FE experts - who can help to identify ?

Stephan427SC · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2017, 01:08 PM

Hi guys, can anyone help me to identify the block of my FE390 engine ? I would like to know is it a reproduction block, which year .....

Here‘s what I found on the block :
Front of block : 352
Driver side under the oil pump : J25
Driver side upper oil pump :53 DIF

Thats all I can see on the block.

I would be happy to get any help from you experts :-)

Thanks from germany,
Stephan

FWB · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2017, 04:12 PM

you're missing a digit in the date code by the oil pump (J25)
there will be a number in front of the "J" which is the year
J=month
25=day of month

DanEC · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2017, 05:08 PM

Reproduction block? Do you mean service block?

SwiftBennett · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2017, 08:51 PM

Stephan,
Reach out to Wes Adams on Facebook. He has a page called Ford FE Fanatics. It is a closed group but ask him to join and he can help you out. There is a plethora of info from him and other guys from the States to the UK and Australia that are in this group.
Wes has help me out on identifying casting numbers on a set of heads that are on my 427.
Good luck!
Garry

cycleguy55 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2017, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephan427SC

Hi guys, can anyone help me to identify the block of my FE390 engine ? I would like to know is it a reproduction block, which year .....

Here‘s what I found on the block :
Front of block : 352
Driver side under the oil pump : J25
Driver side upper oil pump :53 DIF

Thats all I can see on the block.

I would be happy to get any help from you experts :-)

Thanks from germany,
Stephan

Is there no engineering number cast into the block - on the passenger side, near the front of the engine? See this:

If you can find a casting / engineering number you can look it:
Ford FE Engine Block Casting Numbers - FORDification.com
http://www.erareplicas.com/427man/engine/partnums.htm

From the last URL:

You generally CANNOT tell what CID an FE engine is simply by looking at casting numbers!

The only way of differentiating between them, since there are no external markings to tell you what you've got, is to measure the stroke. Simply rotate the crankshaft around until the #1 cylinder is at TDC (top dead center) as indicated at the timing mark. Remove the spark plug and insert a wooden dowel into the cylinder until you hit the top of the piston and make a mark on the dowel. (Use the valve cover lip as a constant reference source.) Then remove the spark plug from the #4 cylinder (when #1 is TDC, #4 is BDC) and make another mark on the dowel. Then measure the difference.

FWB · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-2017, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwiftBennett

Stephan,
Reach out to Wes Adams on Facebook. He has a page called Ford FE Fanatics. It is a closed group but ask him to join and he can help you out. There is a plethora of info from him and other guys from the States to the UK and Australia that are in this group.
Wes has help me out on identifying casting numbers on a set of heads that are on my 427.
Good luck!
Garry

this isn't rocket science, if we get the right numbers we certainly can tell you what you have. no need to go surfing all over hell and back to identify a block.
cycleguy, all blocks won't have the engineering # cast into the block.

the date code and a pic or two will do it, but short of measuring the bore, a 100% ID may not be possible

Stephan427SC · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2017, 01:55 PM

Here‘s all I can see at the block....

FWB · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2017, 02:42 PM

the first number is hard to read, so an unknown year at this point, the 352 is on most FE's so that is insignificant.
are there any ribs on the side of the block? a pic of the sides and the rear of the block may offer some more clues.
ultimately you will need to measure the bore to be sure

Stephan427SC · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2017, 05:44 AM

Here some more pics - may they are helpful...?
Thanks, Stephan

DanEC · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2017, 06:18 AM

Well it is ribbed which is typical of my 428 service block. Not sure if ribbed 390 service blocks were also cast - but probably so. Pulling the pan and measuring the bore below a piston and checking crank numbers should clear things up.

FWB · #11 (**permalink**) 11-05-2017, 08:47 PM

truck blocks had ribs too, but the lack of engineering number rules those out.
it could be a 428 service or a reg 390 70's vintage. the heads don't seem to be tightened down, measure the bore. standard bore 428 is 4.130, std bore 390 is 4.05.
you can decipher an overbore size from there

hi-tech cobra · #12 (**permalink**) 05-26-2020, 01:13 PM

Did you ever figure out what block you have? I have a similar block.

FFR428 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-20-2020, 07:01 AM

Date code may be 2J25. First digit looks like a mangled 2 with the 2 dots under it that started in 69. 72-Sept-25. The pic that has the square tape over the oil filter mount......look at those 2 flat spots right below the front head exhaust port. The assembled date for the most part was stamped there. Unless it's a service block. I had a NOS 72 service block years ago. Still cast at DIF. Do you have a picture of the blocks deck where the heads bolt on? Upper triangle shaped coolant passages may suggest a 428. Been out of the FE scene for a while. But that I do remember LOL.