Thread: Need help identifing what I have

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I was helping a friend clean out his fathers pole barn and we came across this FE motor. He gave it to me for my help. The Block casting code is C7ME-A. The heads are C8AE-H. It has a aluminum Edelbrock intake and what looks to be a forged bottom end. Can you help me identify it???

Thanks,
Matt

That casting number was used on a few different bore blocks. So you'd really need to measure the cyl bore. 4.05 is a 390 or 360. 4.13 is a 428. 4.23 is a 427. Keep in mind overbore when you measure. The C8AE-6090-H heads were used on 360's to 428's including the 390 GT engines. Pretty much stock heads. A forged crank will have a somewhat wide smooth parting line. Not as sharp and pronounced as the cast nodular iron cranks. Pretty easy to tell them apart. Factory forged cranks will have a $ symbol on the edge of one of the counterweights along with a part number. Some were crossdrilled and those will have either a cup plug held in by a C clip or threaded plug on the face of the counterweights from where they were hollowed and drilled. The crossdrilled cranks also retain some 13 grams of oil. Forged cranks were mainly a 3.78 stroke although there is a shorter 3.50 stroke forged truck crank. There is also a wider snout 391 forged truck crank. Cast cranks can be ID'd by a number cast into the edge of a counterweight. Here are a few of the more common cast cranks.

360 with a 3.50 stroke 2T and 2TA
390 with a 3.78 stroke 2U, 2UA and 3U
428 with a 3.98 stroke 1U, 1UB and 1UA (SCJ)

Take a look at the rods and see if they are capscrew or nut and bolt style. See if you can find a number on the side.

The Edel intake should have some sort of name or numbers. F-427, RPM, Performer etc...

Poke around a bit for some more info if you can. As you can see there are a few different combo's it could be.

These heads have the 14 bolt exhaust pattern. Some call it diagonal I think. Does this make them GT 390 or GT500 heads???

Yep with the 14 bolt pattern they were used on 68-69 Mustang and Cougar 390's. Also the 68 GT500.

I had a machine shop look at the block today and they said it was a Police Intercepter 428 block. If these are the original heads for this block could this engine be correct for a 1968 GT500??? From what i read the 428 CJ Motor was not released until Feb 68. The earlier cars before this would have gotten the 428 intercepter Motor. The reason I ask...My father has a friend that is restoring a 1968 GT500. He does not have the original motor. I want to do the research before i make the phone call and get his hopes up. What do i need to look at in the bottom end??? Did Ford put Vin numbers on these motors so I can tell if it was a Mustang or Fairlane?

Is this a sought after Motor???? I have no use for it and plan on selling it. Any idea on what it is worth?

Matt

It sure sounds like it. You can check the date codes and compare them to your build date. The 68 GT500 KR got the 428CJ engine. Std 68 GT500's got the PI engine. 67 GT500's got the PI too but with C7AE-A heads not the C8's. Starting in 68 Ford did VIN code some blocks and heads. Look on the back driver side of the block. Where the head meets the deck you'll see a rectangle shaped area on the block. That's where the VIN would be. It can also be on the back of one of the heads. As FE heads are interchangeable check both heads. Far as date codes on the heads it's between the center 2 valve springs on each head. Date code on the block is below the oil filter adapter mounting pad. Date code follows a year/month/date format. Typical 68 date code would be 8J20 which is 68/Sept/20th. There is also an assembled date on the left ear of the block. That date is stamped and is normally within a week or so of the casting dates. So check the date codes and ask your Dad's bud what his build date is. 428's are somewhat sought after yes. Value really depends on overall condition. Being somewhat correct for the Shelby does increase value. But with the economy some parts are down in value. If it's complete carb to pan and a correct date core engine ask around $2-3k and go from there.