Help with information on FE Block

[Kramer]

Thanks...that is the one I was thinking about...going to order it up now.

Appreciate all the feedback everyone.

[blykins]

Steve Christ is who you're referring to. It's a good reference book also. I have George Reid's book as well and they're both packed full of info.

[sideoiler10]

As "Dwighy" suggested to you earlier, you should order the book "High Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange" by George Reid. There are quite a few photos showing detailed locations for numbers and lots of other information unique to each specific engine series. It will show you how to identify a sideoiler from a center oilier. There are tables in the back that list all the engines for each year in the 60's and 70's and the specific casting numbers used for each engine type. Same for heads and other engine parts. It is a very complete book full of excellent information.

Question, does your block have the distinct ridge along the lower left side of the block just above the crossbolt main caps? The ridge will be parallel to the bottom edge of the block. If yours has the ridge as well as the small plugs for the 3 center main cap journals, it is indeed a sideoiler. If those features are not there, it is not a sideoiler.

Get the book, you will use it over and over.

Good luck, Bob

[Kramer]

Hey sideoiler..thanks for the information. I can't wait until the book comes in. I also ordered a few others that were referenced about as well.

Note the pics I posted...again, any thoughts information would be appreciated.

[Woodz428]

Yepper, that's a crossbolt side-oiler. It is also a service block as determined by the ribs on the side, that was started in the late 60s and used on all FE engines from then on. That is probably one reason the # didn't appear in all the casting books. It is my understanding that they may not be as strong, because of less metal content, it is however a new block so it doesn't have the associated 40 years of stress already. If you can get it for a fair price I'd get it. You might price out a Genesis block or Pond before plunking done any$$ since they have improved them in certain areas and cost are pretty reasonable, I feel. The Genesis is also NHRA legal with an early casting #, it is also used by Roush for their FE builds (the iron ones).