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Block casting number confusion
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Merrill, WI
Block casting number confusion
I recently aquired two FE engines that were reportedly 390's with a car I bought. One has casting number C1AE-G with a large X cast below it. The other is C3AE-E. I've heard that the second one is a 390 PI block, but when I measured the bores on both engines, I got readings of 4.000". A 4.000" bore would make them both 352's, but I far as I am aware, no 352's used the C3AE-E casting number. Also, shouldn't the block have undrilled oil galleries for solid lifters? I'm a little confused, so can someone please shed some more light on this?
My father also brought up an interesting point: if you ordered a car with a 390, how would you know it was really a 390 and not a 352 without checking the stroke, and how did Ford keep the engines straight once they were assembled?
My father also brought up an interesting point: if you ordered a car with a 390, how would you know it was really a 390 and not a 352 without checking the stroke, and how did Ford keep the engines straight once they were assembled?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
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From: Union, Washington
First the assembled engines all had a tag on the dist. hold down bolt that tells when, where and what it is. To bad so many folks discard the metal tag. The difference between 4.00 and 4.05 isn't much and you want to check carefully. Also check the stroke, there were no 4.00" engines with a 3.78 stroke.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Merrill, WI
I thought they didn't have a tag on the engines until 1963, but I guess I was mistaken.
Can anyone tell me which engines used the C3AE-E block? It isn't listed in any tables I've found.
Can anyone tell me which engines used the C3AE-E block? It isn't listed in any tables I've found.
Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,624
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From: CT
The C3-E is listed as a 390PI solid lifter block but some are hyd lifter blocks also I've found. The C1 block also a 390. Odd they measure 4.00 and as Bear suggested be sure you were accurate with your measurements. You can check the block date codes for the exact born on date. There is also a finished machine date on the block. Does the C3 block have heavy duty crank webbing?
G.
G.
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From: Merrill, WI
Thanks for the reply.
The C1AE-G block being a 352 makes sense because both the 352 and 390 (and I think some 410's) used that same block casting, and I know my measurements were accurate because I used a telescoping guage and calibrated the micrometer before using it. Will the date codes tell me anything about the engine size?
The crank in the C3-E block had number C3AE-A with 12 and 11 on the counterweights. The other one had crank C4AE-A with an 18 on the counterweight. Are they 352 cranks?
The C1AE-G block being a 352 makes sense because both the 352 and 390 (and I think some 410's) used that same block casting, and I know my measurements were accurate because I used a telescoping guage and calibrated the micrometer before using it. Will the date codes tell me anything about the engine size?
The crank in the C3-E block had number C3AE-A with 12 and 11 on the counterweights. The other one had crank C4AE-A with an 18 on the counterweight. Are they 352 cranks?
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Westfield, North Carolina
Well Im coming up with 352 cranks, for those two numbers and also the C1 block could be 352 or 390. Hmm I haven't posted in awhile 
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Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,624
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From: CT
Yep sounds like 352 cranks. Easy to spot. The 352 crank has a flat edge on the 3rd counterweight. The 390 crank has a rounded edge on that counterweight. Date codes will only tell you the casting day, month and year and not displacement. This would only tell you if the parts were original to the engines. I think you guys are right on the block casting being used for both 352 ans 390's.
G.
G.
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