I'm haveing trouble finding any useful numbers on my Big block FE. But the reason i am working so hard to figure out just exactly what it is is because there are seemingly decorative casting marks on the sides of the block, they are above the oil pan where all the picures i have seen are flat. There are vertical lines that rise out of the casting about a 1/4in they are about a foot long and about a 1/2 in wide. These are not real measurements, thats just me looking and guessing. The lines only interest me because it seems that its a massive waste of company money if they where to make thousands, they would only decorate something that was tMy neibor tells me thatheir pride and joy...wouldn't they? My neibor tells me he thought my dad "dropped in a 400 or 427", obviously getting my hopes up for the famous 427. Oh and 1 more thing is that it has the cobra lemans head covers and a highrise manifold. I looked inside one of the header holds and can see that it is polished to shine, i think i read some where that they made them "hardend" in side the heads but hell if i can accually remember where i saw that to read it again.

So can any one give me a few ideas on where the casting numbers would be? Or possibly know anything about those casting "bars". Or even just tell me what i want to hear...this is a 427 and your gonna make alot of money off it. Haha, thank you for helping me out if you can.

 

Wish I could help more, but I think you posted in the wrong section. There is a section for FE motors, but this is for 385 series (429/460) motors.

Probably have better luck there.

 

Welcome to FTE and lets get this in the right engine forum for you.

 

It means....not much.

Service blocks or later blocks or truck blocks, take your pick:

Picture here if the link stays as this is a competing site:

The FORDification.com Forums • View topic - Fe Block Identification


332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum: Ribbed Block???---

It is an FE, right, with the intake manifold under the valve covers?

If it's that design, it is NOT a 400, as the 400 is related to the FE only by the blue paint and Ford logo.

Most 427s had cross-bolted mains, so if you don't see bolt heads just above the pan rail, it is probably a garden variety 360, the most common of the FEs found these days.

 

SOME 427s were cross bolted but not all.

 

Hhhmmm--any idea what is most common as far as cross vs. non-cross bolted? I thought most factory-installed hi-po car engines, & Shelbys were cross bolted, while marine blocks, for example, may or may not be... or is it mixed up for all applications?

More 427 block pics. Note cross bolt heads, ribs (for your pleasure?) and screw-in "freeze" plugs.

Ford FE 427 Side-Oiler Block

 

I would say that every 427 block slated for passenger car use was cross-bolted. IF any of the marine/industrial applications were not cross-bolted, they would still be in the minority. I've seen pictures of both and all had the bolts. The main point behind the 427 was severe duty, and leaving out those main caps would just be inviting warranty problems.

I will opine that any confusion about non-bolted 427's comes from another source. See, in your block link, that the rear bulkhead has "66-427" cast into it? There are a number of 390's out there that were cast with the same "66-427" bulkhead mold, but they are just regular 390 blocks. I had an excited Chevy guy try to sell me one of those a few years ago for big bucks, but it was a 4.05 bore with no cross-bolts. I can imagine, over the years, that that situation has given rise to many non-bolted 427 "sightings".

As you said, the ribs don't mean much for ID. Aside from 360, 390's, or 427's, it could be a Cobra Jet service block. I have one now with a CX scratch on the rear bulkhead.

draggin' the line

 

i don't know if you can tell by my lack of vocab but im not mechanic. Im a mechanics son. I never learned that stuff just because he wanted me to do something "bigger" with my life...well i have grease on my face and a big smile too. Lol i just wish he was around to teach me. The bolt patterns on the heads suggest FE. The serial numbers on the block are D2TEAA witch i have found to mean 1972 truck heads. The manifold is an aftermarket elelbrock. The ribs that are aparantly on all service blocks look exactly like the ones on 85e150six4mtod's Ford FE 427 Side-Oiler Block. The only issue is that i don't see a 3rd bolt hole along the bottom of the block just above the oil pan. Please excuse my lack of knowlege because i have no idea what they are for lol. I see 2 but there could be a 3rd under the engine brace my father put in, i just don't think thats likely. On the front of the block it has 352, i'm told that was cast on alot of FE blocks. I was also told to pull the starter and that the numbers would be under it. Huge pain in the *** for no cigars. You all would be amazed if you saw the frame it was sitting in. tight squeeze. Is there something that is easy to get to that i can measure to determine the size? Is there only a few that had 2 bolts long the bottom like i said before? Is there any small tell tale signs i should be able to find? Where the hell are the freakin numbers on this forsaken block? I've dug around quite alot. Thanks for the answers and help so far guys.

 

well, if it has 72 heads on it, i would venture to say it is NOT a 427.
a very easy way to tell a FE displacement is to measure the stroke. pull a spark plug, and stick a small rod or stiff wire in the hole. then turn the engine over by hand and measure the distance between lowest it goes, and highest it goes. once we have the stroke of the engine, we can get a closer determination of it's size.

i would take a safe bet it is a 390 with fancy valve covers on it.

 

Ive measured the stroke and have found that it was about 3.7, that points twards 4 different ones. 390 391 406 and 427 (from what i have read). I have the engine pulled out of the car and can basically get to any thing i need to. I don't want to dig through oil if i don't have to just because thats a pain in the rear.

So what do you think my next step should be to determine between those? Remember i'm not a real mechanic lol.

 

i am still calling 390.
391 was a heavy truck engine, and will not rev any higher than about 3500 rpm.
and since the 406 and 427 were not made in 72, that leaves the 390

 

Well i am on your side on the year pointing at the 390 but since i plan on selling what i have as a "cobra kit" I want to know exactly what engine i have with out a shadow of a doubt. So....what do you suggest that i measure to find that out? Do you happen to just know exactly where the numbers are supposed to be at? I looked behind the starter, nothing. I looked under the bellhouseing, nothing. Just the 352 on the block that tells me nothing and D2TEAA on the heads. Give me some thing to do before i lose my mind please.

 

I have found a piece of 14 ga white house wire about 6-7" long works quite well. Place a slight bend in it, poke it in a spark plug hole, lay a Sharpie on the manifold touching the wire. Have a friend rotate the engine on the crank nut a couple revs. and measure the length of the mark left. You want to keep a finger on the end of the wire to make sure it stays on the piston.

Removing all the spark plugs will make the turning easier. There are other methods but this is my favorite.



John

 

he has already checked the stroke, that is why we are at the 390-391-406-247 point.
the only other thing to do is try to get a bore measurement. that will tell you for sure what it is.
to do this you will either have to remove a head, or the oil pan.

 

man, i can't tell you how many of these posts I've read. i'm finally getting to know my FE a little and got a few minutes today to poke around a bit more. mine's C6ME, but then I located the 12 over 352 right up on front (under a bunch of dirt-grease). thought I had my answer til I learned a bit more.

i'm more sure than not that this puppy shipped with the truck (most everything else seems to be factory, for better or worse). '75 F250. VIN number's missing from the door jamb and I can't squeeze my fingers/mirror/flashlight/eyeballs into place to see the one on the frame rail. The registration VIN says it's got a diesel in it.

my stroke came in at around 4" (measured with a poorly held straw and didn't have time to apply the sharpie trick), which doesn't help much. i'm pulling that oil pan for sure in about a month.