Well, I think I made an error. I bought a 1963 T-Bird block and heads a couple of weeks ago with the expectation that I would sweeten it up and put it in my 67 F-100 which now has the original 352. The numbers for my new 390 are:

CASTING: C3A3
CRANK: C3AEE

Anyhow, I've been told that this motor will not bolt up in my 67 because the bosses for the motor mounts are incorrect. Is there a way to use it or should I not throw good money after bad? Thanks.
jor

 

jor, I'm thinking that the fourth character of the block should be an "E" instead of a "3" but, no matter. The 352 block and 390 CID are the same casting of that era and there shouldn't be a problem. If there was a differnt casting I'd sure like to know too. The crank numbers sound correct. What would be the big deal about changing (fabricating) the new mounting if it is different and that is the only difference?

 

I know some of those early blocks only had the front two motor mount holes. However, AFAIK trucks only use the front two anyway, so I dont think you'll have a problem.

 

If you have to fabricate it to fit, thats not hard at all. I just put a early model one in a 71 mustang, had to make a plate for the block and customize my motor mounts, but with a little patience it can be done, but i also think trucks only use the front two.

 

Thanks. This sounds encouraging. I'll take a good look at my 67 and compare. You're right; what's the big deal about doing a little fabrication??? Diffay, you are correct; it is C3A3, not C3AE. I ordered one of the two site-recommended FE books and I plan on screwing around with this 390 in the coming months and getting it in my 67 this spring (maybe). My son has a 73 with a 390 (much modified) and he can give me some pointers. Gracias.
jor

 

jor's son, here:
Let's keep in mind the fact that my truck has a cracked block and is not currently road worthy. Thank you.

-Patrick

 

Is that the crack that lets oil into the antifreeze? Let me guess... It's a mirror 105 block.

 

Negative. Either side of the freeze plug under cylilnder 7.

-Patrick

 

Eww. I'd start hunting around for another block.

Edit: You know, if you bored that 352 that's coming out of your dad's '67 .050" over (assuming your 390 is standard bore now), it'd probably work good.

 

The FE engines before '65 had only the two mount bolt holes that are close together, the later blocks have those and two that are wider(used in the trucks). I also used an earlier block in my '66, I just got a flat 3/16" plate and drilled the appropriate 4 holes after marking them from the later block. It worked fine.

 

The early block bolt holes should also line up to two on the 4 bolt block. Also some of the early blocks have a hump on the right side that might interfere with the mounting plate you need to make to check it out before. The hump is above the motor mount holes and is machined and has a threaded hole. Later blocks don't have this hump. Also the block drain petcock might interfere on the left side. Not sure if all the early blocks had the hump and petcock but my 63 406 block does. These have bit me in the *** when adapting to other applications. As I understand this was a extra mounting hole for the early J bar system that Ford used to machine the blocks on line. If you notice your block also has two threaded holes on the outisde that line up with the number 2 and 4 maincaps on the right side. This is how the block was mounted to the J bar for the asssembly line. G.

 

Thanks for the input, guys. I am going to check this out very closely and I'll take photos along the way. It might be kind of fun adapting it.
jor