ID engine
 

I just bought a 79 F-150 for parts, the engine supposable runs but needs a starter and I don’t know witch engine to buy a starter for. Does anyone know what engine this is, the casting # above the starter is D7TE A3B Located under that is another # 9J26 and the intake # is D7TE SA, the book I have list's it as a 390 or 360 anyone know for sure

Thanks for any help.

ID engine
 

Does the intake manifold go under the valve covers??
If not, it's not an FE...I thought the last year for the FE
in trucks was '77, and only in 4X4s...

ID engine
 

nolanc2, My books show its a 351M or a 400. Which is right for that year of truck.

The D7TE shows its a 77 - up truck engine casting.

ID engine
 

Thanks for the info. A friend came to look at it and said it was a 351C, he said the way to tell is that the valve covers are flat on the end and roll to an angle also what looks like a timing chain cover is actually part of the block casting. Is this true?

ID engine
 

Well, the valve covers interchange between the 351C, the 351M, and the 400, I think, so a person might think it's a Cleveland. But Clevelands were never installed in trucks by Ford, so I'd lean towards the 351M or the 400. Speaking of valve covers, there may be an engine id sticker on the driver's side valve cover. You may have to clear old oil and dirt away to see it.

The 351M and the 400 also have the timing chain housed "in the block" the same way the 351C does.

ID engine
 

Thanks. The only reason I'm leaning away from the 351/M is its eating starters, the flywheel is cutting into the aluminium starter housing. The valve covers have no ID tag on them. Ford also never put a 1 ton rear end under an F-150 but that is what this truck has you would just have to know who I got it from.

ID engine
 

nolanc2, I don't mean to sound nasty but the block casting numbers tell the story.

Its a 351M or a 400.

The D means its a 70's production decade. The 7 designates the year of production. So its a 77 casting. The T designates its a truck block. There were no 351C's in trucks from the factory.

Rear end swaps of this nature were fairly common.

Maybe a wrong starter or flexplate.

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Thanks Dave your probably right but the 351C was offered in a Ranchero. Is that considered a truck?

ID engine
 

nolanc2, I doubt the Ranchero was classified as a truck. I'm not 100% sure though.

The Ranchero was based on the Torino platform, I'm thinking.

ID engine
 

Technically, the "El Torino" was considered a truck, I just recently got my butt flamed off in the 351c/m/400 forum for a similar statement. A 351c can make an appearance in a truck, but they were not mad after 74, so that number cannot be found on a c block. The M block was basically an overgrown c, and in fact was also a member of the 335family. Many parts are interchangable, including the dizzy, oil pans, and heads. To tell the difference quickly, measure the intake. If it's more than a foot across, it is an m. Also, for a starter, make sure you get one for an auto. They should have a shorter nose than a manual one. You may need to open several boxes to find a short nose, as they frequently get mixed in with long nosed ones. If all else fails, shim the starter out a little. Also, check to make sure the bellhousing bolts are tight.

ID engine
 

Well it has to be a 351M/400 then. I have shimmed the starter but it sounds like its grinding when I spin it over I Haven’t pulled it out to check it, the exhaust is really in the way I’m just trying to get it to run so I can sell it. Thanks for all the help guys.

Help please
 

I have a 81 f250 ranger xlt, tryna identify engine, my numbers on driver side manifold read d7te sa can some help me please and thanks in advance