390 or 352?

[stroked4eyes]

I have a friend with a 69 Mustang that supposedly has a 390 in it. It was supposedly an all original matching numbers car. The block has 352 stamped in. I know the 390's are 352 style blocks but would the block be stamped 352? There are numbers stamped in the block where we normally have 302/351 block numbers (like e7tz and the like) but these numbers only say F24. Any help with IDing the block would be appreciated.

[Stangman]

I do believe most of th FE blocks had "352" cast into the front. I am also pretty certain that 69's did not come with a 390. What you could have there is a 428 instead!

I have a ford engine decoding book. If you like, send me pictures of the casting numbers (so I know where they are located) to stangman_77@yahoo.com and I can decode that engine for you.

Being a '69, you should see a lot of "C8" and C9" date codes on the engine/engine parts, such as the intake and exhaust manifolds especially. Also look for original stickers on the valve covers if it has stamped steel covers. You can almost always find the year of the motor on those and the displacement as well.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I'd say it's more than likely a 428 if it's the original engine.

[stroked4eyes]

I do believe most of th FE blocks had "352" cast into the front. I am also pretty certain that 69's did not come with a 390. What you could have there is a 428 instead!

I know it is not a 428...they look vastly different.



I have a ford engine decoding book. If you like, send me pictures of the casting numbers (so I know where they are located) to stangman_77@yahoo.com and I can decode that engine for you.

Thanks. I will try and take pics and mail them to you tomorrow.


I'd say it's more than likely a 428 if it's the original engine.


I thought it should have a 428 as well. I thought they stopped putting the 390 in vehicles in 67 but am not a big fan of 390's so I didn't know for sure.

[Stangman]

'68 was the last year... (Steve McQueens car had a 390)

And 428's do have the 352 cast into the block... What are the details of it? 4 barrel motor? aluminum finned valve covers? iron or aluminum intake?

[stroked4eyes]

'68 was the last year... (Steve McQueens car had a 390)

And 428's do have the 352 cast into the block... What are the details of it? 4 barrel motor? aluminum finned valve covers? iron or aluminum intake?

I got over there after that stuff was removed. I will be going over tomorrow. I will get back with you on those. The bore is a 4.010...which I assumed was a .060 over 352 since it has a 3.5 inch bore compared to the 3.78 inch bore of a 390..

[Drivermod]

.060 over 3.5 is 3.56 not 4.010;)

[winner70ta]

C'mon now guys, pay attention. 1969 Mustangs were the last Mustangs to have a 390 engine. Your fifth character in the VIN will be the letter "S". This applies to Cougars as well. 428 Cobra Jets will have either a "Q" for non-ram air or an "R" for ram-air.
The 352 stamping is there as mentioned because it is an FE block. FE stood for Ford Edsel. See, us old farts are good for something!

-Bob

[stroked4eyes]

C'mon now guys, pay attention. 1969 Mustangs were the last Mustangs to have a 390 engine. Your fifth character in the VIN will be the letter "S". This applies to Cougars as well. 428 Cobra Jets will have either a "Q" for non-ram air or an "R" for ram-air.
The 352 stamping is there as mentioned because it is an FE block. FE stood for Ford Edsel. See, us old farts are good for something!

-Bob

Thank you Old Fart!! j/k my next question is how can I tell by looking at the block which engine it is? Where are the codes?

[winner70ta]

That one is a toughy...you pretty much only have a date code stamping on the block, The heads between a 390 and 428 are different but I am not certainly the best at determining it (always been more of a small block guy). These guys could help you out the best http://www.428cobrajet.org/forum/

[winner70ta]

This guy knows a bunch about CJ engines http://members.cox.net/detailshop/manual/