i traded a guy one of my welders for 2 390s complete. he was the one that told me the were 390s but when i looked at them on the block there is a stamp that says 352 is this the real size or just a block number or somthing? how can i check the serial number or somthing to make sure they are 390s? thanks

I might be wrong, but the only 352 I've ever owned had the exhaust manifold bolts on the sides of the ports, while the 390 was over and under.

well judging from this article.(take it with a grain of salt). this is what ive found.

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/How_to_identify_a_Ford_V8

FE Series (332/352/EDSEL361/360/390/410/427/427SOHC/428)

FE (FORD-EDSEL) Engine Family:

Intake manifold runners partially covered by rocker covers.The exhaust port runners extend out from the head ending with flanges that have the top exhaust manifold bolt holes through these flanges.

5 Valve Cover Bolts.

Distributor goes through the intake manifold, the only Ford engine that has this feature...

here is another website that might help ya out.
http://www.mre-books.com/interchange/interchange11.html

Another important change addresses cylinder head bolts beginning in 1961. From 1958-60, all “FE”
blocks were fitted with 4 7/32-inch long cylinder head bolts all around. Beginning in 1961, however,
all “FE” blocks were fitted with 2 7/8-inch long head bolts along the outside of the block and 4 19/32-
inch long bolts inboard. One other change to watch for is on late-1963 and later blocks where an
additional bolt hole for the alternator was incorporated into the front of the block.
When searching for a block, bore size is your first clue regarding what you have found, in addition
to the presence of oil passages, casting numbers and date codes. The 332 and 352 had 4.00-inch
bores. The larger displacement Edsel 361 had the same 4.05-inch bore as the 390. Though it is
highly unlikely that you will stumble upon an Edsel 361 block, be mindful of its 4.05-inch bores
coupled with 332/352 characteristics when you’re looking for a 390 block.

Fe blocks are so confusing. alot are stamped 352. BEcuase there all the same exact blocks, just different strokes IIRC

A lot of 390's and 360's are stamped 352. The only real way to tell is to check the bore and stroke.

Every FE block I have has a 352 stamped on it.

Every 360 and 390 I had were cast with the 352. The one 352 I had didn't accept the motor mounts for trucks, it came out of a 64 Galaxie.

Hmm, thats pretty interesting. Ford must've been lazy. *goes to check 390 block*

Where would I find this number?

If I recall, near the fuel pump.

The "352" is usually cast into the back of the block and every FE I've owned had that marking including new original 427 SOHC blocks. The best way would be to look for casting numbers on the block they're usually around the oil filter adapter mounting pad, another clue would be the casting numbers from the cylinder heads starting with C1__-____-__. The C is for 1960s the next 3 numbers and letters designate the engine group and level of performance, the center 4 numbers is the group number and the last 2 digits are the change level in production.
If you send me a PM I'll see if I can Identify them for you. Also the staggered bolt pattern was used only on the 390, 428 and 427 engines used in Fairlanes, Comets, Cougars and Mustangs. The vertical bolt pattern was used in all other cars and trucks, except the Rancheros of course.

daddyjake707 said:

i traded a guy one of my welders for 2 390s complete. he was the one that told me the were 390s but when i looked at them on the block there is a stamp that says 352 is this the real size or just a block number or somthing? how can i check the serial number or somthing to make sure they are 390s? thanks

Click to expand...

The 352 cast into the block only refers to the casting itself, as all the 352/360/390/410 and 428 engines were cast as 352's.

Only when the blocks were finished could they be something else.

The block casting numbers are worthless on these engines for this reason, and so...there is no way, none to determine what size the engine is from a block casting number.

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

Measuring the stroke will determine if the engine is a 390...or not.

Stroke: 352/360 = 3.50" / 390 = 3.78" / 410/428 = 3.98"

Moto Mel said:

The "352" is usually cast into the back of the block and every FE I've owned had that marking including new original 427 SOHC blocks. The best way would be to look for casting numbers on the block they're usually around the oil filter adapter mounting pad, another clue would be the casting numbers from the cylinder heads starting with C1__-____-__. The C is for 1960s the next 3 numbers and letters designate the engine group and level of performance, the center 4 numbers is the group number and the last 2 digits are the change level in production.
If you send me a PM I'll see if I can Identify them for you. Also the staggered bolt pattern was used only on the 390, 428 and 427 engines used in Fairlanes, Comets, Cougars and Mustangs. The vertical bolt pattern was used in all other cars and trucks, except the Rancheros of course.

Click to expand...

I've had two new 427 blocks, neither were marked 352.

The casting numbers prefix has nothing to do with performance and means next to nothing. Casting numbers cannot be cross reference to actual Ford part numbers.

For example, a C7ME casting number prefix could be a 352, it could also be a 390, 410 or 428.

Since all these blocks were cast as 352's, only when finished could they be something else.

The center four numbers refer to the casting number, not the group number.

6015 is the block casting number, 6010 is the actual Ford group number for a bare block.

The numbers on heads are ID numbers, not casting numbers.

Casting numbers cannot be cross referenced to actual Ford part numbers, while ID numbers can.

Your vertical bolt pattern info is also incorrect.

C3AZ-6010-AB .. 390 Bare Block / Fits 1963/67 Galaxie & T-Bird; 1966/67 LTD; 1966/67 Fairlane & Fairlane GT; 1967 Mustang & Mustang GT.

C8AZ-6010-A .. 390 Bare Block / Fits: 1968/71 LTD / 1968/69 Mustang / 1968/69 Fairlane/Torino/ 1968/72 F100/350.

1967 Ranchero's are Fairlanes, 1968/70's are either Fairlanes or Torino's, 1971/76's are Torino's, 1977/79's are LTD II's.

Do you want to sell one of those 390s

thanks for all the info fellas i ended up taking one of the 390s to a local FE specialist engine shop and we found out that the better of the two was freshily rebuilt and was bored .20 over so now its a 396 so once i find a dual carb set up that i can afford the motor will be complete for now (gotta save up for the real rebuild) now i just gotta finish all the new suspension fab work and then it will be ready to be put in it sounds a lot closer to that time than it really is haha

hey tex i do have the other 390 thats complete except a carb that i am trying to sell i also have 2 ford o matic trannies that came with the motors as well (already sold the third) im in sacramento ca though

AFAIK, there are only two numbers cast in the FE's.

352 - Block was cast at Dearborn Iron Foundry. Block will also have DIF marking.

Mirrored 105 - Block was cast at Michigan Casting Center. Block will bear the MCC mark. MCC came online in late 1971 or maybe early 1972 and took over production of most FE and FTs. Only 427 and 428 FE's were cast at DIF after 1972, and were cast there til 1973 and 1974, respectivly.


Thank you to FTF member FFR428 for giving me this information.

daddyjake707 said:

hey tex i do have the other 390 thats complete except a carb that i am trying to sell i also have 2 ford o matic trannies that came with the motors as well (already sold the third) im in sacramento ca though

Click to expand...

Ford-O-Matics (F-O-M) were never offered with FE engines.

F-O-M: I-6's and Y blocks only.

the ford o matics arent atatched to the motor they jst came with them as part of the trade i believe the tranny atattched to the spare 390 is a fmx or what ever its called not sure havent done the research on that one

Bill, the 3 speed automatic that came with the FE engines, pre c-6 era, were they the FMX or what? Just curious.

surewhynot said:

Bill, the 3 speed automatic that came with the FE engines, pre c-6 era, were they the FMX or what? Just curious.

Click to expand...

Oh man...you're gonna get a butt ton of info. He laid all this out for me one time. But I am currently banned and can't access my CP from where I kept that info, or otherwise I would try and save bill from typing it all again.