Thread: Is this a 390?

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I realize there are about 4 million other posts about this but I need an engine IDed. I couldn't find the casting number on the block (it was cold and covered in crap). I did find a number on the timing cover. The number is C8AE-6059-B-2. What do the B and the 2 mean? An old friend of mine from high school has this engine and he claims it's a 390 but he's not sure. It's locked up right now so measuring the stroke is a bit of a problem. Can any of you guys help me out?

Well, you could identify the motor with that motor, providing the timing cover hasn't been replaced b4. I'm not shure but, that does look like a 390 number, the C8AE I mean.

The timing cover should have a number with a circle of dots around it also. This is the date code and will help tell what year the cover is anyway. The number ex: 68 inside the dots is the year cast. The dots around it will determine the month. Now there should be a C8 casting number on the side of the block if it's a 68 engine. C8AE-A. C8AE-C and C8AE-E are a couple of 68 390 block casting numbers. It could also be a C6 or a D3 number as well. Down by the oil filter adapter the should be a number/letter/number(s) code on the block. This is the date code for the block so try to find it also. It's on the block underneath the oil filter adapter pad. Also between the center two spark plugs on the heads you will see a casting number like the block. If it's a 68 head it shold have a C8 number like the block. The head date code is underneath the valve cover above where the casting number is and will be a number/letter/number(s) like the block. The crank and rods and almost everything on the engine will have a casting number and or date code to ID it. You can also take the head off and measure the bore of the block. A stock 390 has a 4.05 cyl bore but keep overbore in mind. So take a look and see what you can find. G.

I looked for the casting number on the block near where the oil filter goes on and couldn't find a number. I also looked under where the starter would go if that was bolted on but I couldn't find a number. I did look at the heads they also had a C8AE casting number the rest of the number was unreadable (he had them sandblasted and whoever did the blasting got a little carried away it looked like). The heads are off of the motor and he measured it to be about 4 inches in bore but he used a tape measure so I'm not convinced on how accurate that is and I didn't have my calipers with me at the time. At one time he said he measured the stroke on it too. He told me they were just about 390 numbers but it's hard to get real accurate with a tape measure. I never thought about checking the crank for a number but it was covered in crap since the oil pan has been off it for ages it looked like so it might have been hard to find if it was someplace I could read it. I'll have to take some tools to do some better measurements next time I head back to visit the parents. If this turns out to be a 390 what do you guys think it's worth? It's a locked up block with stock heads. I was thinking of offering him $100 does that seem like it's in the ballpark of what I should be offering? I've been out of this stuff for about 6 years and don't know what price range I'm looking at here.


Also one more sort of related question will an 390 fit into a 67-70 mustang without too much effort? What about a 429? My dad has a 429 someplace that came out of a gran torino gt that is already stripped down ready for machine work I might just use if I can find it. ( He used to run an engine shop and still has about 20 blocks sitting around so it might take a while to sift through them all and not all of them are still at our shop, a couple of them are at a shop belonging to a friend of his)

Well, you will probably have to spread the shock towers appart for it to fit, it will be very tight like, pull the motor to replace the sparkplugs tight, unless you put a M-II front clip under it, this is with the 390 FE, i'm not shure about the lima 429 ( Fe's are 352, 390 and 428, the Lima's are the 429 and 460 ). if you want a basic bolt in, you could use the 429 or a 460, as long as you had a '69 or '70 Mustang as there were boss 429 mustang's made in 1969 and 1970, get all the front end/ suspension parts, mounts and everything from a resto catalog like NPD for a boss 429, and your lima 429 and, it would basicly bolt in. as for the 390 price, being 390's are getting widly used now, $100 for a locked up block would be an avrage, but, you may consider looking on, the crank is probably trash unless it's possibly turnable but, it's been exposed to the elements for a long time, the only value of the motor really is if the block is fixable and the heads.

Are there vertical ribs on the sides of the block? If so it would be a service replacement block and would not have casting numbers but would have a date code. It's kind of hard to see the date code and being the engine is covered in crap does not make it easier. The date code can best be seen if the block is upside down and unless it's been sand blasted also should be there. The casting number should be there also but again the crap on the engine is probably making it difficult to see. That's if it's not a service block. Service blocks were just over the counter replacement blocks and fine to use. The heads are probably C8-H as these were pretty common and found on lots of 390's. $100 is a fair price as you really don't know what your getting being the engine is frozen and all. You can at least re sell the heads for $200 or so if the engine is pretty trashed. Even if it's a 352 block at a 4.00 bore you can open it up the 4.05 390 no problem but the crank will have a 3.50 stroke. Figure the block will need to be bored and cleaned up. The crank at least polished if not turned. Rods re bushed possibly and the heads reconditioned. Pistons might be salvageable as well. How did the engine freeze up would be my next question?? Was it running and just poorly stored and rusted or did it seize up while running? As far as the Mustangs go this is what I know. Unless the 67 was a big block car the shock towers might need to be cut for the 390 to fit. The 68 will be fine as Ford changed all the Mustangs to the big block reinforced style shock towers. As for the 69 -70 I'm pretty sure the 390 will fit but not positive if the shock towers were different for the small block and big block cars. I'm talking FE series big block not the 385 (429/460) series. I don't think a 429 will drop in easily but like anything can be done. G.

Thanks for the info guys.

There were some small ribs on the sides of the block so I'm thinking it could be a service block. Next time I make it home I'm going to take a brass brush to the block and clean some of the crap off of it.

I think the engine ran when it was pulled but it was stored in a barn for a few years before my friend got ahold of it. He's only had it a year or so and would turn over when he got it but sitting on a dirt floor in a garage is a bit hard on engines. If I pick it up I'll probably just put a new set of rods and pistons in it. Maybe a new crank depending on how bad the one that comes with it is. I'm thinking if I do buy it next time I'm back there I'm going put it on a stand and see if I can unstick it, clean it up and see what I have.

I was pretty sure the 390 would fit no problem I was really more interested in how easy it would be to stick a 429 in there so I don't have to break that 390 loose.

Streets...a cammer in a 68 coupe???? Really or you leg pullin??
Legacy, if you see ribs on the side it's a 70's service block. No casting number just date code. When you locate the date code underneath the filter pad the first digit should have two dots underneath. The dots are for a 70's block and the number above the year. So a 1 with the dots underneath is a 71 and so on. The next letter will be the month and the last number(s) the day cast. Hope the dirt floor did not rust it out to bad but worth a look for sure. Good luck and let us know how you do!
Bill S, I was under the impression that the 67 small block stangs need the shock towers clearanced to fit a big block. Natch the BB cars not a problem and then in 68 Ford used the BB style tower on all. This true??? Thanks, G.