Results Of My FE Drill Bit Test

blykins · #1 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 12:23 PM

I made a post the other night trying to identify what kind of FE block I have...Here's a recap:

C7ME-A
X in lifter valley
4.050" bore
4-bolt engine mount
Pipe plugs between back two freeze plugs

The FE reference book I bought the other day said that only FT blocks had 4-bolt engine mounts...is this correct? It said that would be an easy way to tell if you had a truck block or not. I know very little about FE engines...the only engines I've ever touched were small blocks...so are the pipe plugs between the freeze plugs drain plugs?

Anyway, I did a drill bit test on my supposed 390...here's what I got.

Passenger Side - Front To Rear

1-2: ((4.62-4.05-(17/64))/2)=.152
2-3: (4.62-4.05-.25)/2=.160
3-4: ((4.62-4.05-(17/64))/2)=.152

Driver Side - Front To Rear

5-6: ((4.62-4.05-(15/64))/2)=.167
6-7: ((4.62-4.05-(17/64))/2)=.152
7-8: ((4.62-4.05-(17/64))/2)=.152

So that's what I'm looking at now...the FE forum says that if you can fit a 17/64 bit in between, you should be fine to go 80 thou over...it looks like I should be fine...right?

A good friend of my dad's does industrial inspecting...I'm gonna get him to come over and ultrasound the block after I get it cleaned up...

Does it look like I'm in good shape to you guys so far?

FFR428 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2003, 03:50 PM

The four bolt engine mounts came out in 65 or 66 for the FE I believe. Can't speak for the FT block though. G.

blykins · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 12:49 PM

Anyone else have any comments?

mj_duell · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 05:09 PM

Hi Yah Doin'
Well according to my list (found on-line) "C7ME-A" is a 428 casting. Try looking here:

http://www.fiberpipe.net/~f100/readi...ng_numbers.htm

Are you sure about the bore size? Do you have a crank shaft number?

---Mike

mr0077 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 05:34 PM

From Mike's casting number guide and the bore measurement of 4.050, the arithmetic says it would be a 410 CID motor out of a Mercury, right?

bomelia · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 08:13 PM

The ONLY C7ME-A I could find was a 428. Does it have the third web on the crank saddles?

One way for sure, pull the center freeze plug and look inside for the size stamp. It should say 428 or whatever. What side of the block? I do not know.

Looks like you got a block that was cast for 428 and used as a 390. Check my other posts on this subject. Is there a letter scratched on the back of the engine? "A" or "C" or something?

Don't think it is a truck block. THe case stamp seems to be unambiguous since no other block had that series.

Mike

blykins · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 05:33 AM

That's definitely the casting number...and that's definitely the bore size. Unfortunately, I only bought the block...so I don't know what guts it had in it. It is a 4.050" bore with a little cylinder ridge in the cylinders...

I have a book about big block Ford parts interchangability...and it says that truck blocks were the only ones with 4 bolt engine mounts...whether or not that's correct, I have no idea...but I have 4-bolt engine mounts...plus a pipe plug (drain plug?) on each side of the block by the center freeze plug.

The block has some surface rust on it, so I can't see 100% of everything...I do know that it has a big X in the lifter valley, and a 17/64 drill bit fits in the water jackets. :-) I plan to have it media blasted here soon.

I did try to check in the center freeze plugs for a 428, but like I said, it's a little dirty in there.

Bomelia, what is the third web on the crank saddles you're speaking of? I'll try to check that out when I get a chance.

bomelia · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 05:53 AM

Super Cobra Jet engines (428) and 427s and many truck blocks had reinforced webbing on the crank saddles.

Pull the center freeze plug, spray with some solvent and shine a flashlight in there to see the stamp...it is almost assuradly there. If you search some of my older posts (July time frame) you will find a link to a web page for IDing FE blocks...quite good!

Mike

hawkrod · #9 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 08:41 AM

hi guys, i just registered to help you out with this thread. when you guys have these kinds of questions you may want to check out the FE forum to get more accurate info about these engines. we can't help you with cobra chassis questions (we can but we don't profess accuraccy! LOL). the FE forum is the best place to get accurate info about FE engines and it is where the drill bit test came from (courtesy of Dave Shoe and his research). the forum is located at: http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/74182 . the block you have is a 390. the C7ME-A is a common number and despite many bad lists out there it can be a 352 360 390 410 428 361 or 391. the casting numbers used on 1966 and later blocks do not denote the engine size unless it is a 427. all of the mid sixties and later blocks do have the 4 bolt mounts on the block. this was a change made for the cars not for the trucks but since the blocks are cast from the same molds the trucks got the newer style mounts even though they did not use them (FT's are mounted from the bellhousing and from the front timing cover not from the sides of the block). note an FT block will have a larger diameter hole inside the block where the bottom of the distributor shaft fits in (you can buy a special bushing from ford to convert the hole to the smaller size which is what ford did on the mid seventies pickups as most of the blocks seem to have the larger hole). FT's also have an oil drainback hole in the skirt for the compressor which will not be present on an FE block. if your block is a 4.05 bore it is a 360 or 390 and not a 428. if it was a later block it could have thicker walls but a sonic test will be the measurement as the drill bit test is meant to be a guide only as we have found that these particular blocks can be very thin at the top so even if it measure good at the freeze plug hole a sonic will expose thinner areas. also as a couple of side notes the super cobra jet and cobra jet used the same block and there is no difference between them, it is the crank, rods, and pistons that are different, and the reinforced main webs were used on the CJ's but also on many 352 360 and 390's especially in the 62-65 and the 72-76 time frames. as a final unrelated note, just because it may say 66 427 on the back of the block does not make it a 427. the rear bulkhead mold was used on any size engine and you can have any size engine marked with this and it is NOT an underbored 427, it is whatever the bore core was, not what the rear bulkhead core was (sorry, it has become a pet peeve to see these on ebay and see get people ripped off!). hawkrod

blykins · #10 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 12:07 PM

Thanks Hawkrod for all the good info. If I took a pic of the block, would it help things more?

Those oil drainback holes in the skirt...what would those look like? I'm still trying to figure out what those pipe plugs are for...do all FE's have them?

blykins · #11 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 12:08 PM

Also, what does the "X" in the lifter valley mean....high nickel content?

Traveller · #12 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 01:21 PM

According to that excellent post by Hawkrod, it would seem that the only to know for sure what flavor of FE you have is to measure the bores.

Therefore, as indicated, you have either a 390 FE or if it has the larger diameter distributor hole, a 360 FT or a 391 FT.

blykins · #13 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 01:54 PM

Anyway I can mic the distributor hole....? Anyone know what it should be?

PetesPonies · #14 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 05:36 PM

the skirt of the block would be the outside lower portion. There is a threaded fitting supplied at the factory for an oil line. This hole is easily plugged when not needed.

Dominik · #15 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 05:42 AM

Hi all,

with all the confusion about casting numbers (what's new?) I would also take the advise to get the cylinder wall thickness tested.

What is a good wall thickness anyway?

May I sleeve it back, once I messed it up?

Down here in South-Africa we have no 427 or 428 engines.
The other day I had almost bought a 410, but I am defenitely interested how to really find out about boring 390 to 4.13". There are plenty of 390s.

The blocks I have one cannot fit a 17/64 drill bit between the liners, not even the smaller one used to differ 352 blocks from 390s.

I may need some 4.13" pistons soon - and 428 cranks... ;-)

Cheers,

Dom, Cape Town

A proper Cobra should have a FE engine!

bomelia · #16 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 05:59 AM

Hawkrod,

That was a great analysis. Thanks!!

You did not mention the stamp inside the freeze plug hole. Is there any reliability in the number? What about unstamped service blocks, ones that do not have casting numbers? What is the significance of that? And, finally, scratchings on the back of the engine, such as "C" or "A"?

Mike



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