I just bought a sweet fixer-upper and I'm trying to identify the engine. It came stock with a 360, but has a transplant motor. It has the block casting "352" on the front, that with the intake tells me its an FE. I checked the stroke using the old dowel method...its @3.75-9. The block number is C8ME-A...I believe this means its a 1968 motor but am otherwise in the dark. I was also told that there is no C8ME-A code by someone in another forum. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

I can't find a "C8ME-A" in any of the books I have. I did find a "C6ME-A" double check the casting number to see if it is a 6 instead of an 8. You stated the stroke is 3.75-8 , three FE motors have this stroke, the 390,406,and the 427.
the 406 was only made in the early '60's so its not a 406. I seriously don't think it would be a 427, so I would say it is a 390. My info says the 390 does carry the C6ME-A casting number.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 06-Sep-00 AT 05:45 PM (EST)[/font][p][FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="+1" FACE="Veranda"]
There is a 391 block that has the C8ME casting id and the stroke of the 391 is 3.79; however, the 352 clearly ID's it as an FE block. There is also a 428 block with C8ME, but the stroke is wrong for that. I'd go with Railman's theory that the casting code is probably C6_ _-A. How about some pictures?[/FONT]

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Seth I agree with Randy, I can't find a C8ME-A but did find C8ME for a 428, 330HD, 359,361,389,391 Truck engines. With the stroke measured you have a good candidate for a 390. IMHO of course.

John
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66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

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J--

I would think the 352 casting code should negate the likelihood that ford used that block for any of the FT cid's; I'm not aware of any evidence that would support a "352" block being used for a 330, 361, 391. As for the 359, isn't that one of the early FE cid.'s and I'm not sure which vehicles had the 389. If we know when this block was made that may eliminate these other cid.s too. This is not for John's benefit, but you can tell the date of original casting by looking for a date code (ie, 8A11= Jan. 11, 1968)
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[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 06-Sep-00 AT 06:51 PM (EST)[/font][p]Yea, my bets on the 390. I crawled under there again with some cleaner and a brush, and it is very clearly stamped C8ME-A. I'd take a picture of it but with no scanner the point is moot. I'm going to swap intakes (was going with a performer rpm but upon thought maybe just a performer would be best for a truck)so it will be interesting what code I will find in the valley. I thought the C and the 8 stood for the decade and the year anyways, is this not correct? Appreciate all the help guys. This is my first 4X4 and FE for that matter, I'm looking forward to restoring it.

 

Guys.
Since I've only dealt with the passenger car and light truck FE motors, I'm not really clear, but I thought the 361 and 391 large truck FE motors had a big crankshaft snout. Is this something that can be identified by just looking or does it involve a partial tear down?
Skip4274
4everFord

 

Just a note: A fellow in another FE forum said that he found C8ME-A listed as a 390 in his book. I asked him what book he has as I think its odd that you guys didn't come up with it...I'll let you know. And yea, I do believe the 391 does have a larger crank snout that is visible...but I could be wrong.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 06-Sep-00 AT 07:36 PM (EST)[/font][p][FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="+1" FACE="Veranda"]
The FT engines had forged steel cranks with the larger snout as mentioned and easily identified by that feature, among others. It is possible, however, to machine the crank down to accept the FE balancer/pulley. Some guys do this so that they can convert the 391 block assembly over to a useable light truck motor. This is a fairly expensive proposition as it requires some extra work, but it is possible. If that were done on a motor, it wouldn't be noticeable to the naked eye. It should still have the tell-tale reverse image 105 casting id on the block, however. I would add that just because a block has the 105 image, doesn't mean automatically that it was an FT motor in its' first life. The reason: Ford started using up the original FT castings between 1973 and 1976 by machining them in the first instance as 390 blocks. I have one of these in my 67 which was purchased from Ford as a Crate motor. It's a great block from all accounts.

As for the C8ME-A ID, I looked again in Steve Christ's book and it isn't in there. Doesn't mean it isn't so, but a book and page reference would be nice to see. [/FONT]

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Thom, as strange as I thought it was, I just reported where the number was listed in Steve Christ's book.

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
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John:

I see where your coming from. What that serves to illustrate is that the casting id sequence, in and of itself, really does very little to help us ID an engine proof positive. In this particular case, I mentioned the FT and I really shouldn't have because as was originally mentioned, this particular engine being examined had the "352" on it. This issue comes up once a month if not more. Therefore, I guess it's good that we air this topic out every once in a while.
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Well, I think I've confirmed its a 390. The head number is D2TEAA: which is the standard 360/390/428 head number. The stroke eliminates the 360 or 428 option. I also found small casts on the head: 19753 and a boss on the block, 19753. So I guess I've got a 1975 390 truck block. I'm conviced that the cast number is actually C6ME-A which would fit for this block. It does clearly look like an 8 rather than a six, but I'll chalk it up to a casting blemish. The intake number is C9AE9425B, but I'll be slapping on a Performer anyways. On a weird note, the 352 cast into the left front of the block is upside down...is this unusual?

 

Stockman is correct, ford used up FT blocks in pickups when they had too many of them laying around. Another possibility is that an FT block was at some point used to replace a cracked block as a service part. Ford sells a bronze bushing for the distributer hole if you want to use an FT block with an FE distributer and oil pump. As an aside, you may want to consider an RPM performer, the performer seems to run out of breath kind of early IMO. DF

 

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I find it unusual that the "352" was cast in "upside-down." I can't recall ever seeing one like that.
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[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Sep-00 AT 04:29 PM (EST)[/font][p]Yup, it is on the left-front of the block, under the head, cast into the block where the FE "352" always is...but it is upside down. Right above it is a larger "6" (Or 9 if its upside down too). I'm probably going to have to take a picture of it cuz y'all are going to think I'm off my rocker by now. I'd never seen this before either - go figure.