but it was not an FE. Instead, Ford called the 361 as well as the 330 and 391 - "FT" - and those engines were only installed in larger trucks not in cars.
There was also the early 361 which was considered an Edsel FE.
Edsel 361 engines were assembled in Cleveland Ohio, and Dearborn Michigan. They were standard equipment in the 1958 Edsel Ranger, Pacer, Villager, Roundup and Bermuda.[22] The Edsel 361 was the very first FE block engine to be offered for sale in any market, having been introduced to the public in the U.S. on September 4, 1957, almost two months before any 1958 Fords were sold.[25] The 361 cid 4V FE engine was also sold on 1959 Edsels in the U.S. and Canada, and 1958 and 1959 Ford and Meteor brand automobiles in Canada in place of the 352 cid, which was not available with any Ford Motor Company of Canada brand until the 1960 model year. Edsel 361 engines were available to U.S. law enforcement agencies and state and municipal emergency services purchasing fleet Fords as the 1958 Ford "Police Power Pack."[26][27][28]
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Seattle
I see, it's already rebuilt and back together. If your engine builder researched it and that's what he says it is and what he used as his basis for the rebuild then he sure may be right. The pre-1965 FE engine blocks didn't have the same number of threaded holes in the side of the block for the motor mounts. That's one way you can sometimes tell the general era of the block to start with.
Here's a 1961 390 with the 2 holes for the engine mounts similar to all 1964 and older FE engines.
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Here's a 1966 block showing the 4 holes on the same plane - the 1965 and newer trucks used the newer wide spread holes to the left for the mounts to bolt to. Sorry, I took the pictures flipped from each other but hopefully gives the idea. Anyway, it's one thing to check short of casting numbers that can help narrow the possibilities at least.
.jpeg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)
Here's a 1961 390 with the 2 holes for the engine mounts similar to all 1964 and older FE engines.
Here's a 1966 block showing the 4 holes on the same plane - the 1965 and newer trucks used the newer wide spread holes to the left for the mounts to bolt to. Sorry, I took the pictures flipped from each other but hopefully gives the idea. Anyway, it's one thing to check short of casting numbers that can help narrow the possibilities at least.
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What are all the specs on rods, piston compression height, combustion chamber size, anything taken off the deck or heads
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1st Gear
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1958 ford pamphlet on emergency vehicles
361 police was available at least in 1958 in police interceptor form.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2025
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This thread has some interesting information, but seems to have some to an end without telling us what the outcome was. Farmtruck66, did you ever find out what motor you had and how is your '66 truck coming along? Thanks
See A Man About A Horse
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Mariposa, Ca.
Check the members profile. In this instance, the OP has not even visited FTE since a few days after making this thread in 2023. If they have enabled their account, you can possibly email them for an update?
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2025
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Ibuhhard, Thanks for the info. I am not too worried about tracking down the person who started the thread. I just happen to enjoy reading what was posted about the early FE motors. There is a lot of smart and knowledgable folks on this site, and as a new member, I am enjoying looking at older threads and reading, and learning, a bit about these old tucks, the motors and in general getting inspired and or ideas for when, if ever, I get to dig into my own truck.
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