ok so i pulled the engine from my parts truck to rebuild it.. i was tod it was a 390 but the truck decodes as a 360 truck.. i have here torn down and want to know what i have, i can see the heads were off once and changed so i'd also like to know if they are good heads or just run of the mill 2v stuff.. does anyone know where i can decode the casting #'s?? or maybe there is a way to tell what i got some other way?? thanks

 

Casting numbers are more or less meaningless for FE engines...

Quickest way to tell with the engine pulled is the crankshaft flange... A square notch is a 390, half-moon shape is 360.

Josh

 

Measure the stroke....
3.78"=390
3.50"=360

 

There are no differences between 360 and 390 truck heads either. And no such moniker has 2V heads or 4V heads like the Cleveland engine family.

Josh

 

390 came stock with a 4bbl Carb. I don't know if that helps but just sayin.

 

what flange are you talking about?? i'll go out to the garage and check quick as soon as i know what flange you mean..

 

Very few Truck 390 engines came with 4 barrels and "stock" was the Motorcraft 2 barrel, you had to option up to the 4 barrel and not a single 360 came with a 4 barrel.

And only 4X4s came with a 2 barrel 360, not a single 390 was EVER installed in ANY 4 wheel drive trucks.

Josh

 

The rear crank flange with the flexplate/ flywheel removed. There will either be a square notch or half-moon crescent on the flange.

Josh

 

ok i'll run out to the garage and see what i can see..

 

ok it is a half moon. wich tells me it is a lowsy rotten 360, is that for SURE or 99% for sure....

also if you can help me on the heads, they have a casting # of C8AEH, are these 360 or 390 heads and are they anything specail or just run of the mill.. i can see they were changed in the past or removed and rebuilt.. thanks

 

C8AE-H heads are perfectly fine for a mild engine build. They were also used on 360, 390 car and truck and standard 428 engines.

390 GT heads are the same with different exhaust bolt drillings.

The half moon is 100% 352/360

Josh

 

ok thanks for the help, geuss i'm building a 360.. i plan on a stock rebuild with a 4v setup, msd ignition and long tube headers.. are there any other relitivly cheap mods i can do to get some extra poneys.. this is my first fe, i am a sb guy.

 

look at the bottom of the pistons, the 360 and the 390 have the same bore, 4.05 but the bottom of a 360 piston is skirted, the 390 piston is not fully skirted to allow for the extra stroke. you can make that 360 into a 390 by obtaining the crank, rods and a set of pistons for the 390, the blocks are the same.

 

That much is true.

 

totally wrong. either none were 4bbl or there was no 4bbl ones until ariound 75 76 when igniition was changed to DS II. before that all 390 truck were 2bbl. heres my 73 390. why do ppl feel the need to post incorrect info and eff ppl up.. hmm..