does it make much of a difference to put 352 heads on a 390 block?

 

All the heads inter change except the 427med rise and high rise heads... you will have to port match the intake, if not running a 427 man., and notch the cylinder walls on any bore under 4.23....but no there should be no problem, to answer the original question. Pre smog run better, just make sure they have hardened seats.

 

No difference, because the heads from 1965 thru 1972 are the same for 352/360/390.

Some 1966/67 352 heads were drilled for smog pump manifolds, but that's the only difference, and the plugs to fill those holes are still supplied by Ford. Plugs: C6AZ-6052-A

Hardened valve seats were not available on FE (332-352-360-390-406-410-427-428) engines as original. A local machine shop can install them. Only the FT engines offered hardened seats.

 

[QUOTE=NumberDummy]

Some 1966/67 352 heads were drilled for smog pump manifolds, but that's the only difference, and the plugs to fill those holes are still supplied by Ford. Plugs: C6AZ-6052-A
QUOTE]

Wow really Bill?? That's good news if true!

JR, I don't see why you'd need to notch the cyl's just to swap stock heads?

Custom, make sure you use the same type of heads so they match your intake. Early heads till mid 66 were the larger lowriser ports. After that the smaller port heads were used till the late 70's. JR is correct on the 427 Medium and high riser heads. Also the tunnelports. They used larger valves and wider valve spacing in the heads.

 

Someone correct me if I'am wrong here? which wont be the first nore the last..its been awhile.....I believe the LR big port heads were still used up until mid year 65 and on some 66 models....getting rid of old stock....

and even later when a stock pile of early heads were found..as my old 70 390 has the C4AE-G's on it from the factory....

RJ

 

When it comes to what Ford used on the assembly line, anything goes. The 428CJ heads had the so called big ports too (which is a term that's misleading for the LR port) and they didn't go into production till mid 68. The 70 F100 I had back in the 80's was a 390, but when I pulled it and took it apart, it not only had 410 pistons in it, but had the 410 crank too. Bought a 410 from a 67 Merc and it turned out to be a 428.

 

Russ your right the LR heads were used till mid 66. You could still get 67 and later marine heads C7JE-A's that were lowrisers too. Most of the popular heads you could buy way into the 70's. Some of the hipo stuff started to go away 72-73 when supplies thinned. There was always a stash tho someone had. Give the secret handshake and your out the parts dept door with some new service CJ heads in da box.

BD that's some pretty good luck!! A 410 and a 428 not bad! Finds like that are hard to come by. Good score! There was a guy on another forum that had a complete 390 engine with a S on the back of the block. At the time I didn't realise exactly what he had. I knew the block had at least 428 wall cores. But what I didn't find out till later was those blocks not only have the crossbolt bosses but 427 cyl wall cores besides!!! Since then I've seen 2 others and both had 427 wall cores and crossbolt bosses. Guy was asking $650 complete with a set of 406 cast iron shorty headers. I could have sold the cast shortys for that easily and more or less had a free 427 block in the making. If I only knew!! LOL. Block was a 67 date code.

G.

 

It is true!

The same plugs were used on all the 1966/79 Fords regardless of engine size to plug Thermactor Emission (smog pump) holes in the heads.

C6AZ-6052-A .. Plug for T/E holes in head

FTE sponsor DIRECTFORDPARTS (Gaudin Ford-Las Vegas) shows: List price each $4.76 / FTE member net each: $3.37

 

don't have the smog ports. the only reason I asked is because the original motor that was in the truck split the crank and I got a 390 bottom end and reused the top end of the original motor and the power and gas mileage is up. The only change that has been made is that I put a 4 bbl holley and intake that my dad found at a swap meet. Getting almost 20 mpg now.

 

Bill thanks that's pretty cool. My 390 has the themactor tubes and they are coming off. I have a pretty crusty set of plugs I was given but I'd rather use new. Thanks again! BTW that's a nice discount for FTE members!


Allen glad to hear it's all working out. That is great mileage.