help me...360 or 390 or 428

[cjroddam]

my 69 f100, i thought i had a 390...the truck vin comes up to originally have a 360...the previous owner thought it might be a 390...i have the c8ae-h heads...the truck had a 2bbl stock on it which i ripped off and dropped a 4bbl holley 600 on it...i cant find a engine id tag on it...i checked under the coil and then by the dipstick and no luck...is there any things to tell the diff between the three motors just by looking at the motor...it has 352 stamped on the block...im so lost

[convincor]

only way to be sure is to measure the stroke.

[sacramento_ford]

something bout the 390 i really like. smooth yet tough

[fordman]

its probably a 360. the only way to tell is to measure the stroke.

[cjroddam]

what are the numbers for these three motors for the stroke?

[montana_hiboy]

428=4.00"

390=3.75"

360=3.50"

[cjroddam]

ok cool thanks...also ive been meaning to ask this but 60% of things say the 360/390/428 are small blocks...and the rest say its a big block??? which is it?

[ka_jd7and1]

FE big block.

[montana_hiboy]

ok cool thanks...also ive been meaning to ask this but 60% of things say the 360/390/428 are small blocks...and the rest say its a big block??? which is it?

Ford does not categorize its engines using the big/small block tag, Ford distinguishes engines by its series, or family.

Big block and small block are terms that only really mean anything in the world of chebby.

Ford on the otherhand, has many different engine families. The flat head, the Y-block, FE, MEL, windsor, 335 series, 385 series, etc.

[court1100f]

couple of things to clear up to be a wee bit more accurrate 360=4.052x3.500" 390=4.052x3.784" and 428=4.132x3.980" and I haven't the slightest of where or what your reading bro that says a 352-428 is a small block but just go to Jegs.com or summitracing.com and you'll see real quick the FEs are classified as Big Blocks and have been by mechanics an enthusiasts for over 40 years. the general consensus is the 260-351W & Cleveland aswell as the 351M-400Cid are Small Blocks the 332-428Cid FE and 370-460Cid are Big Blocks the Y blocks 239-312Cid are also considered small blocks but most people only refer to them as Y blocks coincidentally the FE is also technically a Y block the reason for this statement

"The FE and FT engines are Y-block designs—so called because the cylinder block casting extends below the crankshaft centerline, giving great rigidity but heavy weight. In these engines, the casting extends 3.625 in (92 mm) below the crankshaft centerline, which is more than an inch below the bottom of the crank journals."

Montanas right though Ford tends to give their engines series Designations and the Enthusiasts and Mechanics determine and give them their Big or Small Block designation so as such Ford it'self doesn't refer to an engine as big or small block only by it's series

[mkpj1]

The block casting number on the block is on the passenger side up front just below the head. It's a number like your heads number. Doesn't mean squat on a 40 year old motor. My 68 had a 428 casting number. No such luck, 360. Take a pencil and carefully slide it into the #1 spark plug hole. Have someone carefully hold the pencil while you turn the motor over at the crank. Take all the spark plugs out so it's easy. Carefully hold the pencil while it moves up or down while you turn the crank. When it reaches bottom or top, mark the pencil. then rotate the crank until the piston reaches the opposite end of the stroke, mark the pencil. take the pencil out and measure the distance between the two marks. I put money it measures 3.5.

I just didn't want you out on your engine with a flashlight looking for 3.5 stamped on your engine

[cjroddam]

well i measured the stroke today...3.5"...so its a 360, original i would guess since thats what the vin says...one question though, i know a lot of ppl throw the 390 crank and pistons in it to make it a 390, but is it much harder to drop the 428 crank and pistons in?

[court1100f]

no problem bro dug this post up from another thread for you it's not much harder if any just requires the right parts here you go

Now that I have made it through the first 500 miles on the new 410FE I would just like to thank everyone for your help and support. Your advice and experiences really helped me make some critical decisions. Here is what I ended up with.

360 block bored 0.030 over
428 crank 20/20
OEM rods ARP bolts
Sealed Power 381P pistons
CJ valves, mild porting
Performer RPM intake
Holley 4150 carb
FPA Try-Y's (future installation)

Compression is 9.6 to 1
Temperature is 160 with 4 row radiator
(I am sure it will go up this summer)
Oil pressure is 3/4

I still have a lot of work to do on the truck but I feel like I have crossed a major hurtle with the engine rebuild. Thanks again for all the help and support.69 F250 410FE CJ Valves RPM Intake Holley 4150......10 Smiles per gallon
71 Clydesdale in many pieces; 302 roller motor waiting impatiently
HOWDY69

[fordman]

for a 428 piston togointo a fe blcok you have to have thicker cylinder walls to make sure the boring doesn't breakinto the water jacket or something.

[court1100f]

actually man the Sealed Power 381P pistons Howdy69 used are 030 over 410 Pistons I believe so they'd work fine with your 360 FE Block but like hes saying the 428 FEs have a considerably larger bore 4.132" Vs. 4.052" and really with .030 over 410 FE Pistons you'd end up with a 416Cid and hell the 427 FE has an even bigger bore at 4.232"