Ok, trust me when I say that I've searched, and searched for answers and couldn't find any, thus why I am here.

My brother has a '72 F-100 2WD pickup and we pulled the motor. It's been sitting in the shed on an engine stand for months. So, we decided to take a closer look at it, we were told it was a 390. But, we can't seem to prove that!

For starters, the engine doesn't have casting numbers. It has the date code, which is either 3B21 or 8B21. We can't tell as the first number is messed up. But, it looks to be a 3 or an 8. We cleaned the block and searched for the usual long casting number and where they should be, there is none. Doesn't look like there ever was one. BUT, we did find a goldish/brass colored tag that says "REMANUFACTURED 253161". It does have the 352 stamp, and the date code along with the DIF stamp.. I have another truck with a 390 and the block casting number is exactly where it's suppose to be. We think the date might be 3B21 due to info saying that blocks with 2 bolt engine mounts were pre 1965, and this engine has 2 bolt engine mounts.

So then we pulled the pan and checked the crankshaft, it's stamped "2T" which suggests 352 or 360 as 390 was 2UA or 3U. The heads we pulled off are stamped D2TE-AA which I'm lead to believe is indeed a '72 390 head. The stroke measured right about 3 5/8. The piston tops read "0.60".

The motor was pulled because they said it was messed up, we found one of the lifters was in pieces. 3 different guys tell me before the motor messed up, "It must've been worked up inside cuz it was a powerhouse". My brother also drove the truck once when it was running right and he said it had lots of power.

We can't understand why the casting numbers are missing. Their isn't any signs they were ground off, they just aren't there. And oddly enough, we have another 390 that was left over from a motor swap that had sucked a valve. We checked it, guess what? NO CASTING NUMBERS. Same spot, Also has the goldish/brass tag! Doesn't say reman tho, just had a line of numbers. That motors date code was good and reads 8G17 but also has 2 bolt engine mounts so we started wondering if this pre-65 info was reliable. This is why we went and checked the other 390. No goldish/brass stamp, and has typical casting numbers right where they should be.

We are lost and frankly are getting headaches over trying to figure this out. Do they remove cast numbers when they reman blocks? Is that engine a 390 block with 360 crank and bored over simply with the original '72 heads? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

390 and 360 blocks are the same.

 

Sorry bub, You are looking for something that aint there. We have a resident number dummy that will be along shortly providing perfect answers for you.

390 has become a generic name for FE engines. While there were a few 390 FE installed in trucks most were 352s replaced by 360s in 68.

From what I picked up in your thread, you have a 360 engine rebuilt by one of those rebuild houses.

Easiest way to tell the difference is poke a piece of white house wire through one of the spark plug holes, and rotate the engine a couple rounds with a Sharpie marking the wire. Measure the length of the mark and report back here with it.

FE are horses by nature so someone riding behind one would be impressed with it's raw power.




John

 

So you're saying that it never had cast numbers or doesn't cuz it was remanufactured? I've just never come across this before. I have a 68' 289, 2 68' 302s, an 82' 302, '76 390, '79 351W, and a '73 460 all of which have casting numbers in their respective places. I don't know if I'm misreading your reply about "perfect answers" but I'm not looking for or expecting perfect answers. I'm merely confused by 2 blocks missing any sign of casting numbers and both having these gold tags.

 

As far as I know there was never any numbers on a 390 or 360 that would tell you what size motor you had. That is the reason the 360's are nearly extinct they have somehow all transformed to a 390.

 

If the crank is numbered as a 360, it's a 360. It was just an overbored 352. Those heads found their way onto everything FE since they were the first with hardened valve seats.

 

What you have are FoMoCo Service Part Replacement 2 mounting hole engine blocks. All will have date codes, but some have no casting numbers.

1958/64 FE engines were only installed in passenger cars, have two engine mount bolt holes per side.

These engines also have an oil fill tube and rounded valve covers without any holes in them for oil caps/smog valve.

1965 was the first year Ford installed FE engines (352's) in F100/350's. The truck and car blocks have 4 engine bolt mounting holes.

The valve covers are pent roof shaped and have one hole per side for an oil cap, smog valve.

BUT...here's the confusion: Ford cast Service Part Replacement blocks for 1958/64 engines after 1964.

These were available at the parts counter, anyone could buy them. 1,000's were sold directly by FoMoCo to their authorized engine rebuilders.

1968/76 360/390 blocks are essentially the same, the bore is 4.05." The stroke is not the same.

Stroke: 352/360 = 3.50" / 390 = 3.78" / 1958/67 352 engines have a 4.00" bore.

D2TE-AA is the casting number for 1972/76 360 and 390 heads.

Casting numbers are about WORTHLESS for ID'ing what size the FE engine block is.

Since the blocks were all cast as 352's, the casting number and 352 foundry markings only pertains to this.

Only when the blocks were finished, could they be another size.

Casting numbers cannot be cross referenced to Ford part numbers.

Some people here on FTE go ga-ga over FE casting numbers...that don't mean diddly-squat!

 

Thank you for that very detailed response. I appreciate you taking the time to explain what was going on. I've just never seen a block without numbers so I was boggled. We're building a fox body drag car and was just trying to figure out what each motor was, but regardless have been told not to bother with any FE for this application. I keep being told to go with 302, 351 or 429/460. Thanks alot!

 

Use the block you have and install a 428 crank with 390 rods and 360 pistons. Makes a 410 torque monster. Build it right and the FE with its deep set crank will out live and out power any windsor, and not crack down the middle.

Garbz

 

I was simply told those motors couldn't handle anything over 4000rpm very well and were known to run hot and break. A 410 does sound tempting though. Does the 428 crank need machined or will it bolt right in? The car we're using is a '86 Thunderbird. I have a rearend out of a '68 Galaxie XL, C4 or C6 of my choice, a '76 390, the above mentioned 360, and another mystery motor that I haven't checked the stroke or bore on yet that is suppose to be a 390. I do have multiple carbs (Edelbrock and Holley) ranging from 500cfm to 760cfm, a couple intakes (Performer and Endura-Shine Torquer), a complete rebuild kit, racing fuel cell, and headers for a 390. That's why it just seemed to make sense to "build what you got". We wanted to start out with the car to be street legal just long enough to see what she could do, if she does well, we're gonna go all out and make it a drag only car. I only have 1 460 and it's in my '73 pickup and that's where it's staying unless the truck gets wrecked. I'll definately look into the 410 some more, thanks alot for the info!

BTW, I just found a 429 SCJ intake for $50!!! Will this bolt directly to my 460 with the right gaskets? Also, I took my pickup out to play today in the mountains, I noticed when I was climbing steep and my front end bounced or hit a decent rut, my gas pedal would pull away from my foot. Buddy said could be loose mount on body or engine, any opinions?

 

Bad mount on the drivers side.