Bought 428, got a 390

[ac andy]

Hey bomelia, ebay is a big place, chances are if you bought it then someone else will too. There may just be someone looking for a 352. You never can tell! Good luck.

Andy.

[Woodz428]

That's a nice link,thanks. I agree with the no absolutes, I had a Canadian CJ block I pulled from a '69 Eliminator that had the side oiler bosses cast in the back.It had no lump on the side though , so it couldn't have been machined to be one, but an interesting find.

[bomelia]

Andy,

Sure, but if it turns out that the walls are too thin, it may be dangerous.

Mike

[ac andy]

If the walls are to thin and its dangerous, cut your losses, paint it up nice, put a sheet of glass over the top and use it as a coffee table in you lounge room!

Andy.

[bomelia]

Andy,

Hmmm, I dunno, sounds like putting good money after bad...a friend suggested outdor planter...dirt is cheap

Mike

[Mark IV]

...remember that ALL FE's share external dimensions and most used "common" casting patterns. That is why most all all 390s and 428s have "352" cast on the left front of the block. There was no reason for Ford to make a new pattern when only the internal patterns needed to be different. Confusing, you betcha!

That they used the same external patterns and there for the same casting numbers on many different blocks adds to the fog.

The only safe means of ID is to measure and sonic test.

I worked on a Contemporay that was sold to the owner as being a 427, only when the motor puked two days after he bought it did he discover a built 390. It still went faster than he could or wanted to go but the mis-representation was wrong as the previous owner knew full well what he had.

Rick

[bomelia]

Mark IV,

I agree, and I do plan to test it...(did you visit that Engine ID site, link above?)

My understanding is that the stamp in the water jacket is fairly definitive. Have you (or anyone else) ever seen one that had, say, a 352 in the jacket but really was a 390, 428?

Confusing part is that the 352, 390, and 428 share the following casting number: C6ME-A.

Mike

[bomelia]

Well, I am ready to settle on what believe has happened to this block. I base my opinion on the numerous e-mails and posts that have resulted from this and a couple of other threads. Thanks a bunch to you all!!

I have concluded that this is most likely a 428 block that was "pulled" for 390 duty. Due to the different foundries and customs at such places, stamping may be highly unreliable as a block ID... in other words, negative results do not prove anything, they just leave the case open. Scratch marks, cylinder bore, casting numbers, web supports, and cylinder thickness are some of the important clues. This block has current thicknesses that support the notion of a pulled block. The only real evidence that I have is the current cylinder wall thickness and the casting numbers (C6ME-) and I believe the "A" was ground off at the factory to reduce the confusion space to the 390 and 428 (they did leave the dash.)

This engine will be rebuilt as a std 428. No more, no less.

Mike