I just bought a 1967 390 out of a truck, I think. How do I idtentify exactly what I have? I just have the engine and want to tear it down and rebuild it. It is a project for me and my 2 sons age 15 and 12. We plan on putting it in some sort of drag car, but I'm not sure what yet. Any help or information would be very helpful.

 

There are many versions of the 390, but in 1967 trucks the factory only had one with a 4 BBL, 10.5:1 pistons, 320 HP@4800, amd max torgue of 427@3200.

Unless you know the history of the truck you got it from there is no way to be sure, after all these years, that it is a '67 truck engine unless you tear it apart and check all of the casting numbers, etc. It may not really matter exactly what it is since you are going to modify it, but if you will post the casting numbers here we can decode them and can tell you what you actually have.

You can go to http://pliverman.home.mindspring.com/index.htm to look them up for yourself or use any of several books that list some of the casting numbers.

Bob
'66 7 Litre Convertible, top loader, 3.25 Traction-lock, 427 Sidewinder Intake, 780 Holley, Windage tray, SCJ Exhaust manifolds, H-pipe, MSD, Line-lock, AM/FM/8-Track/CB
'88 F150 XLT Lariat, 302, 5 speed, 3.08
'98 Mustang, 3.8, 5 speed
'99 Ranger, 3.0, 5 speed, 3.73 posi

 

I thought the trucks only got the 352 for ’67.

Barry

 

and there is no way the trucks got the 390 GT

 

Yeah, I kind of doubt that Ford would put a 4v 390 in a truck. The quoted figures of 320 hp and 427 lb-ft are for the high performance 390, a pretty rare engine compared to the 2v 390. These were only put in Mustangs, Fairlanes, and some Galaxies. The Mustang/Fairlane high performance 390 was known as the 390 GT and had diagonal as well as horizontal bolt holes on the exhaust ports of the heads. This was simply to accommodate special exhaust heads that allowed the big motor to be put in the small engine compartment.

At any rate, engine and parts swapping will make it difficult to tell exactly what you have. Someone could have placed a four-barrel intake on a two-barrel 390 or put a T-bird engine in the truck that whoever sold the engine to you pulled it from. Get casting numbers off the heads, block, intake, and anything else that looks important or special, then get back on the list. BBB and 427 know what they are talking about and can help you with casting #s.

 

If it's original, then you just got yourself a genuine 352 CID. Best way to tell exactly what you have is to start breaking it down and measure bores and stroke. If the bores are less than 4.05" then is is definitely a 352. If the stroke is 3.78" or more then you most likely have a 390, 410, or 428 (it's probably not a 427). You can also post casting # here and others can decipher or you can reference them with various Ford engine publications.

 

I'm going by the Motor's Truck and Deisel Repair Manual, 28th Service Trade Edition, Copyright 1975, page 978, first line. They also list a 427 so it may be a mistake. However those were the first years for Detroit's Horse Power Race, so it may be right.

According to this book 1969 had a 4BBL 390 with the same spec's. 1969 also had a 428 if the book is right.

In 1974-6 there was a 4BBl 390 as well, engine Code M.

Bob
'66 7 Litre Convertible, top loader, 3.25 Traction-lock, 427 Sidewinder Intake, 780 Holley, Windage tray, SCJ Exhaust manifolds, H-pipe, MSD, Line-lock, AM/FM/8-Track/CB
'88 F150 XLT Lariat, 302, 5 speed, 3.08
'98 Mustang, 3.8, 5 speed
'99 Ranger, 3.0, 5 speed, 3.73 posi

 

So much for Motor’s Manuals, Chilton’s will get you too. The M code 4V 390 is correct.

Barry

 

Heck, if you're going to rebuild anyway, you might just be able to look at the pistons and see what you have. Mine say "390 4v" on them. You'll still need casting numbers to get more detailed information.


Best source as to what engines came in what vehicles is factory literature. It's a safe bet that Ford never put a 427 into a pickup at the factory. These engines were only originally installed in Fairlanes, Galaxies, and the Mercury clones of these cars (and the 427 Cobra and some GT40s, of course). They are too "onry" to be used in anything but a very high performance application. Even Caroll Shelby largely passed up this engine for his GT500 Mustang, opting for the relatively sedate 428 PI/CJ instead. The 428 was strictly a car engine, but it saw use in every Ford car but the Falcon/Maverick.

Another good source for engine information is the Chilton repair books from the era you are researching. The Chilton's I saw listed specifications only for 2v 390s in trucks from the factory, so to me that's a pretty clear indication that no 4v 390s made it into pickups from the factory. Perhaps because your book is more current than these old repair manuals, it seeks to cover all possible engine swaps for the mechanic/enthusiast.

 

Speaking of '67 factory literature, check out the brochures/ads at
http://www.jjmoss.net/f100/
Thanks Jamey.

 

Dag nab it. The BOOK made a BOOB out of Bob, again!

Bob
'66 7 Litre, top loader, 3.25 Traction-lock, Sidewinder Intake, SCJ Exhaust
'88 F150 XLT Lariat, 302, 5 speed, 3.08
'99 Ranger, 3.0, 5 speed, 3.73 posi

 

If you have the engine out you can tell what crankshaft you have by looking a rear of crank where flywheel mounts. If I remember right the 360 crank has half circle missing from edge and the 390 has small square missing from edge. not a very good explaination but if you look at it i think you will understand.I hope someone corrects me if i have these backwards

 

Be careful with Chiltons, or any publicatio for that matter (they were written by humans).

I have a 1968 F250 that originally came with a 360 (engine tags, bore, stroke, VIN, etc. all confirm) but my Chiltons manual doesn't even list a 360 in 1968...just a 361. This really confused me before I knew the difference between any Ford engine and a Briggs and Stratton engine.

 

I just checked my spare 428 crank (out of a '66 428 T-bird) and it has a square notch cut in the flywheel flange also.

I believe you are right about the half moon cut out on the 352-360 cranks.

Bob
'66 7 Litre, top loader, 3.25 Traction-lock, Sidewinder Intake, SCJ Exhaust
'88 F150 XLT Lariat, 302, 5 speed, 3.08
'99 Ranger, 3.0, 5 speed, 3.73 posi

 

Thanks everyone for all the help. I have the engine torn down now and will post all the numbers for all the piece parts later today. Again I really do appreciate the help.