engine i.d.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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engine i.d.
2nd request does any one know the engine i.d. block numbers to see what engine i have? the vin. says a 390 v8 but, it has a 4 bbl. carb. which i am told was not available for my 1971 ford f-250 camper special? any ideas? on how to i.d. my fe- block?
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
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From: Coal country
The casting numbers will not give you the information you seek. The best way to check your FE is to measure the bore and stroke.
Since you have to pull the heads to measure the bore, you can get real close by measuring the stroke.
Here's the easy way to check the stroke without removing the head. Get a straight 12 inch piece of white electrical house wire or coat hanger wire. Get a magic marker. Remove the number 1 and number 8 spark plugs. Turn the engine over until the timing mark is at TDC. (Because the old timing dampers sometimes will slip, the timing marks may be off. Make sure the engine is at TDC in the Number 1 hole by rotating the crankshaft back a forth a bit. Once you are sure it is at TDC, continue.) Put the wire in the number 1 spark plug hole with wire resting on the top of the piston. Make a mark on the wire even with the lip on the valve cover. Now move the wire over to the number 8 cylinder and mark the wire again, at the lip. Measure the distance between the two marks.
For those that don't know: 3.98 is the stroke for the 410 and 428 engines; 3.78 is the stroke for the 390, 406 and 427 engines and 3.5 is the stroke for the 352 and 360 engines.
Since your '71 would have come with a 360 or 390, your stroke will tell you what you have. either a 360 or 390.
If it has a 3.5 stroke, it might be a transplanted 352.
A 3.75-ish stroke will tell you it is a 390 , most likely.
Even if the engine was transplanted, the chances of it being a highly desirable engine other than a 390 are very remote.
Hope this helps!
Since you have to pull the heads to measure the bore, you can get real close by measuring the stroke.
Here's the easy way to check the stroke without removing the head. Get a straight 12 inch piece of white electrical house wire or coat hanger wire. Get a magic marker. Remove the number 1 and number 8 spark plugs. Turn the engine over until the timing mark is at TDC. (Because the old timing dampers sometimes will slip, the timing marks may be off. Make sure the engine is at TDC in the Number 1 hole by rotating the crankshaft back a forth a bit. Once you are sure it is at TDC, continue.) Put the wire in the number 1 spark plug hole with wire resting on the top of the piston. Make a mark on the wire even with the lip on the valve cover. Now move the wire over to the number 8 cylinder and mark the wire again, at the lip. Measure the distance between the two marks.
For those that don't know: 3.98 is the stroke for the 410 and 428 engines; 3.78 is the stroke for the 390, 406 and 427 engines and 3.5 is the stroke for the 352 and 360 engines.
Since your '71 would have come with a 360 or 390, your stroke will tell you what you have. either a 360 or 390.
If it has a 3.5 stroke, it might be a transplanted 352.
A 3.75-ish stroke will tell you it is a 390 , most likely.
Even if the engine was transplanted, the chances of it being a highly desirable engine other than a 390 are very remote.
Hope this helps!
engine i.d.#s
