What engine do I have?
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From: Campbell U S A
What engine do I have?
I would have posted this on one of the engine boards, but they don't seem to get much traffic. I wondering how to ID what engine I have in my '56 F100. I've measured the distance between the heads and it looks like a Cleveland to me, but after that I'm lost. Where are the serial numbers and other ID marks, if any? Or is there a convenient book on the subject? I know how to turn wrenches, but most of my fun cars to date have been English (they ARE strange indeed)so I'm pretty much a newbee here. Heck, I don't even know if it's called a small or big block... Thanks for any help in advance.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
What engine do I have?
Craig, if you have been playing with those things, they are all small blocks. Does your truck have an exhaust crossover pipe on the front of the engine?
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
Posting Guru
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From: Inthepast
What engine do I have?
[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="+1" FACE="Veranda"]I'm guessing you have a V-8! Although that's purely a guess since you didn't give us any real info from which we might help you to id your engine. How about a picture?[FONT]
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[FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="+2" FACE="Bassett"]Stock Man[/FONT]
[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="-1" FACE="Tahoma"]
1967 F250 4wd Mini Fire Truck
1967 F-250 FE 390 4wd LWB Styleside
1966 F-250 I6 240 2wd LWB Flareside
http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee
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[FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="+2" FACE="Bassett"]Stock Man[/FONT]
[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="-1" FACE="Tahoma"]
1967 F250 4wd Mini Fire Truck
1967 F-250 FE 390 4wd LWB Styleside
1966 F-250 I6 240 2wd LWB Flareside
http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee
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From: Campbell U S A
What engine do I have?
Sorry guys. Been going through a lot of stuff lately and I'm forgetting the details in life. Yes it's a V8, There's no crossover pipe, it has headers. I got a couple of dimensions from the local parts shop that's good for performance parts and they seem to indicate a Cleveland... 6 and some fraction inches between the heads on the top of the block. Do I need to know what the displacement is to get new headers? I gotta believe there are differences between the exhaust ports for the different displacements. So now we're all on the same page more or less. Anything else I'm missing?
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What engine do I have?
I'm not sure about top of block dimensions, but.....
Cleveland heads look different than Windsor heads.
Windsor Heads: 221,260,289,302,351W,255 have all the valve stems in a row in a straight line.
Cleveland heads: Boss302,351C,351M,400 are canted. The valves are generally bigger and the valve stems angled across top of head.
It's my understanding that Cleveland heads can be used on "modifieds" (351m/400) However the deck heigth of the M blocks is taller. ie: cylinder bore is longer.
FE's (352,360,390,427,428 and others these are the more common ones) are a dead giveaway by there heads..... They have spark plugs angled toward the middle of the head instead of the same direction, and the valve cover covers some of the intake manifold.
385 series (Lima) 370,429,460 is kinda like an overgrown smallblock w/ canted valve heads but these are definately BigBlock.
BBT
Cleveland heads look different than Windsor heads.
Windsor Heads: 221,260,289,302,351W,255 have all the valve stems in a row in a straight line.
Cleveland heads: Boss302,351C,351M,400 are canted. The valves are generally bigger and the valve stems angled across top of head.
It's my understanding that Cleveland heads can be used on "modifieds" (351m/400) However the deck heigth of the M blocks is taller. ie: cylinder bore is longer.
FE's (352,360,390,427,428 and others these are the more common ones) are a dead giveaway by there heads..... They have spark plugs angled toward the middle of the head instead of the same direction, and the valve cover covers some of the intake manifold.
385 series (Lima) 370,429,460 is kinda like an overgrown smallblock w/ canted valve heads but these are definately BigBlock.
BBT
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Joined: Apr 2000
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What engine do I have?
Craig,
The 351c and the 400m have what they call a timing chest on the front of the block in which the timing chain is recessed in to, instead of a timing chain "cast aluminum cover" or as "C"'s a tin cover which goes over the chain.
The other stand out feature is the vavle covers, lower profile then Windsor's FE's but alot like the Y block covers.
The 400m has the wider of the two intakes measured across at the block to the corners of the heads, If I was at home I could give you the dim's but I don't get back there until Saturday, but its about 3/4's of an inch or so.
Jim
The 351c and the 400m have what they call a timing chest on the front of the block in which the timing chain is recessed in to, instead of a timing chain "cast aluminum cover" or as "C"'s a tin cover which goes over the chain.
The other stand out feature is the vavle covers, lower profile then Windsor's FE's but alot like the Y block covers.
The 400m has the wider of the two intakes measured across at the block to the corners of the heads, If I was at home I could give you the dim's but I don't get back there until Saturday, but its about 3/4's of an inch or so.
Jim
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
What engine do I have?
Craig, seems you want it to be a Cleveland. Is this the original engine, do you have any idea where it may have come from if it isn't? Your truck would have had a Y block from the factory most likely. The crossover pipe can be removed for duals or headers.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
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From: Campbell U S A
What engine do I have?
The engine is in my '56 f100. I just realized that this is posted in the next board up. The rear end is a 9 inch unit with brakes from '69 to '71. The transmission is an FMX, firmly mid sixties as far as I know. I really only want to know what the heck engine I've got, Cleveland, Windsor, Jag, whatever. The possibilities seem to go on forever and I probably won't know for sure until I get the damn thing out some day. I just hope the exhaust system lasts until then! Is there some book that has the information in it, so I don't have to bother you all? Thanks for the help all.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
What engine do I have?
Craig, Not One of us can see your engine, and are depending on what you post to try to help you. A Cleveland engine did not come in your truck. So far four of us are trying to give you things to look for in helping YOU ID your engine. There are about 15-20 different V8s possiabilities that could be in your truck.
When someone posts on this list we usually go the extra effort to help them, or send them to where they can get help.
With a FMX tranny someone has made a conversion and you very well could have a 351C in your truck.
We need your help to help you.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
When someone posts on this list we usually go the extra effort to help them, or send them to where they can get help.
With a FMX tranny someone has made a conversion and you very well could have a 351C in your truck.
We need your help to help you.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
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From: Campbell U S A
What engine do I have?
Sorry John, I didn't mean to insult anyone. I realized the complexity of my request. That's why I asked if there was a book that lists the various identifying features of the various engines. Yes, some one has modified this truck. I completely appreciate the effort everyone has made toward the problem. Very cool of people who don't even know me to be so helpful. I especially appreciated the crack about the engines I used to work on all being "small" blocks. Over 100 horspower from 1300cc is extremely fun... but expensive.
I was looking at the distributor and noticed multiple vaccuum fittings on the advance diaphram. That would seem to be early '70's. Could be that the PO had changed that out too. I couldn't see a cast 352 on the block and there appears to be a timing chain chest on it. I checked out the homepage listed above in one of the replies. So, I'll get this figured out sooner or later...
I was looking at the distributor and noticed multiple vaccuum fittings on the advance diaphram. That would seem to be early '70's. Could be that the PO had changed that out too. I couldn't see a cast 352 on the block and there appears to be a timing chain chest on it. I checked out the homepage listed above in one of the replies. So, I'll get this figured out sooner or later...
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 466
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From: Albuquerque, NM
What engine do I have?
Craig - The easiest way to tell if you have a Cleveland motor or not (for me) is to look at the upper radiator hose. Does it connect into the intake manifold? If it does then it is a "wet" intake. If it connects into the cylinder block just above the timming chain area then it a "dry" intake. Then Wet = Windsor Dry = Cleveland. This is how I can tell the difference between the 351 motors.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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What engine do I have?
There are books available. Go to your local book store and ask. They should be able to give you a list of all the currently avaiable publications. I have several books my self but with the limited info you gave I can't narrow it down.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Greenville USA
What engine do I have?
I think what we are trying to say, Craig, is that no, none of us can give you a list of things to check for to see what kind of engine you have. The best way for use to help you if you you to give a GOOD description of what you have, and let us (collectivly) narrow it down. First thing is to count the number of bolts on the valve covers. This will differentiate between a "small block (283/302/351M)" and the 335 series (351C, 351M, 400) and the 385 series (429/460.) I am not saying which is which until you give us the count. Also check where the top rad hose comes out and tell us. There used to be a good web site on Ford engines, but I can't find it anymore.
You need to know what size and family engine you have to make a parts purchase. For instance the only way to tell a 351M and a 400 apart is to measure the stroke. But parts are basically interchangable. The 351M parts will not work at all with a 351W. Some 351M will work on a 351C.
fordmando
78 F-150 4x4 400 4 on floor
86 Nissan 300ZX
George
You need to know what size and family engine you have to make a parts purchase. For instance the only way to tell a 351M and a 400 apart is to measure the stroke. But parts are basically interchangable. The 351M parts will not work at all with a 351W. Some 351M will work on a 351C.
fordmando
78 F-150 4x4 400 4 on floor
86 Nissan 300ZX
George
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From: Campbell U S A
What engine do I have?
See, I knew this wasn't an easy task! Thanks for all the help guys. Keep in mind that I said I had no idea what it was when I started this thread, but i thought it might be a cleveland. There is a timing chain chest, the top radiator hose goes to the block, not the intake, there are eight bolts in each valve cover, there is approximately six and some fraction inches between the heads, the spark plugs are not canted toward the center of the head, the distributor has more than one vacuum connection, the headers are rusting away and the b*****d leaks like crazy out the rear main, but it's all mine. And the top of the valve covers are angled, not square. So, does that sound familiar?
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From: Campbell U S A
What engine do I have?
I counted the valve cover bolts, but got no answer about what the engine in my old truck is, or may be. So I brought this forward to see if anyone could answer it. Thanks!!!
>See, I knew this wasn't an easy task! Thanks for all the help guys. Keep in mind that I said I had no idea what it was when I started this thread, but i thought it might be a cleveland. There is a timing chain chest, the top radiator hose goes to the block, not the intake, there are eight bolts in each valve cover, there is approximately six and some fraction inches between the heads, the spark plugs are not canted toward the center of the head, the distributor has more than one vacuum connection, the headers are rusting away and the b*****d leaks like crazy out the rear main, but it's all mine. And the top of the valve covers are angled, not square. So, does that sound familiar?
>See, I knew this wasn't an easy task! Thanks for all the help guys. Keep in mind that I said I had no idea what it was when I started this thread, but i thought it might be a cleveland. There is a timing chain chest, the top radiator hose goes to the block, not the intake, there are eight bolts in each valve cover, there is approximately six and some fraction inches between the heads, the spark plugs are not canted toward the center of the head, the distributor has more than one vacuum connection, the headers are rusting away and the b*****d leaks like crazy out the rear main, but it's all mine. And the top of the valve covers are angled, not square. So, does that sound familiar?