Engine Identfication Help

[PaulProe]

I am looking at a FE block and a little uncertain on the identification of it.

The date code indicates it is a Jan, 1965 block.

The casting number is C5AE-A

Going to fordifiction.com and their chart of casting numbers, it appears the block could be one of three:
390 or 330HD or 427 top oiler

The block has a flex-plate still bolted to the crank which indicates an automatic transmission. With that in mind, I would rule out the 330 since that was a HD truck motor - unlikely it was an automatic

Is there a way to tell if it is a 390 or 427 without pulling a head or pan or trying to second guess the stroke thru a sparkplug hole?

Are there other numbers that I should be looking for?

Thanks

Paul

[flwolfman]

It is almost impossible to indentify an FE due to it's lack of numbers without getting the number off of the crank and measuring the bore. It is probably a 390. Does it have cross bolted mains or any other giveaways like screwed in freeze plugs? Jim

[PaulProe]

Jim,
looking at digital pictures so I can't really tell.

It would be a top oiler and I think they had regular freeze plugs

Did they have the bosses for crossbolt mains? or was that only the side oilers?

Paul

[flwolfman]

A lot of the 427 top oilers have the cross bolted mains, but not all of them. Freeze plugs could be either. Someone else will jump in here with a miracle solution. I would pull the pan. Jim

[dizzybonez]

Im curious where do you actually look to find these numbers?
Thank you

[flwolfman]

I would look on the crank to see what type of crank is in the engine. Could have a 390 crank or a 428 crank or a 352 crank. The number is on one of the balancers.



Jim