Thread: FE Block Identification

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What is the best way to ID a specific FE motor size. I have a situation, I have a chance to buy a 72 F-250 that has a good running FE block in it. On the drivers side front of the block is stamped 352. However, the old man that is selling it swears that it is a 390 and says that Ford used original 352 blocks and brought them up to 390 specs. Has anybody else ever heard of this? I want to stick this in my 67 Fastback and if it is indeed a 390 it will be a slam dunk purchase. I appreciate the help.

The "352" cast on the front of the block was common to all FE's from the mid 1960's until the end of production in 1975. It's most likely a D2 block if it's original to the truck, making it either a 360 or 390. These will both have the same bore, but different reciprocating assemblies.

If the heads are off, measure the bore and stroke.

4.05 bore x 3.50 stroke = 360
4.05 bore x 3.75 stroke = 390
4.13 bore x 3.98 stroke = 428

As far as I know, the 428 was never sold in light trucks. Typically you would get a 352 in the early/mid 60's, 360's and 390's from 1967-1975.

Reading Casting NumbersReading Casting Numbers
Casting numbers tell when a part was ORIGINALLY designed and what car it was
ORIGINALLY designed for. This does not mean that the part was not used on other
cars. For example, casting number C8OE-9430-D is an exhaust manifold for a 428
CJ Fairlane; however, it was also used on 428 CJ Mustangs.
Example:
The breakdown of casting number C8OE-9430-D is easy using the charts below:
C = Decade of 1960
8 = Year of the decade (8th year of 1960), 1968
O = Fairlane Car line / Manufacture code
E = Engine engineering department
9430 = Basic number for an exhaust manifold
N = Design change
Casting Number Breakdown Charts
Decade of Manufacture:
A = 1940
B = 1950
C = 1960
D = 1970
E = 1980
Year of Decade
The year of the decade is determined by adding a number (0-9) to the letter of
the decade. Example: C6 would be 1966, D0 would be 1970, D1 would be 1971.
Car Line/ Manufacture Codes
A = Galaxie
D = Falcon (60-69)
F = Outside USA, Trans Am racing
G = Comet / Montego
J = Industrial
M = Mercury
O = Fairlane / Torino
P = Autolite / Motorcraft
R = Rotunda
S = Thunderbird
T = Truck
V = Lincoln (61 - current)
Z = Mustang
Engineering Departments
A = Chassis
B = Body
E = Engine
F = Engine accessories
J = Autolite (67-72)
P = Automatic transmission
R = Manual transmission
W = Axle
X = Muscle parts program
Y = Lincoln / Mercury service parts
Z = Ford service parts
Basic Number
These identify the part, such as 6090 being a cylinder head or 9430 being an
exhaust manifold.
Design Change
A Basic part is made to fit many applications. Example:
DOZZ-7528-C is a clutch bar for a 390/428
DOZZ-7528-D is a clutch bar for a 351 W
DOZZ-7529-E is a clutch bar for a 302 Boss
Reading Casting Dates
Casting dates:
Casting dates show the exact day, month and year a certain part was made or
cast. The typical casting date looks like "6M08".
Breaking down a casting date:
6 = The year of the decade. "6" for 1976.
M = The letter of the month. (December)
08 = The day of the month. (8th)
First year month codes:
ABCDEFGHIJKLM
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugN/ASepOctNovDec

Second year month codes:
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
JanN/AFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

How do casting numbers appear?
Most casting numbers are stamped into the part itself, other have the number
molded on the part. Some casting numbers can be ink stamped while others are
printed on paper, which is then wraped around the part.
FE Casting Numbers
Blocks (C1AE8015C)
390 cid
C1AE-CC1AE-GC1AE-VC2AE-BC
C2AE-BEC2AE-BRC2AE-BSC2SE
C3SE-AC3AE-KYC3ME-BC3AE-AY
C4AE-DC4AE-FC5AE-AC5AE-B
C6MEC6ME-AC8AE-AC8AE-C
C8AE-ED3TE-1D3TE-ACD3TE-HA
D4TE-ACD7TE-BA

406 cid
C2AE-JC2AE-KC2AE-VC2AE-BD
C3AE-DC3AE-V

427 cid
C3AE-MC3AE-ABC3AE-ZC4AE
C4AE-AC5AE-AC5AE-EC5AE-D
C5AE-HC6AE-BC5JE-DC6JE-B
C6AE-CC6AE-DC7AE-AC7JE-A
C8AE-AC8AE-BC8AE-H

428 cid
C6AE-AC6AE-BC6AE-FC6ME
C6ME-AC7MEC7ME-AC8ME

Crankshafts
390 cid [3.78" stroke]
2UC3AE-DC4TE-6303-B
3UC3AE-EC4TZ-A
C1AEC3AE-UC4TZ-B
C1AE-AC3AZC6AE-A
C2AE-BC4AE-BC6TE-6303-C
C2AE-DC4AE-CC6TE-6303-E
C3AEC4AE-DD2TE-6303EA
C3AE-6303-EC4AE-A
C3AE-BC4AZ-A
C3AE-CC4AZ-J

406 cid [3.78" stroke]
2UC3AE-BC4AE-C
3UC3AE-CC4AE-D
C1AEC3AE-DC4AE-A
C1AE-AC3AE-EC4AZ-A
C2AE-BC3AE-UC4AZ-J
C2AE-DC3AZC4AZ-J
C3AEC4AE-BC4TZ-A
C3AE-6303-E C4TZ-B

410 cid [3.98" stroke]
1VAC8ME-AC9ZE-CIU
C6MEC9ZE-BC9ZE-DIUB

427 cid [3.78" stroke]
2UC3AE-BC4AE-C
3UC3AE-CC4AE-D
C1AEC3AE-DC4AE-A
C1AE-AC3AE-EC4AZ-A
C2AE-BC3AE-UC4AZ-J
C2AE-DC3AZC4AZ-J
C3AEC4AE-BC4TZ-A
C3AE-6303-E C4TZ-B

428 cid [3.98" stroke]
1VAC8ME-AC9ZE-CIUC2VE
C6MEC9ZE-BC9ZE-DIUBC6ME

Hope this helps......viking

hello; from 68 on all ford pick-ups used the 360 with a 2bbl carb. you could have ordered one with the opptional 390 with a 4 bbl. if it does't have a 4 bbl, it's not a 390 unless it's been changed. because it's to hard to tell just by looking, everyone tells you it's a 390 so you'll buy it. it's just like every small block chevy is a 350 4 bolt main untill you check the numbers, and then they still swear it's a 350 4 bolt main. sorry but there's not many honest people out there today. hope this helps. wayne.

Hello there everyone.. I am a new comer to this forum and site. Just registered. I have a 67 ford 1/2 ton 2w with a quote
un- quote 390. I have been wondering why the block and heads and intake have a reddish orange color instead of blue???
I have heards several reasons, I am wondering if it means anything special.. Please help. I have a decent size project underway

the truck needs a rear main seal so while the engine is out I will put in new rod and main bearings... also new timing chain, possiblly timing gears if needed and new oil pump... any other thoughts.

Unfortunately in this day and age of swapping motors and painting them who knows what colors, you can never tell. But you're right, 390's were blue and 352 were black. Not sure on 360 colors. For all those guys out there helping me with my part number issues, I just finally put a barrel mic on my engine and found out that I do indeed have a 428! I checked the bore several times to make sure I was right. It will fit nicely in my 64 Gal! But now I'm going to have to do something about the tired old 3 in a tree that I have. Oh well, I'm sure the wife won't mind the extra few grand

An easy and fairly painless method of checking the stroke ia as follows.....pull out one of the spark plugs. Then turn over the engine till you reach TDC. Then stick a pencil or lenght of round wood dowel or someting similar and turn over (by hand) the engine till the piston is at the lowest point of stroke. Then note the length and measure. 3.5 for the 360 3.8 390 4.0 for the 428 etc... this will give you a fairly accurate reading of the stroke of the engine for you to determine what it is. Sure it's possible it's been a rebuilt 360 with a 390 crank but if the guy does not want you to remove the head to determine the bore this might help you. As others mentioned it could host any array of parts or be stock so be sure what your looking at and use the info Viking posted to help. It's easy once you know what to look for and where. The casting numbers tell all...............G.

I have an fe block coded: C3
352
anyone know what this means

Mtnman, Welcome! From 59 till 65 FE engines were painted black. Aircleaners and valve covers were red, green, blue and gold through the years. Starting in 66 engines were dark blue then 69 and on a lighter blue. I think some early (pre 58) truck engines might have been red as I remember. Anyone could have painted them any color. As far as it meaning anything special? Don't know but depending on what heads and intake they might be something nice.

Kapp, Welcome also! Your C3 block is a 63. Post the entire casting number and we will tell you what it is. C3AE-6015-? with the last letter after the 6015 as the indentifier. 63 still had normal casting numbers and not generic like the later years. 352 was on most blocks to tell it was the FE family and does not always mean it's a 352. Later blocks have the reverse 105 and some nothing at all. Funny I have a 63 406 and the block does not have the 352 marking. Just the casting number, date code and the HP markings. Post the head numbers if you can also. They are between the center two spark plugs.

G.

Heads are coded C8AE-H, they are not original to this block. Also found code on front passenger side of block that reads C6ME as best I cam read. Where might I find the rest of the info, besides crank, I will pull that out next wek.
Thanks for the help,
kapp71

Hi Kapp,

The C6ME block is a 1966 Merc casting. Same as is on my "428" (which turns out to be a 410 bored .060). C8AE-H heads are 390. Again, same as was on my extra engine. They came with a number of different configurations. How many exhaust flange bolt holes? If 12, they're 390GT heads or have been bored to look like 'em. If 8, probably from a full-size Ford or Merc car.

Probably not a bad setup. Some of the C6ME blocks were 390s, some 428s, and some 390s with the longer stroke crank (that became the 428CJ crank, and was used in the 7 litre Galaxies and so on 1966 or so).

If you're really lucky, it could be a Galaxie 428 (7 litre). Best I can tell, there weren't any 352s built on the C6ME block - they were either 390, 410, or 428. I think I'd read that the 352 ended production in 1965, but not sure about that.

Anyway, probably a pretty good piece. The C8AE-H heads breathe okay - somewhere around here I have the dimensions, and they aren't far from the 427MR heads or 428CJ heads. The problem is with a bend in the runners, if memory serves - too tight an angle.

I'm sure someone will have more details, and I'll post 'em if I find 'em.

If you have any photos of the back of the block, you can post them or send them. A "C" scratched roughly in the back of the block was for a CobraJet engine and an "A" was for the 428. The "C" will appear backward, as the letter was scratched in the sand of the mold before casting.

When you get to the crank, if it has a "1U" on it (I think it's the second weight from the back), it's the 410/428 crank.

Snake, the C6ME is a 66 and later casting which I'm sure you meant.

Kapp, As Snake as described (very well also!) your engine could be a 360,390.410 or 428. You will see when you tear it down. C6ME was one of the generic casting number from the day. The date code on the block will tell the exact date of casting. It's below the oil filter adapter area. Look on the small angled part of the block there for a number/letter/number(s) sequence. G.

Thanks again for your responces. I need to correct an earlier posting. The front of the block below the drivers side head has casting numbers: 30, with the 352 below. This may not mean much but it didnt make sence for it to say C3 (63) when the block is coded C6ME. kapp.

Good catch, FFR. I was rereading the post above (the C3 reference), and suffered from brain not telling hand which keys to push. Absolutely right - C6 is 66, M is Merc, E is Engine. May be a -A after, but as it wasn't stated, we'll assume not. Same block, anyway, for all practical purposes.

Thanks for correcting that.