I decided it was time to replace the spark plugs and tune up my engine a bit. I pulled the spark plugs an tried to clean up a bit. Under the grease were the engine casting numbers so I decided to look them up. The casting on both sides reads " C8AE-H" Looking this up on a casting number reference it says:
" C8AE-H '68 427 c.i.d. Hydraulic Lifters, Side Oilier"

Also on the left side front of engine there is another casting that reads "13" "352"

By the VIN this 69 F-250 should have a 360 but the castings say otherwise.

What do you gentleman think?

if it is a 427 what do I need to know. Can't find to much info on it, except people saying its "rare"?

P.S. Please excuse the dirt and grime in the photos, The P.O. didn't really care about keeping things clean, so now it's my job to clean it all up!

 

I can't say for sure about the casting numbers on the heads. My reference doesn't show those numbers.

As for the block, the "352" was cast on all FE engines for many years.

The number you need to identify the block is located on the passenger side just in front of the front freeze plug. It will be similar to the number you found on the heads.

If you can get that number, I may be able to identify the ORIGINAL configuration of the block for you.

However, the only TRUE way to tell is to pull a head and measure the bore and stroke. Stroke can be measured through the spark plug holes, but you have to get the head off to measure the bore.

 

One way to know if its a 427, is on the lower part of the block, should be 3 bolt head, Per side, that are along the lower edge, Simply take a pics of it and post, if there the right one, you have a 427. This is for the 4 bolt main, and only a 427 has them

In the "Big Block Ford Engine book by Steve Christ, Page 55
Head C8AE-H is a standard 360 head, for 360,390, 428 w/air Chamber Vol is 68.1 to 71.1

 

Not an FE pro here, but don't the 427's have an external oil pump?

 

I dunno what reference book you are using, because...

C8AE-H = Head casting number for 1968/71 360/390 & 1968/70 428 (except P/C & 1968/70 B & F CJ & S/CJ).

C8AE-H = C8AZ-6049-M .. Cylinder Head / Use without Thermactor Emission (smog pump).

You cannot go by casting numbers on FE blocks to ID anything, since all the engines were cast as 352's.

That's why that FOUNDRY mark of 352 in on the blocks. This has been a boondoggle for years, because ppl see that 352, think that's the engine size.

It may be...it may not be. And...after 1967, the 352 was canceled.

People go ga-ga over casting numbers here on FTE. But...except in some rare cases, they will not tell you diddly-squat!

And....casting numbers cannot be cross-referenced to actual Ford part numbers.

The C8AE-H head casting number is also an engineering number, and these numbers can be cross-referenced to Ford part numbers.

332/406/410/427/428 FE engines were not factory installed in F100/350's. Passenger cars ONLY.

352: 1965/67 F100/350 // 360/390: 1968/76 F100/350.

1965/76: The only V8's available with 4WD: 1965/67 F100/250 = 352 2V / 1968/76 F100/250 = 360 2V.

No 390's factory installed in 4WD's.

 

NumberDummy, based on the information you supplied about the heads, does that mean that the same heads were used on 68-71 360/390 and 68/70 428?

I guess what I'm asking, did all of those engines use the same part number heads, valves, etc?

The reason I'm asking is that I have been undecided as to whether to find a good, used 390 for my build, or just to put 390 internals in my 360.

Am I making sense?

 

I thought all 427's had screw in freeze plugs and cross bolted crank bearing caps. All visable from the side of the block. Maybe not,thou.

 

All the 427's I've run across have had press in freeze plugs, cross bolted mains, and internal oil pumps. Then there are center oilers, and side oilers.

 

Pull a head and measure the bore. My experience with the casting numbers on these motor is well, not there half of the time and they did all sorts of goofy stuff. I have a block with the 66-427 cast into the back and the side oiler bosses but it has standard 390 cores and the oil galleries don't run down the side. Between all the industrial and marine applications there really is no way to know until you see whats inside. That head is one of the more common ones and not a 427 head. If I was a betting man I would say its the original 360.
-Johnboy

 

The same C8AZ-6049-M head was used on all these applications, except as noted above...plus it was a service part replacement for 352/390 heads used from 1965 thru 1967, ditto for 410/428 heads used 1966/67.

Look in your 1964/72 truck parts catalog, section 60.7. What head part numbers are listed for 1965/72 FE's?

C8AZ-6049-M without T/E, C8AZ-6049-A with T/E. CA passenger cars, F100's had T/E (smog pump) in 1966 (after 1/1/66), 1967 and on some early 1968's.

The 1972/73 heads have a different casting number (D2TE), but the part number remains the same.