So i decoded my VIN using the decoder on this site. it sed that my truck came with a 360 2bbl. yet the badges on my fenders say 390 and there is a stamp on the front of the block under the valve cover that sez 352. how does one go about figuring out the proper numbers?

 

The 352 you see on the block is just a foundry identfier. Not actual displacement. Common to see the 352 and DIF on many different displacement engines. It's possible the original 360 was swapped for a 390. Or someone just put 390 badges on the car. The 360 and 390 share the same cyl bore of 4.05. Just the crank strokes are different. The 360 @ 3.50 and the 390 @ 3.78. You can measure the stroke to check. Put the engine on TDC and remove #1 and #4 plugs. The intake has the cyl #'s on the runners if your not sure which is which. This puts #1 @ TDC and #4 @ BDC. Use a length of stiff wire or 1/8" wood dowel long enough so it does not fall in the cyl. 5-6" is good if you have the room. Insert into #1 and mark using a common edge as a guide. Then insert into #4 and using the same common edge as a guide mark again. Remove and measure the distance between the marks. That's your stroke. 3.50 for 360 and 3.78 or roughly 3 3/4" for 390. Quite a few threads about this at the FE forum. Stop by and ask more Q's if needed.

 

The 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code:

H = 390 2V / Y = 360 2V. No 390 4V's were available till 1974.

The 390 emblems used on 1968/69 F100/350's are the same ones the 1966/67 Galaxie/LTD's and 1966/67 Fairlanes used > >

Three slanted red lines, right side: /// or left side: \\\ with 390 below, below the 390 is a black checkerboard scheme.

C6AZ-16228-E .. Right Fender Emblem-390 / C6AZ-16229-B .. Left Fender Emblem-390.

These 390 emblems are the only ones that defined engine size used on 1968/69 F100/350's. In fact, no other year used engine ID emblems.

Since most sellers are klewless on what engine their truck came with, and most have never heard of a 360 engine, on sale day, 360's magically become 390's.

Why are these 390 emblems on your truck?

Where did you get the VIN? Off the registration or off the Warranty Plate (W/P)? Located on the left door face below the latch.

If from the W/P, did you verify that the VIN on your registration matches the VIN on the W/P?

Peeps swapped left doors due to damage, forgetting to swap over the original W/P, which is riveted on.

Other possible reasons:

Someone could have installed the 390 emblems for "bragging rights" only. This might have been done when the truck was first sold new.

The original fenders were changed at some point, the used fenders came with the emblems.

Or a PO could have installed a 390, then added the emblems, which are not hard to find because...

The emblems have been reproduced, and are available from dearbornclassics.com / online catalog / page 86.

 

ok....the title VIN sez 360. that much is for sure. ill have to check the stroke to see what the actual displacement is...thanks for the help guys.